Former NFL Player Cierre Wood Faces Murder Charges After Over-Exercising 5-Year-Old

Former NFL player Cierre Wood and his girlfriend Amy Taylor initially faced child abuse charges after the death of Taylor's 5-year-old daughter on April 9 but the couple learned Tuesday in Las Vegas court that they face murder charges.

Wood, 28, and Taylor, 25, were arrested April 10 after the death of La-Rayah Davis. The Clark County coroner ruled Davis' death a homicide after she suffered multiple injuries.

"Once you’ve seen them, you can’t ever unsee them," Judge Melanie Andress-Tobiasson said of the pictures of Davis, after denying bail to Wood and Taylor, according to the Associated Press.

An autopsy revealed Davis had multiple contusions to her skull, as well as multiple rib fractures. According to Las Vegas NBC affiliate KSNV, "liver laceration was the probable cause of her demise."

Details have emerged as to why and how Davis was abused. Wood told police he felt Davis was "chunky" and would force her to do football-styled exercise routines, which he called "learning through fun."

Davis, who turned 5 years old in February, died after she had failed to complete sit-ups and fell to the floor and hit her head, knocking her unconscious. After Wood was not able to revive her, he called authorities.

Taylor admitted to sitting on her daughter's torso a week prior because she was behaving badly.

A memorial was held Saturday for Davis at a park in Northern California, where her father lives.

La’Rayah Davis' father, Danaun Davis, expressed his sadness for the loss of his daughter.

"She had so many people that she touched, and she's only 5. Her not to be alive and how much life she had. That's the tragic thing about it," Danaun Davis told KSNV.

"She can't be there no more. I can't call her no more. Never thought I'd bury my child at 5 years old," he added.

Attorneys for Wood and Taylor declined to comment outside of the court.

Wood was a starting running back at Notre Dame and was a member of NFL practice squads for the Houston Texans, New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks and Buffalo Bills. He also spent time in the Canadian Football League.