A former gynecologist who faced allegations of sexual abuse from hundreds of women while working at the University of Southern California has passed away at the age of 76. George Tyndall, who was at the center of a $1 billion settlement related to these allegations, was awaiting trial on more than two dozen criminal misconduct charges that were said to have occurred between 2009 and 2016 at USC's student health center. Tyndall's attorney, Leonard Levine, confirmed his death, which was discovered by a close friend after he did not respond to calls.
Although a trial date had not been set, Tyndall had a court appearance scheduled for later in the month. He consistently asserted his innocence and desired the opportunity to present his case before a jury. The charges against him included counts of sexual penetration of an unconscious person and sexual battery by fraud, originally numbering 35 but later reduced to 27.
The accusations against Tyndall emerged in 2018 following an investigation by the LA Times, revealing a history of complaints dating back to the 1990s. In 2016, he was suspended by USC after a nurse reported him to a rape crisis center, leading to his quiet resignation and a substantial payout the following year. Although hundreds of women reported their allegations to the police, some cases were time-barred, lacked sufficient evidence, or did not result in criminal charges. If convicted, Tyndall could have faced up to 64 years in prison.
In March 2021, USC reached an $852 million settlement with over 700 women who accused Tyndall of sexual abuse. While Tyndall was deposed for the settlement, he exercised his right against self-incrimination in his responses and did not contribute any money to the settlement. He never admitted to any wrongdoing.
John Manly, the lead counsel in the civil case, attributed years of delays in bringing criminal charges to former and current district attorneys. He also represented two of the victims involved in the criminal proceedings, emphasizing that the extended case duration added to the trauma experienced by the victims and postponed the trials. As a result, some of the victims may never attain the justice they seek.
In another development in Topeka, Kansas, a 25-year-old man who was homeless has been charged with the murder and rape of a 5-year-old girl named Zoey Felix. See detailed story here
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