Tylski accused after daughter broke thigh bone
Tylski accused after daughter broke thigh bone
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Former NFL offensive guard Rich Tylski and his wife were accused of hitting their adopted daughter with a belt, slamming her head on a table and other abuse that left the girl with broken bones in her hands and leg.
The 35-year-old Tylski and wife Jane, 36, were free on $20,000 bond each on the child abuse and neglect charges. They were released Wednesday after turning themselves in. A message left on their home answering machine wasn't immediately returned, and it was unclear whether they had lawyers.
Tylski spent nine seasons in the NFL, playing in 95 games with the Jaguars, Steelers and Panthers before retiring after the 2004 season.
The child, whose age and name weren't released, was taken to a Jacksonville hospital March 10 for a fractured right thigh bone. Her parents said she had fallen down the stairs about eight hours earlier.
Doctors found extensive bruising in various stages of healing. A skeletal survey found six or seven healing fractures in the child's hand, the police report stated.
The girl later told investigators that she lied about falling down the stairs and she demonstrated on a doll how her mother had pushed her leg over her head until they heard a pop, the report said. The report also stated that Rich Tylski said he had hit the child with a belt.
The Department of Children & Families told police the girl missed 14 days of school from October to March.
DCF spokesman John Harrell said he could not discuss the Tylski case because of state confidentiality laws. "Whenever we receive information that a child may be abused, we respond within a matter of hours. We investigate all cases of child abuse thoroughly wherever they may lead. Our No. 1 priority is child safety," he said.
During an interview on March 24, the child told investigators that her mother slammed her head on the table when she wouldn't eat. She said both parents hit her. She said a scar on her forehead was from her mother slamming her head into the table, but denied her mother hurt her leg, the police report said.
In a second interview April 3, the girl described how her mother would bend her fingers backward.
All Pro Dad, which promotes active fatherhood, listed Tylski as an NFL player involved with the organization on its Web site. A call to its Tampa office was not immediately returned.
A call to the DCF about the case was not immediately returned.
Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press