In a four-page letter sent to the NFL on Thursday, an attorney for Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill denies child abuse claims alluded to in a secret audio recording allegedly made by his fiancee in a Dubai airport.
The letter refutes nearly every claim made in the snippets of the 11-minute recording aired on a Kansas City television station late last week.
He categorically denies he has ever punched his son in the chest or anywhere on his body, or otherwise touched him in the chest in a mean-spirited manner or as a form of discipline, Hills attorney, Trey Pettlon, wrote in the letter, published by ESPN. He also denies that he has ever grabbed his sons arms and pulled them aside to strike him. There have been occasions when Tyreek has tapped his son gently on the chest with his fingers, while his son was crying and said, man up, buddy or dont cry, my man. He has said that in a calm voice trying to redirect him.
The letter comes more than a week after Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe had announced that though he thought a crime was committed, he didnt have enough evidence to prove who hurt the 3-year-old son of Hill and Crystal Espinal. Immediate calls to Howes office, Pettlon and the NFL were not returned.
After the taped recording of the conversation between Hill and Espinal who is pregnant with twins aired, Howe re-opened the case. The Star reported on March 15 that a source familiar with the situation said an incident at Hills home left the boy with a broken arm.
Why does (he) say Daddy did it? Espinal asked Hill in the recording that KCTV-5 obtained and aired on April 25. A 3-year-old is not going to lie about what happened to his arm.
In Thursdays letter, Pettlon described the broken arm as the result of an accident. The letter also addresses allegations that Hill and Espinal both said the other spanked their little boy. Espinal said in the recording that she never used a belt to discipline their child and Hill argued that she did.
Pettlon said the recording was made during a time when the parties were considering separation and contemplating a custody battle.
After the couple returned from Dubai, Pettlon told the NFL that the couple exchanged text messages.
Crystal you know I didnt cause any bruising or harm to (our son), Hill reportedly texted to Espinal.
According to Pettlon, Espinal responded: I know you didnt. I did. I hurt (our son). Im the one that did it. I was hurt and mad at you so I blamed you for everything.
Pettlon said that both parents now understand that corporal punishment is unacceptable. Both parents are cooperating with the Kansas Department for Children and Families and are in family counseling. Hill also is going to individual counseling, Pettlon said in his letter.
Before the recorded conversation became public, The Star reported on April 18 that Hills son recently was removed from the custody of Hill and Espinal. It was not clear when the boy was removed, or who he is staying with now.
News surfaced in mid-March that Overland Park, Kan., police took two reports at Hills Johnson County home, one for battery and the other for child abuse and neglect. The police reports, dated March 5 and March 14, involved a juvenile.
DCF has an ongoing child protection case focused on the child. In the recording aired Thursday, Espinal appeared to say she defended Hill to investigators.
