The world’s top powerlifting program has been abandoned after the body of a 26-year-old athlete died in a training facility in New York, US.
In August, New York City police arrested Ivan Sanchez and charged him with multiple counts of manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, endangering the welfare of a child, and aggravated child abuse.
Sanchez, who has never been charged with a crime, had been in a relationship with the woman, who was in her early 20s, for six months.
Police said Sanchez had previously threatened the woman and told her he had a gun.
They said the victim had been raped, beaten, and stabbed in her apartment, and that Sanchez was angry at her for leaving him.
According to the police report, Sanchez had told the woman that he “could shoot her” and had threatened to shoot her father if she left him.
She told police that Sanchez had also threatened to kill her and her boyfriend if they didn’t have sex.
Sue Smee, a spokeswoman for the New York Police Department, told CNN that the agency was unable to comment on the case.
She added that the department does not comment on investigations of potential victims.
In a statement, Sanchez’s attorney, Paul J. Giambrone, called Sanchez a “very loving, kind, and compassionate man.”
He added that Sanchez did not abuse his wife and was not a danger to anyone else.
He said the woman’s family had contacted authorities to report the death.
“The investigation is still ongoing,” Giambone said.
“As with all matters, the New Yorkers family is deeply saddened by this tragic loss.”
Giambones lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.
Authorities said Sanchez and the woman had been living together for about six months and had begun training for a competition at the time of the death, which occurred in March.
Spencer was arrested last week on charges of aggravated child rape, child endangerment, and resisting arrest.
Sending an innocent person to prison for a crime is rare in the United States, and prosecutors rarely pursue charges against people convicted of a crime.
However, this case was different, said Michael Schulz, a former U.S. attorney who is now a law professor at the University of Virginia.
“We’ve got a number of cases in the last decade where innocent people have been sent to prison,” Schulz told CNN.
“And, this is a very serious crime.
And you need to understand that it’s a very, very high risk.”
A spokeswoman for New York State Police said she was unable as of Monday to comment.
A criminal investigation into the case is ongoing.
Police have not released the name of the victim, but the New Yorker City News reported that she is from Staten Island, New Jersey.
The woman was not injured in the attack.
She was a member of the New Jersey Powerlifting Association, a national governing body for powerlifting, and had competed at national powerlifting meets in recent years, according to a statement on the association’s website.
“In the early stages of the investigation, there is not enough information to determine the full facts, and I am saddened by the loss of this life,” said Michael C. Schloss, the association president.
“We are deeply saddened at the loss and are working closely with the NYPD to provide any assistance they may need.”