Tyreek Hill denied 2014 abuse in new audio of conversation with fiancee
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An extended audio recording of a conversation between Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill and his fiancee, Crystal Espinal, regarding their 3-year-old son was broadcast on radio station 610 KCSP on Tuesday.
Most of the 11-minute argument, which was recorded in a Dubai airport earlier this year, was broadcast by KCTV5 in April. KCSP aired the segments that weren't initially released.
In the new recording, the wideout appears to deny the 2014 assault of Espinal that he pleaded guilty to prior to entering the NFL. He avoided jail time and instead agreed to a deferred three-year sentence.
"... You ruined my life and you lied on me in 2014, bro," Hill is heard saying on the recording in reference to the 2014 incident, per Yahoo Sports' Terez Paylor. "And if you want to rewind that night we can rewind that night too, (expletive).
"You was in my house. And did I pick you up and slam you? Hell no, I picked you up and put you out my door and after that you left. And on my son, you did that, bro. And then you get in the courtroom, you want to sit up there and cry on the stand. 'He hit me, he hit me.' Man, come on bro."
Espinal then asked Hill multiple times how she got bruises. Hill did not directly respond to the question. Instead, he asked Espinal repeatedly, "Did I hit you?" Espinal didn't directly answer.
She then moved the conversation to the child's injury, a part of the conversation that was previously played by KCTV5.
Espinal repeatedly accused Hill of breaking their son's arm. The receiver denied hurting the child.
"My life is supposed to be a whole lot easier right now … 2014 wasn’t supposed to happen. None of that (expletive). But I broke my son's arm? Come on, let's be real, bro.
"You know how I am with kids," Hill added. "You know how I am with (our son). I'm very hard on him but I would never hurt my son in life."
Toward the end of the recording, Hill rejects Espinsal's accusation that their son is terrified of him, insisting that the child respects him.
The NFL and the Chiefs have heard the entire audio recording, sources told Taylor.
In March, officers were called to Hill and Espinal's home, and the police report listed a juvenile as the alleged victim.
Johnson County District Attorney Stephen Howe announced on April 24 that he wouldn't be filing charges against Hill and Espinal. He said he believed a crime occurred but that there wasn't evidence to conclusively prove who committed it.
A day later, KCTV5 broadcasted the audio recording. The Chiefs then told Hill to stay away from all team activities.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid indicated in April that the criminal case had been reopened, but prosecutors confirmed in June that the investigation was in fact no longer active.
Hill and Espinal are, however, still part of an ongoing case with the Kansas Department for Children and Families.
The wideout could still be subject to a suspension under the NFL's personal conduct policy. Hill recently met with league investigators for eight hours but there is no timetable for a ruling. The Chiefs are reportedly hopeful that a decision will be made before the start of training camp, which opens July 26.