Ex-MLB player Craig Monroe, 47, accused of sexually abusing 12-year-old girl and later ‘prostituting’ her to friends after she turned 18
Former Detroit Tigers outfielder Craig Monroe is accused of molesting a 12-year-old girl decades ago and then “prostituting” her to his friends after she turned 18.
The accuser, who asked to remain anonymous, made the allegations to police, on social media and to Fox, a Detroit affiliate.
Monroe, now an analyst for the Tigers, has been removed from team broadcasts, according to a statement from Bally Sports Detroit.
“Bally Sports Detroit and the Tigers are aware of the allegations on social media and are taking them seriously,” the statement began. “As previously stated, Mr. Monroe has not appeared on the broadcast schedule and will remain so indefinitely. We will not be commenting further and any questions should be directed to Mr. Monroe.”
The alleged abuse occurred when Monroe was in his early 20s. The plaintiff alleges her family hosted Monroe during his minor league days in Charlotte County, Florida, in the early 2000s..
Former Detroit Tigers outfielder Craig Monroe is accused of molesting a 12-year-old girl
Monroe’s page on the MiLB.com website lists him as a member of the Single-A Charlotte Rangers of the Florida State League in 1997, 1998 and 1999.
Monroe allegedly sneaked into her room to fondle the girl and eventually had sex with her when she was 15. Later, after she turned 18, the two had an ongoing consensual sexual relationship, but as she recounted Fox 2 from DetroitMonroe would also ‘prostitute’ her to his friends.
The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office has launched an investigation and is asking anyone with information to come forward.
Monroe has been a presenter for the Tigers since 2012.
Her accuser told Fox 2 she only went public with her allegations after becoming concerned about her family.
Monroe did not respond to Fox 2’s requests for comment.
In her social media post, the accuser claimed she reached out to Fox 2 News Detroit, Bally Sports and the Tigers and “received no response.”
“I am writing this letter to inform you that Craig Monroe is not the man you think he is. He is in fact the complete opposite (sic). He is a pedophile. A child molester, a manipulator and a den.”
Craig Monroe hits an RBI double by hitting Curtis Granderson during the 2006 ALCS
The woman described being woken up in her bedroom by Monroe at age 12. Although it started with her being groped, she alleged, the abuse quickly escalated to oral sex and intercourse.
She also claims he flew her out to visit him during his MLB days.
“When he got into Major League Ball, he would have me come over and have a ‘party’ where I would ‘entertain’ his friends, him, or both. In return, he would always take me shopping or give me money. This continued until I was an adult.”
She explained that she moved to Detroit in 2011 to live with Monroe. She said he once gave her $1,000 to have sex with “an old white man who was paralyzed and in a wheelchair.”
The prosecutor went on to name other former Tigers players who she alleged were complicit.
The social media post ends with the woman saying she is “in therapy and talking about this trauma and trying to process it.”
Monroe was born in Texarkana, Texas and was selected by the Rangers in the eighth round of the 1995 MLB Draft.
Though he made his debut for Texas in 2001, he was ultimately claimed off waivers by the Tigers, where he spent the majority of his eight-year career.
Monroe was a member of the 2006 Detroit Tigers, who lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. After hitting 28 home runs during the regular season, Monroe hit six more during Detroit’s postseason run.
He later retired after a brief stint with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2009.