Tyreek Hill's estranged wife took the stand in Miami on Tuesday and testified that the former Dolphins and Chiefs wide receiver punched toward her pregnant stomach, ripped hair from her scalp and left her on the side of a road during a yearslong pattern of abuse. Lakeeta Vaccaro Hill's account opened the first day of a civil trial in which she is suing Hill and seeking punitive and compensatory damages, with proceedings wrapping just after 5 p.m. Eastern time and cross-examination set to resume Wednesday morning.
Vaccaro Hill said Hill attempted to punch her stomach while she was pregnant with his child in July 2024, a day she described as probably the worst of all the abuse, according to The Athletic. She testified she blocked the attempted strike with her hands, and that the blow made contact there instead of her stomach. She also said Hill told her at the time that he did not want the baby, and that he pulled her hair and ripped it out that same day, per the same account.
Vaccaro Hill's testimony described a broader pattern she said included an incident after the couple visited ESPN headquarters, where Hill became upset after she declined professional hair and makeup for potential interviews, as Yahoo Sports reported. She also alleged he picked her up to throw her out of their house, pushed her toward a car door and left her on the side of a road on another occasion, according to the Athletic's account.
Allegations of Repeated Physical Abuse
Vaccaro Hill also testified that Hill grabbed and twisted her breasts during multiple arguments. “He grabbed my breasts, trying to twist them,” she said, according to The Shadow League. She additionally described an incident in which Hill ripped a necklace off her body, leaving a cut below her shoulder, the outlet reported.
Vaccaro Hill has accused Hill of ripping her hair, throwing her to the ground and other instances of domestic violence, according to court documents detailed by The Athletic. She has alleged Hill had a history of abuse dating back years, the documents show.
Hill's lawyers challenged discrepancies between Vaccaro Hill's deposition and her courtroom testimony on Tuesday, and have portrayed her as motivated by money, according to the Athletic's reporting. The same report notes Hill's attorney previously denied the allegations and called the suit a “money grab.”
No Charges From 2024 Dispute, but NFL Review Continues
Hill was investigated for a domestic disturbance with Vaccaro Hill in 2024 but was not charged in connection with that investigation. A separate police investigation into an April 2025 domestic disturbance involving the couple also resulted in no arrest, as NBC Miami reported, noting Vaccaro Hill filed for divorce the day after that dispute.
The allegations have drawn scrutiny beyond the courtroom. The NFL is reviewing the domestic-violence allegations under its Personal Conduct Policy, and Hill remains under an active review, according to NBC Sports, which noted the league rarely provides a timeline for such investigations. Hill could face punishment under that policy, and the same report notes his prior guilty plea could factor into an enhanced suspension if the league finds a violation.
That 2015 case stems from a December 2014 arrest in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on complaints that Hill assaulted his pregnant girlfriend at the time, Crystal Espinal. Hill pleaded guilty to domestic assault and battery by strangulation and received three years of probation, per the Times. He was also investigated in March 2019 for alleged battery after his 3-year-old son sustained a broken arm, though no criminal charges were filed in that investigation.
Case Documents and Sealed Records Draw Media Fight
Six news outlets have sought access to sealed court records in the case, arguing Florida court files carry a strong presumption of openness, including divorce records, according to Defector. The case also involves nanny-cam footage and other recordings that Hill and his legal team have asked to have disallowed from trial, Defector separately reported.
Hill attended Tuesday's proceedings with his attorneys. He entered the NFL in 2016 as a fifth-round pick and became an All-Pro receiver, earning Pro Bowl selections every season from 2016 through 2023. In 2023, he led the league with 1,799 receiving yards and 13 receiving touchdowns; his final season with Miami was 2025.
Hill is currently recovering from a severe knee injury and, according to Michael Silver, is targeting a November 2026 return to the NFL after rehabilitation. The Kansas City Chiefs have shown interest in a reunion and contacted Hill's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, though his path back to the league has been complicated by the off-field allegations, per Yahoo Sports.
