© NBC 1998 

In October, Olympic gold medal gymnast Dominique Moceanu told “Dateline” she had no choice
but to make a break with her parents, claiming they spent her trust fund and that she feared
for her safety. She asked the courts for, and received, legal status as an adult. Now, more
serious charges — police are investigating allegations her father tried to hire someone to kill her
coach. But in an exclusive interview with “Dateline NBC” correspondent Dawn Fratangelo,
Dominique Moceanu’s parents tell their side of the story. 

‘Well if I went back home or if my dad would talk to me, or if he would try to get me back I
knew that he could hurt me.’ - DOMINQUE MOCEANU Olympic gold medalist 

“NO PARENT WANTS to destroy their children. We want only the best for her, and maybe we’re
just worrying so much because we love her so much.” Words of love and concern from two
parents, who claim they’ve been misjudged, misunderstood and left in misery. 

Much of the world knows the story of their daughter — Olympic gymnast, Dominique Moceanu
and her quest to be declared an adult. Now there’s even an allegation in court papers that may
implicate her father in a plot of “murder-for-hire.” 

But her parents, Camilla and Dumitru, believe many have forgotten something — their years of
support and dedication. 

Dumitru Moceanu: “How you become a champion? How you become Olympic champion? Who
raised you there? Who gets you there? Friends or family?” 

Dawn Frantangelo: “Who got her there?” 

Moceanu: “Us! I mean and now we’re not good? Why? We cannot answer this.” 

The story of Dominique’s dispute with her parents broke just seven weeks ago. 
First, she dropped from sight — then two days later, her parents were served with legal
documents, which, in effect, served as her Emancipation Proclamation. 
She came out of hiding to appear on “Dateline,” for an interview with Jane Pauley 

Jane Pauley: “There were so many rumors because nobody knew where you were. You were in
hiding. What were you hiding from?” 

Dominique Moceanu: “Well I was hiding because I was scared.” 

Pauley: “Of what?” 

Moceanu: “Well if I went back home or if my dad would talk to me, or if he would try to get me
back I knew that he could hurt me.” 

That fear apparently drove her, just a week ago, to obtain a temporary protective order
against her father, claiming he’d been stalking her. 

Dawn Frantangelo: “She told us that she was afraid to come home because she was afraid you
might hurt her. What do you think she meant by that?” 

Dumitru Moceanu: “I don’t know. I don’t know.” 

Frantangelo: “Did Dominique ever feel she was intimidated by you, Dumitru?” 

Moceanu: “I don’t think so. I never see it.” 

But Dominique told “Dateline” that isn’t true. 

Dominique Moceanu: “Well he’s hit me a couple times and so has my mom. He’d intimidate me
and just a lot of things — I mean a lot of deeper issues.” 

Dawn Frantangelo: “Was there anything beyond discipline in your household Camelia?” 

Camelia Moceanu: “Sometimes spanking, from time to time there may be a little slap, y’know?
But that’s when they’re young y’know? Growing up as an adult you want to be a friend, and
talk friendly with your children.” 

If anyone was “born” to be a gymnast, it was Dominique. Dumitru and Camelia were gymnasts
in Romania. Dominique was born a year after they came to the United States. 
Her dad reportedly had her hanging from a clothesline at six months and in tumbling classes by
age 3. Long before her teenaged years, through the competitions, the traveling, despite all the
trophies, there was only one goal: Olympic gold. 
And in 1996, at age 14, it would be hers, as the youngest member of the U.S. team that would
come to be known as the “magnificent seven.” 

Dominique Moceanu: “It was awesome. I can picture it right now, I remember being up there
and waving that flag and knowing that all of us deserved every bit of it.” 

But after Atlanta, Dominique’s star took a bit of a tumble. A growth spurt required some
on-the-fly adjustments. And she went through several coaches. That is, until she met
Romanian Luminita Miscenco — the coach who helped her win a comeback gold medal at the
Goodwill Games this past summer, but found herself at the heart of the dispute with
Dominique’s parents. 

That dispute led to their first and only face-to-face hearing since Dominique left home seven
weeks ago, a proceeding to officially grant Dominique adult status. But that decision did not
come easily to Dumitru. 

Dumitru says his reluctance to give Dominique her independence was due in part to
relationships with outsiders including her coach whom he believes had a negative influence on
his daughter. “She doesn’t have a house. She doesn’t have a family. Is not married. She
doesn’t have children you know. She demands more money, she demands a house, she
demands a car, she doesn’t have a car,” says Dumitru. 

Eventually, Dumitru says he grew tired of coach Luminita Miscenco’s demands and fired her —
against the wishes of Dominique. 

Dawn Frantangelo: “Do you believe that Luminita Miscenco was partly responsible for your
daughter seeking the emancipation?” 

Dumitru Moceanu: “Maybe.” 

But only partly responsible, he says, because there’s yet another relationship driving a stake
between the Moceanus. In recent months, Dominique has grown close to a former business
associate of her father’s, Brian Huggins, who sold equipment and supplies to the family gym —
the gym Dumitru says he built for Dominique. “He used to come almost every other day here to
the gym, you know. I don’t know. It was kind of strange,” says Dumitru. 

Dumitru grew increasingly suspicious when Dominique suddenly left home and there to offer her
support and places to hide was Brian Huggins, a 32-year-old married man. But the Moceanu’s
have expressed concern over his interest in their daughter. 

Dawn Frantangelo: “Camelia, do you believe there’s a sexual relationship between Dominique
and Brian Huggins?” 

Camilia Moceanu: “I don’t want to believe that.” 

Huggins told “Dateline” he absolutely denies any sexual relationship with the 17-year-old
prodigy, and insists they’re just friends. As did Dominique herself in October. 

Dominque Moceanu: “Definitely not. I don’t even have a boyfriend, I’m not involved with
anybody.” 

But then things turned even uglier. On Nov. 30, Dominique was granted a temporary order of
protection from her father after startling allegations. Court affidavits claim Dumitru Moceano
reportedly hired a private investigator to follow Dominique — and even worse — may have
inquired about hiring a hit man. His alleged targets? Brian Huggins and coach Luminita Miscenco.
They are allegations Dumitru strongly denies. 

Dawn Frantangelo: “Did you hire a private investigator?” 

Dumitru Moceanu: “No.” 

Dawn Frantangelo: “You never hired a private investigator?” 

Moceanu: “Never.” 

But his attorney, Katherine Scardino, admits there are tapes of conversations between Dumitru
and a private eye. But she says, no money was ever exchanged and any suggestions of a
murder-for-hire plot are completely false. ”[T]he tape recording is between him and this
investigator that was referred to him by a friend. Dumitru felt he was being set up.” 

Houston police are in possession of the tapes. But Katherine Scardino says there’s nothing
incriminating on the recordings. 

“They made the determination that number one, there was no agreement, there was no
commitment to do anything, and number two, that tape was vague and noncommittal,” she
says. “So bottom line is, there was not going to be an arrest.” 

What started this brutal battle in the first place was Dominique’s desire for independence —
both personal and financial. 

The major issue — the trust fund set up for Dominique’s assets is controlled completely by her
parents. Dominique says she has no claim to her own money until she’s 35. 

And a big part of that trust is the massive gym Dumitru built for her. But Dominique says she’s
never seen any of the financial records or any of the money. But Dumitru Moceanu says she
has. “I show her everything. How much cost this. How much cost this. And she still have it,”
he says. 

But when we pressed Dumitru to explain how the arrangement between the trust fund and the
gym worked, he became agitated. And at one point, temporarily walked out of the interview. “I
don’t want to do it anymore. I just tell you two times,” he says. 

But despite the anger, the bitterness and feelings of betrayal, Camelia and Dumitru say they
want what many parents want — their child home for Christmas, to bring their family together
again and let bygones be bygones. 

Camelia Moceanu: “One smile from them we forget everything. And we hug them and love them
and kiss them and then we forget about everything what happened.” 

Dawn Frantangelo: “In this case is it gonna take more than just a smile?” 

Camelia Moceanu: “Probably a little bit more, but…?” 

Frantagelo: “Do you forgive Dominique?” 

Camelia Moceanu: “Probably I will, yes.” 

Frantangelo: “Dumitru?” 

Dumitru Moceanu: “It’s gonna be hard. It’s gonna be hard.” 

Camelia Moceanu: “He will too.” 

Dumitru Moceanu: “Maybe I will.” 

Editor’s note: On Wednesday, a judge granted Dominique Moceanu’s request and ordered
Dumitru Moceanu not to get within 500 feet of Dominque for one year.