Why was Mary Lou Retton arrested in West Virginia? Complete controversy explored as bodycam footage reveals DUI incident details

Mary Lou Retton was recently arrested in Marion County, West Virginia, on May 17, 2025. Retton's arrest was caught on camera through a bodycam, and it revealed that the American retired gymnast was struggling to perform a sobriety test. According to the Associated Press, a criminal complaint was filed against Mary Lou Retton for sitting in the Marion County AutoZone parking lot with a bottle of wine in the passenger seat.

Retton, who is 57 years old, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or drugs back in May 2025. She was released after paying a bond of $1,500 and entered a no-contest plea in court. Additionally, she was fined $100 by the court.

However, with new evidence (bodycam footage) attained by Entertainment News, they revealed the details of Mary Lou Retton's arrest. Keep reading to know more about the footage.

What was in the bodycam footage during Mary Lou Retton's arrest?

The bodycam footage of the officer from the Fairmont City Police Department shows Mary Lou Retton complying with performing a sobriety test, but occasionally showing signs of distress. From time to time, Retton can be heard expressing her shock, gasping, and saying "Oh my God."

The bodycam footage was 33 minutes long, and Retton was seen arguing with the officer incoherently. At one point in the video, she also protested against the officer's request. She was struggling to perform the actions as instructed by the police officer and found it difficult to lift her foot up six inches off the ground till the officer told her to stop.

She also seems to be struggling to count past nine. Additionally, she had to bring out her oxygen tubes because she looked like she was having trouble breathing while doing the test.

In the bodycam clip, Mary Lou Retton can be heard refusing to blow into the breathalyzer:

"I just came to get my nails done... You know I’m not going to blow... They say, don't blow."

The officer who was asking Retton to perform the three standard field sobriety tests (FST) encouraged her by saying that her background (gymnast) might make it easier for her, to which Mary Lou agreed.

After completing the three tests, the officer told his colleague that Mary Lou had failed all of them and would be arrested. This is when Mary Lou Retton became hostile. While at the police station, he mentioned her illness by saying:

"Y'all are terrible. I nearly died from double pneumonia. I'll die here, and you guys will live with that."

Mary Lou was suffering from pneumonia in 2023. It was so bad that the doctors thought she would not make it. During an interview with PEOPLE in 2024, she said:

"It's been really hard... My lungs are so scarred. It will be a lifetime of recovery. My physicality was the only thing I had and it was taken away from me. It’s embarrassing."

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Following her arrest in May 2025, Mary Lou Retton has expressed her remorse and is taking accountability for her actions. Through a statement made by her lawyer, Edmund J. Rollo, she said:

"What happened was completely unacceptable. I make no excuses. To my family, friends and my fans: I have let you down, and for that I am deeply sorry."

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