Former U.S. Gymnastics Coach Commits Suicide After Sexual Assault Charges
WASHINGTON (Dispatches) - Former U.S. Olympics gymnastics coach John Geddert committed suicide on Thursday, hours after he was criminally charged in Michigan on Thursday.
Geddert, who led the U.S. women’s gymnastics team at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, was charged with 20 counts of human trafficking and forced labor resulting in injury, one count of racketeering, two counts of criminal sexual conduct and one count of lying to police, according to a state criminal complaint filed in Eaton County.
In the two criminal sexual conduct counts, Geddert, 63, was accused of "sexual penetration” of a girl under 16 in January 2012, according to the complaint.
"John Geddert used force, fraud and coercion against the young athletes that came to him for gymnastics training for financial benefit to him,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel told reporters.
"The victims suffer from disordered eating, including bulimia and anorexia, suicide attempts and self-harm, excessive physical conditioning, repeatedly being forced to perform even when injured, extreme emotional abuse and physical abuse, including sexual assault,” she said. "Many of these victims still carry these scars from his behavior to this day.”
The charge of lying to police was tied to allegations that Geddert’s knew about Larry Nassar’s crimes.
The U.S. Gymnastics team doctor Nassar received two prison sentences in Michigan of 40 to 125 years and 40 to 175 years for molesting young female gymnasts. He is also serving a 60-year federal term for child pornography convictions.
Geddert, who led the U.S. women’s gymnastics team at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, was charged with 20 counts of human trafficking and forced labor resulting in injury, one count of racketeering, two counts of criminal sexual conduct and one count of lying to police, according to a state criminal complaint filed in Eaton County.
In the two criminal sexual conduct counts, Geddert, 63, was accused of "sexual penetration” of a girl under 16 in January 2012, according to the complaint.
"John Geddert used force, fraud and coercion against the young athletes that came to him for gymnastics training for financial benefit to him,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel told reporters.
"The victims suffer from disordered eating, including bulimia and anorexia, suicide attempts and self-harm, excessive physical conditioning, repeatedly being forced to perform even when injured, extreme emotional abuse and physical abuse, including sexual assault,” she said. "Many of these victims still carry these scars from his behavior to this day.”
The charge of lying to police was tied to allegations that Geddert’s knew about Larry Nassar’s crimes.
The U.S. Gymnastics team doctor Nassar received two prison sentences in Michigan of 40 to 125 years and 40 to 175 years for molesting young female gymnasts. He is also serving a 60-year federal term for child pornography convictions.