Olympics gymnastics coach found dead after abuse, human trafficking charges

John Geddert, who coached the 2012 US Olympic women's gymnastics team, was found dead after being charged with 24 felonies in connection with the abuse of young gymnasts, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced.

The 63-year-old was facing charges that included human trafficking, criminal sexual conduct and lying to a peace officer, a release from Ms Nessel's office read.

Mr Geddert had been expected to turn himself in and be arraigned later today.

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USA gymnast coach John Geddert.

"My office has been notified that the body of John Geddert was found late this afternoon after taking his own life. This is a tragic end to a tragic story for everyone involved," Ms Nessel said in a statement.

CNN has reached out to her office for further comment.

Mr Geddert was the former owner of the Michigan's famed Twistars Gymnastics Club.

It was one of the places Larry Nassar, the disgraced former gymnastics physician, had admitted to sexually abusing young female athletes.

Twistars has since been sold and renamed.

An attorney for Mr Geddert, 63, did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

https://twitter.com/MIAttyGen/status/1365050626984542218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

"It is alleged that John Geddert used force, fraud, and coercion against the young athletes that came to him for gymnastics training, for financial benefit to him," Ms Nessel said.

"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."

larry nassar

CNN obtained a copy of the complaint, which says the alleged offences stretch from 2008 to 2016.

A press release from Ms Nessel's office said Mr Geddert engaged in verbal, physical and sexual abuse against multiple young women.

Mr Geddert faced 14 counts of human trafficking-forced labour resulting in injury, six counts of human trafficking of a minor for forced labour, and one count each of continuing criminal enterprise, first-degree criminal sexual conduct, second-degree criminal sexual conduct and lying to a peace officer during a violent crime investigation.

The count of lying to a police officer stemmed from her office's investigation into Nassar, Assistant Attorney General Danielle Hagaman-Clark said.

https://twitter.com/MIAttyGen/status/1365007915531313152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

However, Hagaman-Clark said Mr Geddert was being prosecuted for his alleged behaviour, not that of Nassar.

"What needs to be reported is that these charges against Mr. Geddert are for his actions and his actions alone.

"They have very little to do with Mr Nassar," she said. "Counts 1-20 that relate to human trafficking are for his behaviour in the gym related to his coaching."

READ MORE: Victims' dad says he's 'no hero' after lunging at Nassar

Mr Geddert sold ownership of the club in 2018.

In 2018, Nassar was sentenced to up to 175 years for his decades of abuse.

larry nassar

Even after USA Gymnastics fired Nassar in the summer of 2015, Mr Geddert continued to support him.

In September 2016, Mr Geddert was quoted as saying Nassar is "an extremely professional physician" who "goes above and beyond" for his gymnasts.

In 2018, when it was announced Mr Geddert was the subject of a police investigation, attorney Chris Bergstrom said "at this time, Mr. Geddert only wishes to convey his heart-felt sympathy to all victims of Larry Nassar's abuse.

READ MORE: More than 300 victims of notorious sexual predator Larry Nassar awarded $666m in compensation

"Any further comments will distract from the victims' statements at Nassar's sentencing.

In January 2018, USA Gymnastics suspended Mr Geddert.

The organization did not detail why but cited a provision in the organization's bylaws that allows interim measures to be taken to "to ensure the safety and well-being of the gymnastics community."

The next month, Eaton County Undersheriff Jeffrey Cook said Geddert was the subject of an investigation after people came to authorities with complaints about the former coach.

At the time, Mr Cook's office wouldn't comment on the type of complaints, type of investigation or how many people had come forward.

A year later, Michigan's attorney general said her office had taken over the investigation of Mr Geddert.



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