A former US Olympic Gymnastics coach died of suicide on Thursday after he was out suspect of physically abusing dozens of his young female athletes and committing at least one sexual assault, the Michigan Attorney General said. John Geddert, 63, should turn himself in on Thursday afternoon.
“My office has been informed that John Geddert’s body was found late this afternoon after robbing his own life,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement. “This is a tragic ending to a tragic story for everyone involved.”
Michigan State Police said Geddert’s body was found at a resting place along a highway in Clinton County at 3:24 PM. His death is under investigation.
When asked why Geddert could turn himself in instead of being arrested, a representative from Nessel’s office said that it was “standard procedure” and that they “had no indication that Geddert intended to flee or hurt himself or others. “.
“We had been in contact with his lawyer and were assured of his cooperation,” the representative said.
Geddert coached the 2012 Olympic team to a gold medal and previously owned a U.S. gymnastics club in Michigan.
Prosecutors filed 24 criminal charges against Geddert on Thursday: 14 counts of human trafficking, forced labor with injuries; six counts of trafficking in human beings of a minor for forced labor; one count of persistent criminal enterprise; one count of criminal sexual behavior in the first degree; one count of second-degree criminal sexual behavior; and one lie to a peace official during a violent crime investigation.
In court documents accompanying the announcement, prosecutors allege that in January 2012, Geddert engaged in “sexual penetration” of a minor between the ages of 13 and 16. He is also accused of “sexual contact” with a minor of the same age group during the same period.
Kathy Willens / AP
In explaining the charges for trafficking in human beings, the Attorney General’s Office claimed that “Geddert’s treatment of young gymnasts constitutes human trafficking as he has allegedly subjected his athletes to forced labor or services under extreme conditions that contributed to their injuries and were damaged. “
Geddert then neglected the injuries reported to him by the victims and used coercion, intimidation, threats and physical violence to get them to perform as he expected, “the office said.
The office also alleged that Geddert made “false or misleading” statements to authorities investigating Larry Nassar, who worked as Geddert’s team doctor for about 20 years. Nassar, who was convicted of female abuse at Geddert’s facility, has spent decades behind bars for child pornography offenses and the molestation of young athletes. The office said Geddert’s allegations are unrelated to the wider investigation at Michigan State University.
USA Gymnastics said in a statement that “we had hoped that news of the criminal charges against John Geddert would lead to justice through the legal process,” adding, “With the news of his suicide death, we share the feelings of shock. ., and our thoughts are with the gymnastics community grappling with the complex emotions of today’s events. “
Sarah Klein, a gymnast who said she trained with Geddert for over 10 years, said, “John Geddert’s escape from justice by committing suicide is traumatizing without words. He tortured and abused little girls, including myself, for over 30 years. righteousness can deceive. “
Klein said in a statement that Geddert was “a narcissistic abuser” and said that “his suicide is an admission of guilt that the whole world can now see”.
“As a survivor and mother of two young girls, my only comfort is knowing that I can rest my head on the pillow every night, knowing that John Geddert will never terrorize and abuse another child,” she added.
Costanza Maio and Erica Scott contributed to the reporting.