Former US Olympic gymnastics team coach John Geddert, who had just been indicted for "sexual abuse", committed suicide on February 25, 2021. -
Kathy Willens / AP / SIPA
He was due to surrender to the authorities at 2.15 p.m.
But at 3:24 p.m., police found the lifeless body of John Geddert, former coach of the 2012 Olympic champion Gymnastics Team USA. Michigan prosecutor Dana Nessel, who announced his indictment hours earlier for "trafficking of human beings "on twenty young women and for" sexual abuse "on a minor under 16, the former coach committed suicide.
Geddert's body was located by troopers at the rest area on EB I-96 in Clinton County at 3:24 pm.
Investigation is ongoing;
no further details will be released at this time.
https://t.co/flr09gDm2X
- Michigan State Police (@MichStatePolice) February 25, 2021
John Geddert had ties to ex-doctor Larry Nassar, who was sentenced to life in 2018 for sexually abusing dozens of young gymnasts.
The charges against Geddert, however, were not directly related to the Nassar scandal except for those of lying to police officers.
Sexual and psychological abuse
John Geddert faced 14 counts of "human trafficking" and "forced labor", and six other similar charges on minors liable to a total of 35 years in prison.
According to the prosecutor, he used "coercion, intimidation, threats and force" to force young athletes to train "in extreme conditions" responsible for many injuries he concealed.
The coach was also charged with a sexual assault "in the first degree" on a minor under 16 years old punishable by life.
John Geddert, 63, was the owner of Twistars Gym Club near Lansing, Michigan.
Larry Nassar worked there for several years, and abused at least three of his victims.
According to justice, Gedder had lied to the police, claiming that he did not know anything about the doctor's actions.
Sexual assault
United States
Gymnastic
Pedocriminality
Sport
World