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Ex-US Olympic gymnastics coach dies by suicide after trafficking charges

John Geddert, with ties to disgraced sport doctor Larry Nassar, was charged with two dozen crimes, including forms of human trafficking, a step that prosecutors acknowledged was an uncommon use of Michigan law.

AFP

US women's gymnastics team coach John Geddert celebrates with the rest of the team after the US won gold in the women's team artistic gymnastics event at the London Olympic Games on July 31, 2012.

A former US Olympics gymnastics coach with ties to disgraced sport doctor Larry Nassar has died by suicide after being charged with two dozen crimes, including forms of human trafficking, the state attorney general said.

The announcement on Thursday from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel came about three hours after a news conference where Nessel announced that John Geddert was charged with crimes, including sexual assault, human trafficking and running a criminal enterprise.

The charges were the latest fallout from the sexual abuse scandal involving Nassar, a former Michigan State University sports doctor.

Nessel said at a news conference that it was her understanding he had turned himself in to law enforcement and would appear at a court arraignment about an hour later.

The arraignment never happened.

Geddert was also accused of lying to investigators in 2016 when he denied ever hearing complaints about Nassar, who is serving decades in prison for sexually assaulting female athletes in a scandal that counted hundreds of victims and turned USA Gymnastics upside down.

Charges against Geddert

Geddert, 63, was head coach of the 2012 US women’s Olympic gymnastics team, which won a gold medal.

He has long been associated with Nassar, who was the Olympic team's doctor and also treated injured gymnasts at Twistars, Geddert’s Lansing-area gym.

Geddert is accused of recruiting minors for forced labour, a reference to the gymnasts he coached, according to documents filed in an Eaton County court.

A message seeking comment was left with Geddert’s attorney.

Attorney General Nessel said the coach used "force, fraud and coercion" for financial benefit.

"The victims suffer from disordered eating," Nessel said, "including bulimia and anorexia, suicide attempts and attempts at self harm, excessive physical conditioning, repeatedly being forced to perform even when injured, extreme emotional abuse and physical abuse, including sexual assault.

"Many of these victims still carry these scars from this behaviour to this day," the attorney general said.

READ MORE: USA Gymnastics files for bankruptcy

.@MIattygen @dananessel is announcing 24 charges against John Geddert, former US Olympic gymnastics coach & former owner and coach at Twistars USA Gymnastics Club, a Lansing-area Olympic training facility where Larry Nassar served as the gym’s doctor. pic.twitter.com/bUolCYrMYk
— Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (@MIAttyGen) February 25, 2021

'It can happen to anyone'

The charges against Geddert include two counts of sexual assault against a teen in 2012.

Nessel acknowledged that the case might not fit the common understanding of human trafficking.

"We think of it predominantly as affecting people of color or those without means to protect themselves ... but honestly it can happen to anyone, anywhere," she said.

"Young impressionable women may at times be vulnerable and open to trafficking crimes, regardless of their stature in the community or the financial well-being of their families."

Assistant Attorney General Danielle Hagaman-Clark said the charges against Geddert "have very little to do" with Nassar.

Geddert was suspended by Indianapolis-based USA Gymnastics during the Nassar scandal.

He told families in 2018 that he was retiring.

Geddert's abuse, like so much, was never a secret. EVER.

In my memoir I wrote about knowing of it even as a club level gymnast in 2000. Because we have to grapple with the reality that it was known, and no one stopped him. It was known, and he was promoted and given more power. https://t.co/CVmb8kDWr7
— Rachael Denhollander (@R_Denhollander) February 25, 2021

'Funny meaning of friendship'

On his LinkedIn page, Geddert described himself as the "most decorated women's gymnastics coach in Michigan gymnastics history."

He said his Twistars teams won 130 club championships.

But Geddert was often portrayed in unflattering ways when Nassar’s victims spoke during court hearings in 2018.

"What a great best friend John was to Larry for giving him an entire world where he was able to abuse so easily," said Lindsey Lemke, now a coach at the University of Arkansas.

"You two sure do have a funny meaning of friendship. You, John Geddert, also deserve to sit behind bars right next to Larry."

SOURCE: AP