Former US Olympic gymnastics trainer dies by suicide after being charged with sexual assault, human trafficking

A former U.S. Olympic gymnastics trainer died by suicide Thursday after being accused of physically abusing dozens of his young female athletes and committing at least one sexual assault, the Michigan attorney general said. John Geddert, 63, was due to surrender Thursday afternoon.

“My office has been informed that the body of John Geddert was found late this afternoon after committing suicide,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement. “This is the tragic end of a tragic story for all involved.”

Michigan State Police said Geddert’s body was found in the rest area off a highway in Clinton County at 3:24 p.m. His death is under investigation.

Prosecutors on Thursday filed 24 counts against Geddert: 14 counts of human trafficking, forced labor causing injuries, six counts of human trafficking of a minor for the purpose of labor forced, one continuing criminal enterprise, one count of first degree criminal sexual conduct, one count of second degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of lying to a peace officer during an investigation of a violent crime.

In court documents accompanying the announcement, prosecutors allege that Geddert engaged in “sexual penetration” of a minor aged 13 to 16 in January 2012. He is also accused of having “sexual interference” “with a minor of the same age group. during the same period.

Explaining the human trafficking charges, the Attorney General’s office alleged that “Geddert’s treatment of young gymnasts constitutes human trafficking because he allegedly subjected his athletes to forced labor or services under conditions. extremes that caused them injuries and injuries ”.

“Geddert then overlooked the injuries reported to him by the victims and used coercion, intimidation, threats and physical force to get them to function as he expected,” the office said.

The office also alleged that Geddert had made “false or misleading” statements to authorities investigating Larry Nassar, who worked as a doctor on Geddert’s team for about 20 years. But the office said the charges were unrelated to its larger investigation at Michigan State University.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.