The Michigan Department of Justice announced Thursday (25) that it had charged John Geddert, the former coach of the U.S. Olympic women’s gymnastics team, with more than 20 counts, including sexual assault and human trafficking. But three hours later, the Michigan Department of Justice said he died by suicide at the age of 63.
Michigan Attorney General Nessel announced the indictment of Geddert for sexual assault, human trafficking and running a criminal enterprise. The charges are related to Larry Nassar, a former team doctor for the U.S. national gymnastics team who was convicted of sexual assault earlier and is now in prison. The charges allege that Geldert allegedly turned his gymnastics facility into a criminal institution over the years, forcing young girls to undergo his training and verbally abusing and sexually assaulting them.
Nessar alleges that the victims developed bulimia or anorexia, were asked to repeat the training even though they were injured, and that some attempted self-harm or even suicide. Gedelt is also accused of lying to agents in 2016, claiming he had not received any complaints against Nassar.
Geldert was the head coach of the 2012 U.S. women’s Olympic gymnastics team, leading it to a Gold medal at the London Olympics in England. Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison in 2018 for allegedly sexually assaulting and molesting 156 women, including several gymnasts who were minors at the Time of the incident, over the years under the guise of therapy.
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