Olympics 2012 coach kills himself hours after being charged with child sex abuse
An Olympics athletics coach shot himself dead hours after being charged with child sexual assault and human trafficking. John Geddert, a team USA coach for the 2012 games, took his own life in Lansing, Michigan, on Thursday afternoon, WLNS reported.
Police say the 63 year-old died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Geddert was due to be arraigned in court shortly before news of his death was announced. His attorney refused to comment.
The late sportsman, an associate of sex abuser Olympics doctor Larry Nassar, was charged with a host of serious crimes just hours before his death. The allegations he faced included two allegations of sexual abuse against a child aged between 13 and 16.
Geddert also faced 20 counts of human trafficking over claims his physical conditioning methods were excessive, that he pushed his athletes too hard, and inflicted extreme emotional abuse, as well as the aforementioned sexual assaults.
Athletes coached by Geddert told investigators how he would make them train even when badly injured, and explode with rage when they failed to meet his exacting standards.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced the charges against him at a court in Eaton County, Michigan, earlier on Thursday. Nessel’s office has since confirmed news of Geddert’s suicide.
Explaining the charges to journalists before Geddert’s suicide, Nessel said: ‘The Attorney General’s office alleges that Geddert’s treatment of young gymnasts constitutes human trafficking as he reportedly subjected his athletes to forced labor or services under extreme conditions that contributed to them suffering injuries and harm.
‘Geddert then neglected those injuries that were reported to him by the victims and used coercion, intimidation, threats and physical force to get them to perform to the standard he expected.’
Geddert faced 14 counts of trafficking adults, each carrying a 15 year jail sentence, as well as six counts of trafficking a minor, with those charges carrying a 20 year sentence each.
Geddert was also charged with a single count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, as well as one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct. His coaching was credited with helping the USA Athletics team clinch a gold medal in the 2012 London Olympics.
But detectives launched a probe into Geddert shortly after Nassar was jailed for life for sexually abusing hundreds of young women in early 2018. Geddert ran an gymnastics club called Twistars, where Nassar offered weekly treatments.
The late coach is accused of neglecting doctors’ medical advice – except that of Nassar – and is also said to have lied to cops investigating Nassar to try and cover-up for his disgraced pal.
One of Nassar’s victims, McKayla Maroney, said she had told Geddert about the sexual abuse she’d endured, but said the coach had ignored her.
Geddert is said to have watched as Nassar – jailed for life for molesting hundreds of athletes in 2018 – sexually abused a 14 year-old girl.
Geddert retired in 2018 – after the criminal probe into his activities began – and issued a statement branding claims against him ‘false allegations.’
He said: ‘I know I’m not perfect. Like all of our coaches, I am deeply committed to protecting the safety and well-being of our students.
‘I know my shortcomings as a coach: I have high expectations and high standards and I am passionate about coaching our gymnasts to realize their full potential.
‘Sometimes the intensity is challenging — both for our gymnasts and their coaches.’
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