FORMER U.S. GYMNASTICS COACH COMMITS SUICIDE HOURS AFTER SEX CRIMES CHARGES ANNOUNCED

February 25, 2021
NBC

EATON COUNTY, Mich. / NBC News — Officers found the body of a former United States gymnastics coach, who has ties to disgraced doctor Larry Nassar, hours after he was criminally charged in Michigan.

The coach, John Geddert, committed suicide and was found in Grand Ledge, Michigan, according to Kelly Rossman-McKinney, a spokeswoman for Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.

The lawyer who represented Geddert could not be immediately reached for comment.

Geddert had agreed to surrender at a sheriff’s office on Thursday before a 2:15 p.m. arraignment but he never showed up, Rossman-McKinney said.

He was charged with 20 counts of human trafficking and forced labor resulting in injury, one count of racketeering, two counts of criminal sexual conduct and one count of lying to police, according to a Michigan state criminal complaint filed in Eaton County.

In the two criminal sexual conduct counts, Geddert, 63, is accused of “sexual penetration” of a girl under 16 in January 2012, NBC News reported.

“The victims suffer from disordered eating, including bulimia and anorexia, suicide attempts and 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 his behavior to this day,” Nessel said.

Former U.S. gymnastics coach commits suicide hours after sex crimes charges announced

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