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Former U.S. gymnastics coach John Geddert has reportedly died from suicide Thursday just hours after charges of human trafficking, sexual assault and racketeering were filed against him.
Kim Kozlowski of the Detroit News reported Geddert, who had ties to former USA gymnastics national team doctor Larry Nassar, was meant to turn himself in Thursday afternoon. He faced 24 charges for sex crimes:
The 24 charges against John Geddert included 20 counts of human trafficking of a minor, and one count each of first-degree criminal sexual assault, second-degree criminal sexual assault involving a minor, racketeering and lying to a police officer, according to Eaton County District Court records.
Kozlowski reported Geddert was the fourth person to be charged in connection with Nassar, who in 2018 was sentenced to 175 years in prison for sexual abuse.
Geddert coached the women's gymnastics team, which became known as the “Fierce Five,” which won the team gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. He was suspended by USA Gymnastics in January of 2018 (when Nassar was sentenced), with investigations beginning the following month.
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Rachael Denhollander, the first woman to accuse Nassar of sexual abuse, said earlier Thursday Geddert's crimes were swept under the rug:
“Geddert's abuse, like so much, was never a secret,” Denhollander tweeted. “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.
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
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said Thursday the charges against Geddert stemmed from his own behavior, with numerous incidents reportedly spanning a decade.
