CHARLOTTE, Mich. — The gymnasts who spoke to the Michigan Attorney General's Office about coach John Geddert painted a horrifying picture.
Extreme verbal and emotional abuse. Excessive physical conditioning. Girls forced to perform through injuries. Sexual and physical assaults.
Geddert, the former USA Olympic Gymnastics coach and owner and coach at the Lansing, Michigan-area gym Twistars, was charged Thursdaywith 24 felonies: 20 counts of human trafficking and forced labor, two counts of sexual assault, racketeering and lying to police.
Geddert died by suicide Thursday afternoon, several hours after charges were filed.