This happened someplace I felt so safe," said Christine Schirtzinger. My assault was completely preventable. An Ironman triathlete and coach, a mother, and a mentor, Schirtzinger, 51, is choosing to put her face and name out publicly through this for that reason. For Schirtzinger, it happened on Dec. She called massage therapy an important part of her decades as a triathlete. The moment was so surreal I couldn't even comprehend what had just happened to me.
Schirtzinger said she didn't say anything else. She went home, and ultimately talked to a sexual assault counselor and her husband. The police report claims Garrett first asked to work on Schirtzinger's hip flexors, to which she consented β and went on to digitally penetrate her four times in a matter of seconds.
The report said Schirtzinger told Garrett to stop, which he did. The report said Schirtzinger then declined when Garrett asked if she wanted him to massage her pectorals β saying he could massage her shoulders and nothing lower. Eventually, Garrett was charged with multiple felonies. Fourteen hearings and more than two years later, he pleaded guilty to attempted criminal sexual abuse in March of this year. This plea required Garrett to register as a sex offender and no longer work as a massage therapist.
But you're hearing from Schirtzinger because it didn't end there. She didn't learn until after the plea deal - a deal she thought would protect other women β that Garrett had a felony history before all of this. Schirtzinger said there is a reason she is choosing to keep fighting - this time publicly - nearly two years later. Massage Envy refused to answer our questions, but sent us this statement on their commitment to safety:.
We urge anyone who experiences anything other than a safe, quality massage to report it immediately to the franchised location so that it can be investigated. We cannot comment on pending allegations or litigation involving any independently owned and operated franchised location. In , an investigation by BuzzFeed News found more than women have accused therapists at Massage Envy of groping and other sexual acts. CBS 2 has covered past allegations of sexual assault by Massage Envy therapists in past years.
