was an LDS church member and schoolteacher in Arizona; molested a 14-year-old girl at an LDS girls camp in mid-1990; the abuse was reported to a bishop Burgess, who allegedly failed to report to police, but instead encouraged the victim to forgive; sentenced to prison in 1999 for two counts of child sexual abuse; released in 2007

Case report

Rowan Ellsworth was a Mormon church member in Arizona.

Ellsworth molested a 14-year-old girl at an LDS girls camp in mid-1990.

A person familiar with Ellsworth’s case told FLOODLIT that the abuse was reported to a bishop in Winslow, Arizona, with the last name Burgess. Burgess did not notify law enforcement, but instead encouraged the victim to forgive Ellsworth, according to our source, who requested to remain anonymous.

In 1999, Ellsworth was sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually molesting two children.

He was released in 2007.

Case facts

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Case information sources

  1. Young Couples Planning to be Married in November
    view source details | 5 Oct 1969 | Arizona Republic
  2. Rowan Joseph Ellsworth
    view source details | 17 Jan 2023 | Arizona Corrections criminal record information
  3. nephew of the accused - Anthon Taylor Ellsworth
    view source details | 1 Apr 2024 | FLOODLIT

Case information source details

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