Francis Cochran (1921 – 2005) was a Mormon high priest in the Seattle 6th Ward in Seattle, Washington in the 1980s; convicted twice in the 1980s of crimes related to sexual abuse of multiple children; allegedly assaulted multiple young girls on LDS property, including during church meetings; a 2025 lawsuit (Floodlit broke the story) said stake president Paul Diehl & multiple ward bishops covered up allegations against Cochran.
Stake president and two LDS bishops allegedly covered up abuse allegations
"Despite numerous red flags, Defendants continued to give High Priest Cochran access to minor church members. Defendants allowed High Priest Cochran to continue to attend and volunteer at church events, including those attended by minors. Defendants also allowed High Priest Cochran to continue to transport young girls, including vulnerable refugee girls, to and from church events."
— civil complaint filed Sept. 17, 2025 (case 2:25-cv-01797)

Sept. 18, 2025: BREAKING: New lawsuit says Mormon church covered up additional child sexual abuse by an already-convicted high priest in Seattle, Washington.

Paul Diehl, the Seattle stake president during the alleged coverup, was promoted by the Mormon church to a Quorum of the Seventy from at least 1997 to 2000.

Floodlit.org obtained a copy of the lawsuit.

Here is a timeline of alleged events:

  • 1921: Francis DeFord Corser Cochran (perpetrator) is born.
  • Approximately 1983: Paul Diehl becomes stake president of the Seattle Washington stake.
  • Early 1980s: Cochran, a High Priest in the Seattle 6th Ward, allegedly openly places young girls on his lap during Mormon sacrament meetings and church nursery (daycare) activities. Multiple church members notice that Cochran frequently invites young girls to visit his home and often offering them gifts to lure them.
  • About 1984: Harold Glick, a bishopric member, overhears bishopric discussions about Cochran and warns his son or son in-law not to allow his young daughter to spend time along with Cochran. The girl’s father prohibits her from visiting Cochran’s home or sitting near him at church.
  • 1984-1985: Despite awareness of Cochran’s danger to children, 6th Ward bishopric members take no action to remove Cochran or warn families, according to the lawsuit.
  • About 1985: A girl, approximately age 5, is allegedly groomed and sexually abused by Cochran during the Mormon church’s day care program on church property. The alleged abuse includes placing her on his lap and assaulting her under her dress, in front of another adult volunteer who does not intervene.
  • 1985-1986: Cochran allegedly places a girl on his lap during sacrament meeting and digitally penetrates her in a room full of Mormon churchgoers.
  • April 1986: Cochran’s neighbor discovers him with his pants down and sexually assaulting a child in a home. Cochran begs the neighbor not to tell anyone, according to court documents. A police investigation reveals multiple instances of sexual abuse against multiple children.
  • March 1987: Cochran pleads guilty to two counts of first-degree statutory rape.
  • Early 1987: A Mormon girl tells her mother that Cochran abused her at church. The mother notifies the police and Gerald Hoffman, bishop of the Seattle 6th ward, according to the lawsuit. Hoffman meets at his home with Cochran, Cochran’s wife and the girl’s parents. According to the complaint, Hoffman asks if the parents still plan to contact police. Hoffman does not mention Cochran’s prior conviction.
  • Mid-1987: The girl’s mother warns other mothers in the 6th ward about Cochran. Other children at church report similar abuse by Cochran. Bishop Hoffman threatens to revoke the girl’s parents’ temple recommend if they continue warning others. The matter escalates to 9th Ward Bishop Larsen and stake president Paul Diehl. Diehl meets with the parents at his home.
  • Late 1987: President Diehl tells Bishop Hoffman to announce to the 6th Ward adults that Cochran has been excommunicated and to urge parents to protect their children.
  • September 1987: Seattle Police Department investigates Cochran again for sexual abuse of minors on church property after reports of two girls. Reports describe Cochran placing girls on his lap, reaching under dresses, and assaulting them.
  • May 1988: Cochran pleads guilty to two counts of indecent liberties for child sexual abuse on Mormon church property.
  • Late 1980s and after: Despite multiple convictions and alleged excommunication, Mormon officials continue to allow Cochran to be involved in church activities, including attending events with children and transporting young girls (including vulnerable refugee girls to/from church).
  • Approximately 1989: Paul Diehl is released as stake president.
  • Approximately 1997: Paul Diehl becomes a member of a Quorum of the Seventy in the Mormon church.
  • 2000: Diehl is given emeritus status.
  • 2005: Cochran dies.
  • 2015: Ex-bishop Gerald Hoffman dies.
  • 2022: Ex-stake president and Seventy Paul Diehl dies.
  • Aug. 18, 2025: Two plaintiffs, both alleged victims of Cochran, sue the Mormon church in King County Superior court, alleging negligence and failure to protect despite known risks.
  • Sept. 17, 2025: The complaint is filed in a related federal case.

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Sources

  1. 2025 WA Lawsuit: Jane Doe #1, Jane Doe #2 v. Mormon church re: alleged child sexual abuse by Francis “Mickey” Cochran, Floodlit.org, September 18, 2025.
  2. Diehl a 70, , September 24, 2025.
  3. Cochran obit, , September 24, 2025.
  4. Diehl obit, , September 24, 2025.
  5. 2 families sue LDS Church for sexual abuse of their children at Seattle site, KIRO 7 (Seattle, Washington), September 19, 2025.

  • 1. 2025 WA Lawsuit: Jane Doe #1, Jane Doe #2 v. Mormon church re: alleged child sexual abuse by Francis “Mickey” Cochran

    • 18 Sep 2025
    • Website
    • Floodlit.org

    This is a copy of a civil complaint originally filed on Aug. 18, 2025, in the Superior Court of the state of Washington for King County (Case No. 25-2-23864-4 SEA) and filed on Sept. 17, 2025 in a related federal lawsuit in the Western District of Washington.

    Francis Cochran (1921 – 2005) was a Mormon high priest in the Seattle 6th Ward in Seattle, Washington in the 1980s; convicted twice in the 1980s of crimes related to sexual abuse of multiple children; allegedly assaulted multiple young girls on LDS property, including during church meetings; a 2025 lawsuit (Floodlit broke the story) said a Mormon stake president and multiple ward bishops covered up allegations against Cochran.

  • 2. Diehl a 70

    • News article

  • 3. Cochran obit

    • News article

  • 4. Diehl obit

    • News article

  • 5. 2 families sue LDS Church for sexual abuse of their children at Seattle site

    • 19 Sep 2025
    • News article
    • KIRO 7 (Seattle, Washington)

    SEATTLE — Two families are suing the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints (LDS), claiming that the church knowingly allowed a high priest with convictions for child sexual abuse to have continued access to children in Seattle.

    These two families say that their 4-year-old and 5-year-old were sexually abused by that high priest in the 80s.

    “Despite Defendants’ knowledge, the Defendants failed to take reasonable steps to protect Plaintiffs from the danger of being sexually abused by [high priest]. As a result, High Priest [name] was able to use his positions with Defendants to sexually abuse Plaintiffs,” the suit read.

    KIRO 7 is not naming the high priest because some of his victims were family members. Naming him could identify them.

    The suit alleges that the LDS Church knew of the danger and risk the high priest posed to children as early as 1984, but still allowed him to lead and have access to children at the church and a daycare run by LDS.

    The High Priest would often put young girls on his lap for no solid reason, according to the suit. One parent saw him touching a girl inappropriately while she was on his lap.

    One of the victims in the suit was 5 years old when she was abused by the high priest. She reported the abuse two years later to her mother.

    The girl’s mother had a meeting with a bishop and the high priest, who downplayed the concerns, despite admitting to the mother that the high priest had previous known incidents of child sexual assault, the suit said.

    After that meeting, the girl’s mother informed other mother’s in the church who said they had similar misgivings.

    Another woman came forward saying that her 4 year old was assaulted by the high priest in 1983.

    The concerns were escalated to the president of the chapter, who told the bishop to tell the congregation that the high priest had been excommunicated,

    In March of 1987, the high priest pleaded guilty to two counts of statutory rape.

    Several months later, in September, Seattle police investigated him again for sexual abuse of minors. This investigation involved sexual abuse on Defendant’s property and was reported by two minor church members, including the first victim.

    In 1988, he pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent liberties for sexual abuse that occurred on the LDS property.

    In the suit, the parents are asking for the following relief:

    a. That the Court award Plaintiffs monetary relief to include all special and general damages established at trial;

    b. That the Court award Plaintiffs their costs, reasonable attorney fees, and any statutory interests applicable under law or equity;

    c. That the Court award Plaintiffs pre-judgment interest on items of special damages;

    d. That the Court award Plaintiffs post-judgment interest; and

    e. That the Court award Plaintiffs such other relief, under law or equity, as the Court may deem just and proper.

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