2 LDS sex abuse cases found

WA - King
  • Crime county: WA - King
    • Francis DeFord Corser Cochran
    • 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
    • View report »
      • Stake president and two LDS bishops allegedly covered up abuse allegations
    • CrimeCrime: 1980s,
    • Alleged crime scenesCrime city: WA - Seattle,
    • Alleged crime scenesCrime county: WA - King,
    • Alleged crime scenesCrime state: Washington,
    • ConvictedConvicted: 1987, 1988,
    • Church positionsLDS positions: High priest,
    • Criminal casesCriminal case(s): Convicted, Plea deal, Pleaded guilty,
    • Civil casesCivil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
    • Alleged failure to reportAlleged failure to report
      • "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)
    • David Harvey Herget
    • David Herget (1943 – 2005) was a Mormon high priest in Washington; convicted of child rape and child molestation in 1993; sentenced to 180 days in jail and was a registered sex offender; arrested in 2005, died by suicide in jail the next day; detectives identified at least seven victims; one child estimated that Herget abused him 1,400 times; in a 2025 lawsuit against the church, four plaintiffs said officials failed them
    • View report »
      • one boy estimated that Herget abused him 1,400 times
    • CrimeCrime: 1990s, 2000s,
    • Alleged crime scenesCrime county: WA - King,
    • Alleged crime scenesCrime state: Washington,
    • ConvictedConvicted: 1993,
    • Church positionsLDS positions: High priest, Seminary teacher,
    • Criminal casesCriminal case(s): Convicted, Died awaiting trial, Jail, Prison, Registered sex offender, Suicide,
    • Civil casesCivil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
    • Alleged failure to reportAlleged failure to report
      • "This isn't a case of ignorance, it's a case of betrayal. The church knew exactly who this man was and what he had done. Nonetheless, they gave a convicted predator a position of trust and authority, which allowed him to exercise power over young boys. These kids deserved safety. Instead, they were left vulnerable to unimaginable harm."
      — Alexandra Walsh, partner, Anapol Weiss law firm
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