7 LDS sex abuse cases found
died awaiting trial
- Criminal case result: Died awaiting trial
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- Paul Adams (1982 – 2017) was an LDS church member in Arizona; sexually abused two children for several years after confessing to his bishop; arrested and charged; died by suicide in 2017 while in custody awaiting trial; as of October 2025, a lawsuit against the church is ongoing
Alleged crime: 2010s, 
Alleged crime state:
Arizona,
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LDS positions: Not active LDS, Unknown position, - Criminal case(s): Admitted guilt, Died awaiting trial, Not convicted, Suicide,
- Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Alleged failure to report
- View report »
Alleged crime state:
2025: Arizona Court of Appeals reinstated a lawsuit v. the Mormon church
"They said, 'You absolutely can do nothing.'
"
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- Stewart Allsford (1951 – 2017) was a former LDS bishop in the Plymouth England stake; accused of sexually abusing two girls; died by suicide on third day of his child sex abuse trial
- Alleged crime: 1990s,
- Alleged crime country:
England, United Kingdom,
Alleged crime country:
LDS positions: Bishop, 
Criminal case(s): Died awaiting trial, Not convicted, Suicide, 
Alleged failure to report-
- Arthur Bennett was an LDS church member in Hurricane, Utah; accused of sexual abuse of two teenage girls; allegedly faked a suicide to collect insurance money; was arrested and charged with murder and sexual abuse; died by suicide in jail while awaiting trial
- LDS positions: Unknown position,
- Criminal case(s): Died awaiting trial, Not convicted, Suicide,
- View report »
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- Larry Harmon (1932 – 2012) was a Mormon in Utah; sentenced to jail and probation in 2005 for aggravated sex abuse of a child; charged in 2012 with first-degree felony aggravated sex abuse of a child; according to police, Harmon was allowed to be around children at an LDS ward Christmas party (where the alleged abuse took place in 2011) despite being a registered sex offender; died in 2012, so the charge was dismissed
Crime: 2000s, 2010s, - Crime city:
UT - Orem,
- Crime county:
UT - Utah,
- Crime state:
Utah,
Crime city:
Crime county:
Convicted:
2005, LDS positions: Missionary, Senior missionary, Temple worker, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Died awaiting trial, Jail, Probation, Registered sex offender, According to police, Harmon was allowed to be around children at an LDS ward Christmas party despite being a registered sex offender
"[T]he defendant was at his LDS Church building in Orem assisting members of the ward in setting up for a Christmas party. He located the 12-year-old female victim alone in the kitchen of the church."
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- 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
- Crime: 1990s, 2000s,
- Crime county:
WA - King,
- Crime state:
Washington,
Convicted:
1993, LDS positions: High priest, Seminary teacher, Criminal case(s): Convicted, Died awaiting trial, Jail, Prison, Registered sex offender, Suicide, Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing, Alleged failure to reportone boy estimated that Herget abused him 1,400 times
"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."
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- Timothy Kimball (1979 – 2023) was an LDS church member in San Antonio, Texas; charged in 2022 with child sexual abuse; died by suicide in June 2023 while awaiting indictment
- LDS positions: Missionary, Other leader,
- Criminal case(s): Died awaiting trial, Not convicted, Suicide,
- View report »
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- Jesse Murff was an LDS church member and attorney in Utah; arrested in May 2020 on 26 counts related to alleged sexual abuse; died in June 2020 at a hospital several days after he apparently attempted suicide in his cell
- Alleged crime: 2010s, 2020s,
- Alleged crime state:
Utah,
LDS positions: Unknown position, Criminal case(s): Died awaiting trial, Not convicted, Suicide, Filters
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