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 failure to report- 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 church actions: Church officials accused of failure to warn ward members, Excommunicated, Ward official accused of failure to report, - View report »
"They said, 'You absolutely can do nothing.' "2025: Arizona Court of Appeals reinstated a lawsuit v. the Mormon church-
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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 failure to report
- Positions: Bishop,
- Criminal case(s): Died awaiting trial, Not convicted, Suicide,
- View report »
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- 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
- 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
- Convicted:
2005,
- Positions: Missionary, Senior missionary, Temple worker,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, Died awaiting trial, Jail, Probation, Registered sex offender,
- Alleged church actions: Church officials accused of allowing interaction with children after notice of wrongdoing, Church officials accused of failure to protect victims after learning of possible abuse,
- View report »
"[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."According to police, Harmon was allowed to be around children at an LDS ward Christmas party despite being a registered sex offender-
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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
- Alleged failure to report
- Convicted:
1993,
- Positions: High priest, Seminary teacher, Ward Santa Claus,
- Criminal case(s): Convicted, Died awaiting trial, Jail, Prison, Registered sex offender, Suicide,
- Civil case(s): Lawsuit v. LDS church, Ongoing,
- Alleged church actions: Church members wrote letters of support, Church officials accused of allowing interaction with children after notice of wrongdoing, Church officials accused of failure to protect victims after learning of possible abuse, Church officials accused of failure to warn ward members, Excommunicated, Rebaptized, Ward official accused of pressuring victim not to seek accountability,
- View 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."one boy estimated that Herget abused him 1,400 times-
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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
- Positions: Missionary, Other leader, Primary, scouts, Temple worker, Young men’s council, Youth leader,
- Criminal case(s): Died awaiting trial, Not convicted, Suicide,
- View report »
"After he was convicted they assigned his victims to give a talk about forgiveness. "-
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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
- Positions: Unknown position,
- Criminal case(s): Died awaiting trial, Not convicted, Suicide,
- View report »
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