Story of Pueblo woman facing alleged rapist goes national

A Pueblo woman’s story of facing her alleged rapist is gaining national attention.

Earlier this month, McKenna Denson recorded herself talking at the podium of a Mormon church in Chandler, Arizona. In the video, Denson calls out Joseph Bishop for raping her back in 1984 while he was in the audience. She was still a missionary in training in Utah, and Bishop was her Mission President at that time.

Also in the video, you can watch as some of the congregation ask her to leave the podium, but Denson said she continued to speak through them. She says by the end, it takes two gentlemen to pull her away from the podium for her to leave.

“I knew that I absolutely had to stand up and let people know that sitting in the pew next to you is a sexual predator,” said Denson. “He’s a rapist, he has raped multiple women.”

Denson says that Bishop would treat her special, and would hold her above the other missionaries in training. She says one day Bishop brought her down into an isolated room in the basement where there was a bed. That’s where she says the church leader tore off her clothes and raped her.

“I didn’t want to believe it happened,” said Denson. “I blamed myself. He told me right after he raped me he said no one would believe you. Look at me. Look at you.”

Denson went to church leaders to report the assault three years later, but nothing came of it. Now so many years later, she has decided to broadcast her story to the world.

In 2017, she filed a report to the BYU Police Department that Bishop had raped her 30 years ago.

Then in December of last year, Denson posed as a reporter and recorded a phone conversation between herself and Bishop. In the recording Bishop admits to raping multiple women during his time as a high ranking member of the church.

Then in April, Denson filed a federal suit in the state of Utah alleging sexual assault against Bishop, but the statute of limitations is preventing that case from moving forward. A federal judge also dismissed two more suits against the Church of Latter Day Saints alleging they intentionally and negligently inflicted emotional distress against Denson.

However, a fourth civil charge against the church remains open. Denson claims the church committed fraud when they knew about Bishop’s heinous sexual activities with multiple women, and continued to promote him within the church as a man of good character.

“Thousands and I mean thousands have reached out to me since April telling me their stories on how they were not believed,” said Denson. “What is true to them should not be shamed.”

In a statement to KRDO, Eric Hawkins Church of Latter Day Saints spokesman says: “They remain confident in the legal system to evaluate these claims and find the truth. There can be no tolerance for abuse.”

As for this video, that’s now gone viral. Hawkins says it is disappointing that anyone would interrupt a worship service to bring attention to their own personal cause.

Denson says she doesn’t regret her actions made at the Chandler Church. Her hope is that the church will change its policies when it comes to sexual assault amongst its members.

Denson’s belief that the church covered up Bishop’s crimes, and then promoted him within the church all while knowing of his actions has destroyed her Mormon faith.

“I feel like I fell out of a plane spiritually and now I’m in free fall,” said Denson. “I don’t know anything anymore. I think there is a god. I hope there is a god but I don’t know anything anymore.”

The federal suit is set to continue in court next month.