Former Raleigh County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Tom Truman to try Cochran case

BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) — Tom Truman, who retired in 2022 from the Raleigh County Prosecuting’s Attorney as an assistant prosecutor, took the oath of office in Raleigh County Circuit court and returned as an assistant prosecuting attorney on Wednesday, September 11, 2024.

The Raleigh County Commission hired Truman during a special meeting on Wednesday, in order for Truman to oversee the prosecution of former Daniels pharmacist Natalie Cochran in her ongoing case.

Cochran is charged with first-degree murder in the February 2019 death of her husband, Michael Cochran.

The case has sparked national interest, with “Dateline,” “CourtTV,” “20/20” and the Lifetime series “Snapped!” reportedly expressing interest to local media outlets.

“His experience is second to none. He’s been over there for 30-some years,” Raleigh County Commission President Greg Duckworth said of Truman. “He knows the system, knows the cases. It was a no brainer to get him in there to help through this transition.”

Truman said he worked on Cochran’s case in 2022, prior to his retirement, and that he was convinced of Cochran’s guilt.

“Absolutely,” said Truman. “I was at the time. By the time I mean 2022, when I left there. But what I think doesn’t count. It’s what I can prove.”

Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney Ben Hatfield, who was on administrative leave pending an investigation into workplace allegations in his office, alleged Cochran was operating a Ponzi scheme through two businesses the couple owned.

Hatfield said Michael Cochran’s mother and stepfather invested their life savings, and that Michael Cochran had started questioning Cochran about investors’ returns, allegedly prompting the pharmacist to use a lethal dose of insulin to kill him.

Cochran reportedly placed her husband at Bowers Hospice House in the days before he died.

Truman said on Wednesday that that decision likely led the West Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to find no suspicious reason for Michael Cochran’s death.

“That’s what they go to Hospice to do, is die in comfort, and so there was no suspicion that would arouse a Medical Examiner’s involvement,” said Truman. “That, unfortunately is one of the many things that led to some issues the state will have to overcome at trial.”

Truman told 59News that before Hatfield was placed on administrative leave, he hired a medical expert to test Michael Cochran’s exhumed remains and that the results from the testing are beneficial to the state’s case.

Cochran, who pleaded guilty in federal court in 2022 to fraud charges and is currently serving an 11-year sentence in federal prison, has denied that she murdered her husband.

During her sentencing hearing on the fraud charges, which stem from the Ponzi scheme, Cochran said her husband had struggled with substance use disorder and was sometimes aggressive.

Prosecutors said there was no evidence Michael Cochran was complicit in the Ponzi scheme.

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