{{Short description|American convicted murderer}} {{Infobox criminal | name = Natalie Paige Cochran | birth_name = Natalie Paige Cochran | birth_date = | conviction = Wire fraud, Money laundering (federal),<ref name="Justice"/> First-degree murder (state)<ref name="Castillo"/> | penalty = 135 months (fraud, federal), Life in prison without parole (murder, state) | criminal_status = Incarcerated | occupation = Former pharmacist | spouse = Michael Brandon Cochran (deceased) | motive = Financial gain, concealment of fraudulent activities | criminal_charge = 2020 (fraud), 2025 (murder) | imprisoned = FCI Hazelton | fatalities = 1 }}
'''Natalie Paige Cochran''' (born November 1980) is an American former pharmacist and murderer. She is from Raleigh County, West Virginia. She is known for her convictions related to fraud and the murder of her husband, Michael Brandon Cochran.<ref name="Justice"/><ref name="Stowers"/>
== Early life and career == Natalie Paige Cochran (née Jessup; born November 1980)<ref name="Sports">{{cite web |date=March 7, 2025| title=Where is Natalie Cochran now? Details explored ahead of 20/20 on ABC | url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/shows/where-natalie-cochran-now-details-explored-ahead-20-20-abc | access-date=29 June 2025 | website=Sportskeeda}}</ref> was born in Raleigh County, West Virginia. She pursued a career in pharmacy and married Michael Brandon Cochran in the early 2000s. The couple had two children and ran a contracting business during the 2010s, which later became central to her legal troubles.<ref name="Justice">{{Cite web |date=September 21, 2020 |title=Raleigh County Pharmacist Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Money Laundering |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdwv/pr/raleigh-county-pharmacist-pleads-guilty-wire-fraud-and-money-laundering |access-date=18 March 2025 |website=United States Attorney's Office, Southern District of West Virginia - via United States Department of Justice (www.justice.gov)}}</ref>
== Criminal case history == === Fraud convictions ===
From 2017 to 2019, Cochran operated a $2.5 million Ponzi scheme, defrauding investors under the guise of a government contracting business. She persuaded at least 11 individuals to invest in her companies, Technology Management Solutions and Tactical Solutions Group, by falsely claiming she had lucrative government contracts.<ref name="Justice"/><ref name="Stowers">{{cite web |last1=Stowers |first1=Shannon |title=Raleigh County pharmacist sentenced in $2.5 million fraud scheme |url=https://wchstv.com/news/local/raleigh-county-pharmacist-sentenced-in-25-million-fraud-scheme |website=WCHSTV |date=18 March 2021 |access-date=13 March 2025}}</ref> Instead of investing the funds, Cochran used the money for personal expenses, including purchasing real estate, jewelry, and a 1965 Shelby Cobra.<ref name="Justice"/> She also used funds from new investors to pay partial returns to earlier investors, a hallmark of Ponzi schemes.<ref name="Justice"/> One investor alone lost over $500,000 due to her fraudulent activities.<ref name="Justice"/> Cochran pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering on September 21, 2020, and was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison. She was also ordered to pay $2.5 million in restitution and forfeit assets obtained through her scheme.<ref name="Justice"/><ref name="Cinemaholic">{{cite web |last1=Shrestha |first1=Naman |title = Natalie Cochran: Where is the Scammer and Killer Now? |url=https://thecinemaholic.com/natalie-cochran/ |website = The Cinemaholic |date = 14 February 2025 |access-date = 10 April 2025}}</ref>
=== Murder conviction ===
Cochran was later convicted of first-degree murder in state court for poisoning her husband, Michael Brandon Cochran, with insulin.<ref name="Castillo">{{cite web |last1=Castillo |first1=Robert |title=Natalie Cochran sentenced to life in prison without parole |url=https://www.wvva.com/2025/01/30/mercy-phase-begins-natalie-cochran-trial/ |website=WVVA |date=30 January 2025 |access-date=13 March 2025}}</ref> Prosecutors argued that Michael had grown suspicious of their business dealings and planned to investigate further.<ref name="Jenkins">{{cite web |last1=Jenkins |first1=Jeff |title=Cochran trial: Doctor says insulin killed Michael Cochran, state rests |url=https://wvmetronews.com/2025/01/22/cochran-trial-doctor-says-insulin-killed-michael-cochran/ |website=WV Metro News |date=22 January 2025 |access-date=18 March 2025}}</ref> On February 5, 2019, Cochran canceled Michael’s flight to Virginia, where he intended to investigate their business dealings, and injected him with insulin. Despite his deteriorating condition, Cochran refused to take him to the hospital, telling friends he would “sleep it off.” Michael died on February 11, 2019.<ref name="Castillo"/><ref name="Jenkins"/><ref name="People">{{cite web |last1=Baker |first1=KC|title=Pharmacist Killed Husband with Insulin Injection So He Wouldn't Learn About $2M Ponzi Scheme |url=https://people.com/pharmacist-killed-husband-with-insulin-injection-so-he-wouldn-t-learn-about-usd2m-ponzi-scheme-8782793 |website=People |date=29 January 2025 |access-date=10 April 2025}}</ref>
During the trial, forensic experts confirmed that Michael’s death was caused by nonprescribed insulin. Prosecutors argued that Cochran killed her husband to prevent him from uncovering her fraudulent activities.<ref name="Castillo"/> The jury deliberated for less than two hours before delivering a guilty verdict. In January 2025, Cochran was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole, with the jury recommending no mercy.<ref name= "Justice"/><ref name="Castillo"/><ref name="ABC">{{cite web |last1 = Louallen |first1 = Doc |title = How far would a wife go to keep $2M Ponzi scheme a secret? |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wife-2m-ponzi-scheme-secret/story?id=118580988 |website=ABC News |date=14 February 2025 |access-date=10 April 2025}}</ref>
After announcing in November 2023 that he would not run for re-election at the end of 2024, Judge H.L. Kirkpatrick,<ref name="Moore">{{Cite web |last=Register-Herald |first=Josephine E. Moore The |date=2023-11-06 |title=Raleigh Judge Kirkpatrick to retire after nearly 30 years |url=https://www.register-herald.com/news/raleigh-judge-kirkpatrick-to-retire-after-nearly-30-years/article_7a65e2c8-7cf8-11ee-8ac8-8bfeab912858.html |access-date=17 June 2025 |website=Beckley Register-Herald |language=en}}</ref> stated that he would preside over the Natalie Cochran trial by special appointment.<ref name="Farrish">{{Cite web |last1 = Farrish |first1 = Jessica | date=December 14, 2024 |title=Judge H.L. Kirkpatrick's "last" Christmas party draws a crowd |url=https://www.wvnstv.com/news/judge-h-l-kirkpatricks-last-christmas-party-draws-a-crowd/ |access-date= 17 June 2025 |website=WVNS |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Legislative impact ==
In February 2025, West Virginia lawmakers introduced House Bill 2789, also known as '''The Michael Brandon Cochran Act'''. The bill mandates intensive care units to conduct C-peptide insulin tests for unconscious patients or those presenting with hypoglycemia and blood glucose levels below 49 mg/dl. The legislation aims to prevent similar cases of insulin misuse.<ref>[https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=hb2789%20intr.htm&yr=2025&sesstype=RS&i=2789 The Michael Brandon Cochran Act]. WV Legislature (2025).</ref>
== Media attention ==
Cochran’s story has been covered extensively in media outlets, including a feature on ''20/20: Small Town Big Con'', which explored her crimes and their impact on the community.<ref name="Silver">{{cite web |last1=Silver |first1=Lauren |last2=Wong |first2=Grace |title=WV v. Natalie Cochran: Ponzi Scheme Murder Trial |url=https://www.courttv.com/news/wv-v-natalie-cochran-ponzi-scheme-murder-trial/ |website=Court TV |access-date=14 March 2025}}</ref> Other national outlet coverage also includes CBS News, ABC News, Dateline NBC, Court TV, and People magazine.<ref name ="People"/><ref name ="ABC"/><ref name ="Silver"/>
== References ==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cochran, Natalie}} Category:21st-century American murderers Category:21st-century American pharmacists Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:People from Raleigh County, West Virginia Category:American women pharmacists