Colombian priests hired killers in suicide pact, prosecutors say

February 15, 2012

Two Catholic priests in Colombia reportedly hired professional killers in a bizarre suicide pact.

Prosecutors in Colombia say that Fathers Richard Piffano and Rafael Reatiga, who were found dead in January 2011, had paid their own assassins. The two priests, who may have been involved in a homosexual relationship, resolved to die together after one was diagnosed with AIDS, according to prosecutors. They hired professional killers because they could not face killing themselves, the police say.

Relatives of the two deceased priests have denied the entirety of the prosecutors’ story, and say that the killings were motivated by robbery.

 

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Further information:

• Colombia priests 'hired own killers' in suicide pact (BBC)