Sex-abuse accusation could explain unsolved Montana murder mystery

June 02, 2015

The unsolved disappearance of a priest in Montana in 1984 may be related to sexual abuse.

In April, when the Diocese of Helena released a list of the priests and other Church employees who had been accused of sexual abuse, one name on the list was that of Father Joseph Kerrigan, who disappeared in 1984. His body has never been found, but his clothes, and later his car, were discovered by police, stained with blood.

The priest’s wallet, containing over $1,000 in cash, was found in his car—thus presumably eliminating robbery as a motivation for the crime. The car had been wiped to eliminate fingerprints. A bloody shovel was found in the trunk.

 

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Further information:

• List of priests accused of sex abuse includes 1 believed to be murder victim (Missoulian)