Geoghan's Death Is Described

Washington Post ^ | 8/25/03 | Jonathan Finer

[hole_n_one]

washingtonpost.com

Geoghan's Death Is Described
Fellow Inmate Jammed Cell Door During Attack

By Jonathan Finer
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, August 25, 2003; Page A01

BOSTON, Aug. 24 -- John J. Geoghan, the former priest and convicted child molester killed in a Massachusetts prison Saturday, was followed into his cell just after lunch by a fellow inmate who bound and gagged him before strangling him with a bed sheet, according to a union representative for prison guards.

The attacker, whom authorities identified as Joseph L. Druce, jammed the electronically operated cell door to prevent guards from opening it. He tied Geoghan's hands behind his back with a sheet and gagged him. He then repeatedly jumped from the bed in the cell onto Geoghan's motionless body and beat the defrocked priest with his fists.

Only one correction officer was on duty in the protective custody unit at the time, according to an account of the attack provided by Robert Brouillette, an executive of the Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union, who interviewed correction officers for seven hours Saturday. State and county officials involved in the investigation would not comment on Brouillette's description.

Druce entered Geoghan's cell just before noon, Brouillette said, when the prisoners left their one-person concrete cells to return their lunch trays. The solid cell door has a chest-high window that guards can look through as they pass by. When the officer on duty heard noises coming from Geoghan's cell but could not open the cell door from the control panel at his station, other officers were summoned by walkie-talkie. It took several of them to pry open the door.

[thoughtomator]

We all need help, that people like Geoghan are among us.

I for one understand the mixed feelings.

As responsible adults, the story here is that one prisoner got killed by another and justice according to the law could not be served. This is a tragedy.

As human beings who love our brothers and sisters in humanity, we know the law cannot provide for the brutality of punishment that was called for in this case.

Individuals may say one or the other but we all feel both.

Have you noticed that this issue is totally radioactive?

[Hank Rearden]

My favorite part:

"We've cut about $3 billion out of [the state's] budget in the last three years, and that may mean police and corrections aren't as well staffed as they should be," said state Rep. Martin J. Walsh (D), the chairman of the legislature's homeland security and federal affairs committee.

No matter what the issue, the "solution" is lots more booty for government union parasites.

[Palladin]

Could Druce have been one of Geoghan's victims, years ago?

Has any reporter hit on this possibility yet?

To me, it seemed like a very personal killing. Overkill, really, with Druce jumping on the old man's body that way. Almost symbolic.

A "hit" would've been done in a cold, clean manner, like a quick stabbing.

[Kevin Curry]

Jeez, that's a pretty horrific death.

Apparently, Massachusetts does have capital punishment. The method of execution is named Joe Druce and he expressly desires the death to be cruel and unusual.

And unlike other methods of capital punishement, Joe Druce can't be turned off.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Yes. I know. Congressman BillyBob apparently is not aware of this.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

You seem to be pretty willing to defend a pervert who abused his position of trust and power to sexually violate over 100 young boys. hmmm.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

How many people are on Death Row in KA?

[savedbygrace]

As I understand it, pedophiles are considered the lowest lifeform in prison. The killer didn't need a bribe.

[freebilly]

About a billion, give or take a few dozen....

[JulieRNR21]

Here's the latest from Reuters. Note that Druce's father said that his son had a 'grudge against homosexuals'.

Another reason to support the death penalty is that it prevents this kind of 'free killing' in prisons. Druce knows he'll just get another life sentence.

Prosecutors probe Geoghan's death

BOSTON (Aug. 24) - Prosecutors investigated on Sunday how a convicted murderer said to bear a grudge against homosexuals managed to strangle fellow inmate John Geoghan, a pedophile priest at the center of a church sex abuse scandal, inside one of Massachusetts' most secure prisons.

Geoghan was apparently killed by Joseph Druce, 37, Worcester County District Attorney John Conte said on Saturday, declining to say how he was choked to death. An autopsy is planned for Monday and murder charges will be filed.

The 68-year old defrocked priest, who was serving a sentence for groping a boy while they were swimming, was a central figure in the sex scandal that sent shockwaves through the Roman Catholic Church in the United States and abroad.

His prosecution helped uncover a string of pedophile cases that forced Cardinal Bernard Law to resign last year as leader of the Boston Archdiocese, home to more than two million Catholics and the emotional heart of the Church in the United States.

Geoghan's violent death shocked the city and more than 130 people who have filed lawsuits charging he abused them over a span of 40 years when he was being shuttled around several parishes in the Boston area.

''I had a moment of thinking 'He got what he deserved','' said Michael Linscott, 45, when heard the man who had molested him as an altar boy 37 years ago was murdered.

''As victims we will live in our own prison forever, but Geoghan got off easy. He is never going to hurt anyone again, but he still had a lot of penance to do on earth,'' Linscott said, biting his lip at a news conference.

CRIMINAL CASES CLOSED

Geoghan died at a time the Church is offering to pay $65 million to settle abuse cases. Mitchell Garabedian, a lawyer who represents more than 100 victims, said it was impossible to predict how the killing may affect these talks. But several criminal cases against Geoghan will now be closed, he said.

Officials refused to say how Druce, whose father said he held a grudge against homosexuals, managed to get near Geoghan in a special section of the Souza Baranowski prison 30 miles northwest of Boston where Geoghan was held in protective custody and had only limited contact with other prisoners.

''We can't release any details because the District Attorney's office is conducting an investigation,'' said Kelly Nantel, a spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections. Druce, who is serving a life sentence for murdering an elderly man, is now in isolation at the facility.

Psychiatrists say child molesters are often at great risk in prison because their fellow inmates -- convicted rapists, murderers and robbers -- tend to classify them as the most heinous criminals of all.

The Boston Globe reported that Druce's father, Dana Smiledge, said ''I can't understand why they would put a guy who would kill a sex offender in a cell with a sex offender.'' Nantel would not say whether Druce and Geoghan knew each other or were locked in the same cell. Geoghan was only recently moved to this prison, one of most secure in the state.

On Sunday morning nearby parishes offered a mass for Geoghan, whose death was called ''tragic'' by the Archdiocese.

''I'm glad they offered a mass for him. I just hope they offer a mass for the victims too,'' said John King, 40, who was abused as an altar boy by another priest in the Boston area.

The Archdiocese's new bishop, Sean O'Malley, is winning praise for confronting the scandal. He did not discuss the Geoghan murder in detail at mass on Sunday, but offered prayers to the ex-priest's family.

O'Malley did however signal a tough line with pedophile priests this weekend when his spokesman said four priests who stand accused of molesting children were put on indefinite administrative leave.

Reut16:06 08-24-03

[Fred Mertz]

You seem to be the one with a sick mind.....hmmmm.

[dighton]

Could Druce have been one of Geoghan's victims, years ago?

Perhaps. My own guess, for what it's worth, is that Mr. Druce enjoys killing people.

[mrsmith]

AP David Espo Nov 1 2001
"Joseph Druce, 36, an inmate at the Cedar Junction state prison in Walpole was charged with mailing a threatening letter containing white powder and indicating it was contaminated with anthrax. "

Guy seems to have a lot of free time.

[dogbyte12]

Don't be an ass. If you want a system of justice where murderers, and arsonists are going to be the judge and jury, no thanks.

Change the laws, get the death penalty on the books in Massachussettes. The guy who did this gets a freebie. Does he get double secret life now? What if he killed a guard? But, this is different right?

Bubba doesn't have the ability to judge from right or wrong, that is why he is in prison. I don't want him dispensing justice.

[McGavin999]

Wonder if this prisoner was one of the priest's victems?

[dennisw]

Geoghan was an evil creep, but nobody deserves to die this way. ...............


Get real. This demon didn't rape one or two boys. He raped and f****d up the lived of scores of young boys. Your words of sympathy are misplaced and foolish.

[discostu]

According to Dante Geoghan now gets to spend eternity wandering on buring sands with hellfilre raining down on him (that's the punishment for both blashpemy and sodomy). Either that or he gets whipped by demons while marching (seducer punishment). Possibly encased in ice (trechery).

People like him deserve punishment most vile, Dante knew it.

[freebilly]

Actually, about 600 are on Death Row.

Regarding Geoghan, I may have wanted his death, but one of those 10 Commandments explicitly prohibits committing murder. Druce will pay for his crime, in the next world, if not in this one....

[YankeeinOkieville]

Say what you will about California, at least we've a death penalty.

And in Oklahoma we use ours. I only hope with the newly popular DNA testing available the ratio of those taking advantage of the opportunity to check out of our lovely penal system via this route is vastly improved. For the state to kill one innocent person is one too many.