HUDSON (WI)
Ironwood Daily Globe
Published Tuesday, June 7, 2005 1:04:44 PM Central Time
By MARGARET LEVRA
Globe Staff Writer
HUDSON, Wis. -- The investigation into the February 2002 murders of a Hudson funeral home director and his intern could be coming to an end soon, but authorities might not have enough evidence to positively conclude who shot the men.
There's plenty of circumstantial evidence that links the late Rev. Ryan Erickson to the shooting deaths of Dan O'Connell, 39, and his 22-year-old intern, James Ellison from Barron, according to Hudson Police Chief Richard Trende. But he added there was no concrete evidence at this time.
Investigators presented their findings to the St. Croix County District Attorney in late April and are awaiting additional computer information, Trende said.
During a mid-December search of the St. Mary's Church rectory in Hurley, computers and other personal property of Erickson were seized. Three days after the search, on Dec. 19, Erickson hanged himself outside the hallway between the rectory and the church. ...
He said Erickson admitted to allegations involving a minor, but denied any involvement in the murders.
Posted by kshaw at June 7, 2005 04:19 PM