HUDSON (WI)
Grand Forks Herald
Associated Press
HUDSON, Wis. - The investigation into the killing of two funeral home workers more than three years ago awaits a sophisticated examination and analysis of a dead priest's computer seized months ago, including the recovery of e-mails that were deleted, the police chief said Wednesday.
"At this point in time, that seems to be the last piece that we need," Chief Richard Trende said.
The computer was seized in December at a rectory in Hurley when the Rev. Ryan Erickson was questioned in the Feb. 5, 2002, killings of funeral home director Dan O'Connell, 39, and his 22-year-old old intern, James Ellison. Erickson was an associate pastor at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Hudson when the funeral workers were killed.
Just days after being questioned, Erickson, 31, was found hanged Dec. 19 from a fire escape at St. Mary's Church in Hurley. Police said he had denied any involvement in the murders.
Trende said Erickson was questioned after a separate investigation was launched last fall into an allegation the priest was involved in a possible crime involving a child or children before he was assigned to the church in Hurley.
Trende has refused to provide many details, including what led detectives to question the priest about the murders, and a judge has sealed court documents in the case, including requests for search warrants.