WORCESTER (MA)
Telegram & Gazette
By Gary V. Murray TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
gmurray@telegram.com
WORCESTER— After telling two state police detectives he would enhance their career opportunities and likely get them promoted, convicted murderer Joseph L. Druce proceeded to give a five-page statement explaining how and why he killed defrocked pedophile priest John J. Geoghan in his prison cell, the officers testified yesterday.
The testimony came during a Worcester Superior Court hearing on a defense motion to suppress Mr. Druce’s alleged confession in the Aug. 23, 2003, beating and strangulation death of the 68-year-old ex-priest in his cell at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center on the Lancaster-Shirley line.
Mr. Druce, awaiting trial on a murder charge in the slaying, is planning to raise an insanity defense. The motion to suppress is based on defense claims that Mr. Druce was beaten by prison staff after being removed from Mr. Geoghan’s cell and that he was “in pain, suffering from a major mental illness and in a manic state” when he made the alleged admissions to prison investigators and state police.
At the time of the killing in the protective custody unit at the maximum-security prison, Mr. Geoghan, a central figure in the clergy sex abuse scandal in the Boston Catholic archdiocese, was serving a sentence of nine to 10 years for sexually abusing a 10-year-old boy. Mr. Druce, who has publicly identified himself as a victim of sexual abuse as a child, was serving a life sentence for the murder of a man he believed was gay.
State police Detective David Napolitano testified yesterday that Mr. Druce eagerly confessed to the killing at Souza-Baranowski after being advised of his Miranda rights on the afternoon that Mr. Geoghan was slain. Before doing so, the detective said, Mr. Druce told him that “he was going to make my whole career and that I’d probably get promoted after this case.”
Detective Napolitano testified that Mr. Druce told him he killed the defrocked priest because Mr. Geoghan “ ‘was talking about getting out and skinning more children and I just couldn’t let that happen.’ ” The detective said the suspect recounted sneaking into Mr. Geoghan’s cell, jamming the cell door with a book and other items to prevent anyone from intervening, and knocking the ex-priest down, smashing his face on the floor and strangling him with a pair of socks.
According to the statement, Mr. Geoghan pleaded for his life, telling his assailant, “It doesn’t have to happen like this.” Mr. Druce allegedly responded, “Shut up. Your days are over. No more children for you, pal.”
Detective Napolitano testified that Mr. Druce told him he intended to castrate the defrocked priest “to make a statement to the other pedophiles,” but couldn’t find the disposable razor he had brought along for that purpose. The suspect said he had been planning the killing for several weeks, according to the detective.
At other points during the interrogation, Mr. Druce said he believed the killing was an “honorable” thing to do and that he viewed the ex-priest as a “prize,” Detective Napolitano testified.
Under cross-examination by defense lawyer John H. LaChance, the detective acknowledged telling Mr. Druce, who had complained of sore ribs, that he could not have any pain medication until after he had finished giving his statement. Detective Napolitano said he was concerned that the medication might affect the suspect’s ability to communicate and might also result in claims that his statement was not voluntary.
Detective Wayne Gerhardt, who was also present during the interview, testified that Mr. Druce “viewed himself as a hero” and was “very proud of what he did.” The detective also recalled Mr. Druce’s statement preceding the interrogation that the two officers would “get promoted” for their work in the case.
Testimony in the hearing is scheduled to resume Sept. 27.