September 30, 2005

Priest, Hudson killings linked

HUDSON (WI)
Pioneer Press

BY KEVIN HARTER
Pioneer Press

The Rev. Ryan Erickson likely would have been charged with killing two men in 2002 at a Hudson, Wis., funeral home as well as sexual abuse of a minor and possession of child pornography.

But Erickson hanged himself outside his Wisconsin church last December.

On Monday, prosecutors will lay out the case against Erickson in a private hearing in a St. Croix County courtroom.

District Attorney Eric Johnson and Hudson Police Chief Dick Trende declined to talk about the details Thursday, but they said a strong case will be presented placing Erickson at the funeral home at the time of the slayings.

"I think the case is fairly compelling," Johnson said. "I don't know if it will solve it. If the testimony meets the probable cause standard, I think it will provide some closure."

Posted by kshaw at September 30, 2005 08:12 AM