October 09, 2005

Three men report alleged killer priest made sexual advances toward them

HUDSON (WI)
The Reporter

the associated press

HUDSON, Wis. — More witnesses emerged last week in apparent support of a judge’s ruling that a priest had likely killed two funeral home workers in 2002 to cover up his own sexual misconduct.

Hudson police said Friday that at least three men had reported that sexual advances were made toward them while they were teenagers by the Rev. Ryan Erickson, a priest who committed suicide in December at age 31, shortly after police questioned him in the killings. Erickson was a Campbellsport native and graduated from Campbellsport High School.

Police also said they received an anonymous letter, postmarked Oct. 4 from St. Paul, from a man who says he saw Erickson in his car about a half-block from the funeral home where the killings occurred.

The letter depicted Erickson in his car with a “glazed look” the night before funeral home owner Dan O’Connell, a St. Patrick’s parishioner, and mortuary intern James Ellison were shot to death, police said.

Posted by kshaw at October 9, 2005 09:13 AM