WISCONSIN
Renew America
Matt C. Abbott
October 12, 2005
Not surprisingly, there have been several news reports in recent days regarding various aspects of the now-closed murder case of Dan O'Connell and James Ellison, who were shot to death in 2002.
Last week, a judge ruled that the late Father Ryan Erickson likely committed the murders, reportedly because of what O'Connell apparently knew about allegations of molestation made against Erickson. (Ellison was likely killed for being "at the wrong place at the wrong time.")
Then there's the controversy over what the Diocese of Superior knew, or may have known, about Erickson's past.
According to an Oct. 7 story in the Hudson Star Observer:
...Erickson had a long history of sexual abuse allegations against him and underwent several psychological evaluations, however no allegation was ever substantiated by authorities and no charges were ever brought against him.