St. Louis Post-Dispatch
By Robert Patrick
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
12/17/2005
SAN ANTONIO
The stories all start the same way.
Brother William "Bill" Mueller would pull high school boys out of class or buttonhole them in the hallway.
He would ask for their help on a science experiment, a secret project for his master's thesis in psychology or a project for church leaders on why priests or religious brothers were leaving. Other students allege that Mueller took them out of class for counseling.
After school or on weekends, in four schools in three states, Mueller would lead the students down long hallways to his office, the band room, a storage room, closet or another office, students say.
Some claim Mueller blindfolded them, made them hyperventilate, or pressed a strong-smelling cloth over their mouths and noses.
One alleged in a lawsuit that Mueller sneaked up behind him and pressed a cloth soaked with ether against his face, then sexually abused him. Another said Mueller fondled him while checking his compliance with the school dress code.