January 06, 2006

Reward fund being converted to help abused children

HUDSON (WI)
Duluth News Tribune

Associated Press

HUDSON, Wis. - Unclaimed reward money in the slayings of two funeral home workers nearly four years ago will be converted to a civic fund to help groups that assist abused children, the widow of one of the victims said.
"We all have a responsibility to do the right thing. To stand up. I want to help prevent child abuse. And Dan would have supported this wholeheartedly," Jennie O'Connell said.
Her husband, Dan, 39, and James Ellison, 22, were fatally shot at the O'Connell Family Funeral Home on Feb. 5, 2002.
In October, St. Croix County Circuit Judge Eric Lundell ruled there was probable cause that the late Rev. Ryan Erickson of St. Patrick's Catholic Church killed the men and that he had molested at least one teenage boy.

Posted by kshaw at January 6, 2006 05:19 PM