February 27, 2006

Dead priest accused of raping women years ago

OHIO
The Post

by Emily Vance
Staff Writer
ev295603@ohiou.edu

A Columbus-area woman has come forward and reported being raped by a priest at Christ the King University Parish in Athens almost 40 years ago.

Carol Zamonski, 42, reported the rape to Athens Police Department two weeks ago.

The Rev. Robert Marrer, was assigned to Christ the King Parish, 75 Stewart St., from 1996 to 1970, according to a news release from the Diocese of Steubenville.

Marrer left the priesthood in 1971 and died in 1996, according to the release.

Monsignor Gerald Calovini, communications director for the Steubenville Diocese, declined to comment.

The incident happened between 1966 and 1969, when Zamonski was between three and six years old, according to a police report.

During those years, her family rented property on Stewart Street that was owned by the church while her father was a doctoral student at Ohio University, Zamonski said.

Her parents became good friends with Marrer and often accepted his offers to baby-sit Zamonski, who was the oldest of three children, she said.

Posted by kshaw at February 27, 2006 09:23 AM