By Buffy Spencer
The Republican
February 22, 2008
http://blog.masslive.com/breakingnews/2008/02/da_croteau_case_frustrates_inv.html
SPRINGFIELD - Hampden County District Attorney William M. Bennett said this morning that all of the investigators who worked to try to find the killer of 13-year-old Daniel Croteau over the past 35 years have wanted to hold someone accountable for the young boy's death.
"We tried every DNA test you can think of," Bennett said at a press conference at his office. "Every time we go down a particular path we come up empty."
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| William M. Bennett |
Bennett held the press conference in response to media inquiries that arose from the release this week of documents, many of which dealt with the Croteau investigation, in response to a judge's ruling in a civil case.
Daniel Croteau was found face-down on the banks of the Chicopee River on April 15, 1972. He had been bludgeoned to death. The only suspect ever publicly identified was Richard Lavigne, a now-defrocked priest, whom family members and friends said had a close and complicated relationship with Croteau.
The 115 pages of documents were released by the Hampden County district attorney's office earlier this week after a judge ordered the files unsealed.
The ruling by Superior Court Judge John A. Agostini that the files be opened came in a civil dispute between the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield and its insurance carriers, which are resisting paying for settlements with victims of clergy abuse - many of whom say that Lavigne molested them.
Lawyers for Lavigne have vehemently denied that their client was involved, even sending out a press release earlier this year titled: "Richard Lavigne did not murder Daniel Croteau."
Bennett said that his office had argued successfully to Agostini that the names of witnesses and victims be redacted, or covered over with black ink, on the documents.
He said that the public must know their identities will be protected during an investigation if they give information to law enforcement authorities.
Bennett said the Croteau murder investigation is an open, unsolved case. Asked if the investigation is still active, he said there is little new information coming forward.
If new information is found that will be investigated, he said.
Bennett said from his review of the investigation when the murder happened, he had the impression investigators tried hard to solve the case.
"Lack of physical evidence was a problem early on, it is a problem now," Bennett said.
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