Fr. Donald Murray
Founder and director of Sky Ranch for [‘delinquent’] Boys. Called “the flying padre,” Murray would teach boys to fly an airplane as part of their ‘therapy.’ He would take boys with him on fundraising trips, provide alcohol and abuse them and other residents. Murray and one youth died in a 1975 plane crash. Murray was legally drunk and lost control of the plane, per FAA representative. Suit filed in 1995 by Rev. Tom Economus, President of LINKUP, and his brother, alleging Murray abused both at Sky Ranch in the 1970s. The suit alleged Sky Ranch officials knew of alcoholism and sexual abuse and told boys not to talk of it. Suit was settled in 8/97. More suits filed in 3/02 and 11/04. On diocese’s list in 3/19.
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