Rain Washed Away Clue in '72 Slaying
Sources Say Springfield DA Believed Priest Killed Boy

By Kevin Cullen and Jack Sullivan
Boston Globe
October 24, 1991

Associates of former Hampden District Attorney Matthew J. Ryan say he was convinced a Roman Catholic priest had murdered a 13-year-old Springfield altar boy in 1972 but did not seek an indictment because a key piece of evidence had been washed away by rain.

Ryan's successor, District Attorney William M. Bennett, has reopened the investigation into the slaying of Danny Croteau, whose bludgeoned body was found beneath a bridge over the Chicopee River. Bennett's decision to again look at the Croteau case followed the arrest of Rev. Richard R. Lavigne this week on charges he sexually assaulted three minors.

According to law enforcement sources and Croteau's parents, Father Lavigne was identified to them as the prime suspect shortly after the slaying, even though charges were never filed.

Law enforcement sources said yesterday that the crucial piece of evidence found near Croteau's body - a tire track that investigators believed came from the vehicle used by Croteau's killer - was washed away by a sudden downpour before State Police detectives were able to get a print.

Ryan refused to speak with a reporter this week. But several officials who had worked in his office say Ryan would cite the case in moments of frustration as underscoring the need for a crime laboratory in the Springfield area.

"Throughout the years, Matty would use that case as a reference point for the need for better forensics," said one former prosecutor. "He really felt that if those tire tracks were preserved, he would have had a case."

A former Chicopee detective involved in the nearly 20-year-old case confirmed that at least one tire track was within yards of the body, but he said that after Chicopee police cordoned off the area, they left the State Police in charge of the scene.

"I know there were tire marks, but I'm not sure whether we were ever able to get a casting or not," said the detective. "They weren't that distinct. They were partially obliterated, but there was half a tire tread that looked important enough to us to have castings taken."

The detective said he thought the body, which was found next to an abutment of the bridge, was there no more than a few hours before it was found by a fisherman.

The detective said that except for the tire tracks, "the only thing that was significant was this bloodied rock," which was found several yards from the boy's body. The rock had hair and blood on it, but the detective said he did not recall seeing the lab test results.

Former associates of Ryan, a Catholic, said he had no interest in protecting the church from the embarrassment of having one of its priests stand accused as a murderer.

"I remember Matty was convinced the priest was the killer," said one former colleague. "He'd say, 'I know it's him.' He was really frustrated that he couldn't go for an indictment, but in good conscience, the evidence just wasn't there."

Danny Croteau and his four brothers had been altar boys at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Springfield while Father Lavigne served at that church. Carl Croteau, Danny's father, said the boys often would stay overnight at the rectory with Father Lavigne, even after the curate had been transferred to St. Mary's Church in Springfield.

Carl Croteau said this week that after the investigation into Danny's death had begun, three of his other sons said they had been sexually molested by Father Lavigne.

Croteau said he had signed applications for complaints for murder and sexual abuse against Father Lavigne in 1972, but was told it would be impossible to find a jury to convict a priest of murder. He said he was told the district attorney's office did not pursue the sexual assault complaint for fear of compromising the murder case.

While Bennett has not publicly acknowledged that he has reopened the Croteau case, sources close to the prosecutor said the case is being looked at again because of Father Lavigne's arrest.

"People shouldn't get unrealistic expectations," said one law enforcement source. "They're just looking at the case again, because it's an unsolved murder and because of what's happened with the priest lately."

Law enforcement officials suggest that unless investigators uncover a previously unknown witness, it is unlikely they can proceed with a case against Father Lavigne.