Skip links

Murder of Louisiana priest and assistant confirmed, believed to be random

Police have confirmed the identities of both a retired Catholic priest and pastoral assistant whose bodies were discovered in Covington, Louisiana on Monday.

A suspect is in custody in connection with their deaths and the theft of the assistant’s car. Police believe the crime to be random.

Fr. Otis Young, a retired priest at St. Peter Catholic Church, and pastoral assistant Ruth Prats were reported missing on Sunday.

On Monday, two bodies were discovered behind a local glass business about half a mile from St. Peter’s church. The bodies were badly burnt. Autopsy results confirmed that the bodies were those of Young and Prats.

Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans called the news “beyond shocking.”

“This is a loss for our church and for the entire community,” he said Wednesday, offering prayers and support for the victims and all those grieving.

Aymond will celebrate a funeral Mass for Young on Dec. 5 at St. Peter’s. Funeral plans for Prats have not yet been announced.

The parish, which held a prayer vigil Monday evening while awaiting autopsy results, said its community has been “devastated.”

Read more at The Pillar 

Share with Friends: