Oct 23, 2009 7:37 pm US/Eastern
Investigators: N.J. Priest Murdered Inside Church
Rev. Edward Hinds' Body Found Inside Chatham Church
CHATHAM, N.J. (CBS) ―
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Rev. Edwards Hinds was murdered inside St. Patrick's Church in Chatham, N.J. on Oct. 23, 2009. He was 61.
CBS
A Morris County priest found dead inside a Chatham church Friday morning was the victim of a vicious murder, officials confirmed.
The body of Father Edward Hinds was discovered in the kitchen of the rectory in St. Patrick's Church after he didn't show up for his Mass he was scheduled to deliver at 8 a.m., CBS station WCBS-TV reported. He was wearing his clerical garb when he was found by someone concerned by his absence.
The circumstances surrounding the murder have not yet been revealed, but police said he had multiple wounds that made it clear he was killed at the hands of someone else.
"All I have right now is a pastor who has numerous wounds and a crime scene that is consistent with a homicide," said Morris County Prosecutor Robert Bianchi.
Police are canvassing the neighborhood looking for a weapon, but they won't reveal what kind of weapon.
"It's a shock when you see a young man like this so quickly pass away, a man so well-needed and so well-needed and so well-loved by his community," said Bishop Arthur Serratelli of the Paterson Diocese. "We are deeply saddened by his sudden passing away."
The beloved priest had been preaching at the church for six years, and parishioners can't understand why anyone would want to kill him.
"[He was] warm. Greeted you with a smile and was priestly in his every way," an unidentified parishioner said.
The news sent shock waves into the picture-perfect neighborhood that has never experienced a murder, let alone a homicide inside a church, a place of sanctuary.
"It makes absolutely no sense. He was certainly a very well-loved pastor and very-well respected," said Serratelli.
It was especially terrifying for parents whose children attend the Catholic church's school. Parents received an alert that classes were in locked down, and many rushed to get them out.
Investigators said the suspect could be a downtrodden person that Hinds may have counseled, but they have nothing concrete and that's what terrifies fellow priests.
"I think most of us priests realize that we're there for people and so I think are probably willing to take some more risks than maybe an average person would in terms of welcoming people into our space," said Father Paul Manning.
It's not just priests on alert, but the entire community.
"Obviously until a suspect is caught, people should be hyper-vigilant at all times and make sure that they're safe and that their kids are safe and they know where their kids are," said Bianchi.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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