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| Will Danny Croteau's Murder Be Solved? By Matt Abbott Renew America January 16, 2008 http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/abbott/080116 The following is an excerpt from Joanne Connors-Wade's book No Tomorrows:
Following Danny Croteau's death, Lavigne continued to work quietly within the church. He was assigned to six different parishes in ten years. In 1982, he was assigned to the small town of Shelbourne Falls where he remained for ten years. The murder of the 13-year-old altar boy remained unsolved. When Danny was murdered on Friday, April 14, 1972 and found the following morning, the investigators uncovered a dark side of the 'good father.' As the investigation intensified, all leads came back to Father Richard Lavigne. He became the prime suspect, the only suspect. The district attorney as well as state police Lt. James Fitzgibbons were frustrated. Although they believed the priest was responsible for Danny's murder, they failed to get sufficient evidence to obtain an indictment. Despite written complaints from Carl Croteau stating he believed Lavigne killed his son, the district attorney failed to seek an indictment. District Attorney Mathew Ryan stated, "How can I convince a jury of twelve men and women to find a priest guilty of murder?" The chief investigator, Lt. Fitzgibbons was confident Lavigne was guilty and assured Mr. Croteau that Lavigne would be apprehended and an arrest would be soon. "We'll get him," said the Lieutenant. Representatives from the diocese stated that the church leaders were aware Fr. Lavigne was the chief suspect in the 1972 murder. The spokesperson continued to comment stating that while they were aware of the suspicions, they failed to take action. "Former Springfield Bishop Christopher J. Weldon was aware Father Lavigne was a suspect in the earlier case but decided not to relieve him of his religious duties after the district attorney declined to prosecute. The late bishop interviewed Father Lavigne and he maintained his innocence before the police and his bishop. The bishop dismissed the charges against Lavigne 20 years ago." An officer who worked the case said Father Lavigne had been with Danny in the early part of the evening but they were unable to put him with the boy later in the evening. The lead investigator, Lt. Fitzgibbons died in 1985. As the coffee shops buzzed with the news of the new allegations against their pastor, Danny Croteau's murder was resurrected and brought to the forefront. The unsolved 20-year-old murder became the No. 1 topic throughout Franklin County in addition to the greater Springfield area and throughout the Commonwealth. Information was published that had not been at the time of the murder. The current charges against the 50-year-old priest in addition to the charges that loomed over him for the past 20 years dominated the news. Father Richard Lavigne would be only one facet of the scandals within the Catholic Church. The charges he faced in 1991 would spread and infiltrate every parish and diocese throughout the state for years to come.... According to a story in the Jan. 14, 2008 edition of The Boston Globe:
Almost from the beginning of the case, former Catholic priest Richard R. Lavigne of Chicopee was considered a suspect in the killing, but police did not publicly name him as a suspect until the 1990s. Lavigne served 10 years probation for molesting two altar boys in 1992 and was defrocked by the Roman Catholic Diocese. Lavigne, who served as the Croteau family's parish priest, has never been arrested or charged in connection with the Croteau case, and has denied any involvement. Lavigne's lawyer, Patricia Garin, maintained her client's innocence and said he has withstood previous allegations linking him to the crime. "There is a wealth of information indicating that he did not commit murder," she said.... Related story: "Slain boy's family demanding justice" |
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