Ex-priest Arrested for 1960 Murder

KRGV
February 10, 2016

http://www.krgv.com/story/31183580/ex-priest-arrested-for-1960-murder

[with video]

An Hidalgo County court judge just unsealed the indictment against former McAllen Catholic priest John Feit. He’s accused in the death of Irene Garza. Read the indictment here.

MCALLEN – A former priest is in custody for a murder that happened in 1960. A grand jury indicted 83-year-old John Feit for the murder of Irene Garza, a McAllen elementary school teacher.

Garza was last seen alive heading to confession at Sacred Heart Church in McAllen, where Feit served as a priest. Five days later, two people found the 25-year-old’s partially clothed body in a canal.

There was a massive search for Garza’s murderer. City leaders spared no expense in attempts to find her killer. Investigators always considered Feit a person of interest in the case.

When they drained the canal where Garza’s body was discovered, they found an Eastman Kodaslide Viewer. Feit signed a statement admitting the Kodaslide Viewer belonged to him.

In 1960, police questioned him. His story changed over the course of questioning.

The Catholic diocese of San Antonio sent Feit away from the area. Feit wasn’t charged in the case; however, two people claimed he confessed to Garza’s murder.

Father Joseph O’Brien worked with Feit at Sacred Heart Church. O’Brien told police he noticed scratches on Feit’s hands the day Garza was last seen alive.

Feit told O’Brien he got them while trying to get a pair of spare glasses out of the pastoral house in San Juan. Feit said he broke his glasses during confession and drove five miles to get his spares. He claimed the house was locked, so he climbed the wall to the second floor apartment to get his glasses.

O'Brien later called Garza's cousin Noemi Sigler about what Irene’s murder. Sigler recorded that conversation with him. She said O'Brien told her Feit confessed to killing Garza.

O'Brien didn’t come share this information with authorities until 2002, which was 42 years after the crime.

Sigler also said O’Brien admitted he was a part of the cover-up.

O’Brien allegedly said the church knew Feit was dangerous, so they sent him away to a monastery in Ava, Missouri.

That’s where Feit met Dale Tachney in 1963 and allegedly confessed a second time.

Technetium spoke to CHANNEL 5 NEWS in 2003.

According to Technetium, Feit said the crime happened at Sacred Heart Church. Feit allegedly heard Garza’s confession in the rectory and then attacked her.

"He accosted her, tied her up... undressed her - according to him - down to the waist.. and fondled her breasts,” said Tachney.

Feit allegedly left Garza in the rectory basement. Tachney said the following day, Easter Sunday, Feit moved Garza to another location and put her in a bathtub.

Feit reportedly told Tachney he put a plastic bag over her head, and Garza said she couldn’t breathe. Feit is said to have gone to Mass and found her dead, when he returned.

Garza’s body was dumped just east of the church.

Tachney told CHANNEL 5 NEWS he asked Feit why wasn’t he in prison. Feit reportedly said the church protected him to avoid a scandal.

Months later, Feit was moved out of Missouri as well. Tachney told his superiors Feit wouldn’t make a good monk. Feit went to a monastery for troubled priests in New Mexico. He spent six years there.

Decades have passed since the murder. The canal where Garza’s body was found no longer exists. Meanwhile, Feit left the priesthood, married and had children. He moved to Phoenix, Arizona.

While the murder garnered attention from media across the country, the case remained cold for many years. It got new life in 2014. Ricardo Rodriguez won the Hidalgo County district attorney race. He promised Garza’s family he would take another look at the cold case.

The district attorney’s office has spent the past year sifting through evidence and gathering testimony. This past week, that information was presented to a grand jury, who indicted Feit for Garza’s murder.

McAllen police, Texas Rangers and members of the district attorney's office traveled to Arizona to arrest Feit. He was placed in jail on Tuesday.

Singular, Garza’s cousin who spoke to O’Brien years ago, sent CHANNEL 5 NEWS the following statement:

"We are grateful the case is moving forward and an arrest has been made. At this time, our family wants to refrain from comment. We don't want to compromise this case in any way."

CHANNEL 5 NEWS will continue to follow the developments in the case and continue to bring you the very latest updates.