Authorities Arrest Former Priest in Connection with Murder Case

By Kristian Hernandez and Lorenzo Zazueta-Castro
Valley Morning Star
February 10, 2016

http://www.valleymorningstar.com/news/local_news/article_7888306a-cfad-11e5-bd87-0ba43fb1dd36.html

A photo of Irene Garza stands over documents and news clipping about the murder of Irene Garza in April of 1960 at the Echo Motel February 28, 2014 in Edinburg. Joel Martinez/Staff Photographer

The man suspected of killing a McAllen woman more than 50 years ago was arrested yesterday.

John Feit, a former priest with Sacred Heart Catholic Church in McAllen, was arrested by the Texas Rangers, Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office investigators and McAllen police in Arizona. He was never charged with killing 25-year-old beauty queen Irene Garza in 1960, but was widely accused of the crime.

District Attorney Ricardo Rodriguez con-firmed his office presented the case to the grand jury last Thursday, and it came back with an indictment.

“We had kept it quiet as much as we could — we sealed the indictment,” he said.

Rodriguez said the next step is to see whether or not Feit will contest his extradition to Texas or waive it.

“We would have to get a governor’s warrant. It usually happens even if it’s contested,” Rodriguez said.

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