A $1 million bond has been set against a former priest accused in the 1960 murder of McAllen beauty queen Irene Garza.

John Feit appeared this morning before 92nd state District Court Judge Luis Singleterry who placed a $1 million bond against Feit, who is a former priest.

Feit pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and was remanded back to the custody of Hidalgo County sheriff’s deputies.

Authorities said Garza visited Sacred Heart Catholic Church in McAllen, where Feit was a priest, on April 16, 1960. Garza, who was Miss All South Texas Sweetheart 1958, had planned to go to confession that evening. She never returned home.

Her body was found days later. An autopsy found that she had been raped while unconscious and had been beaten and suffocated.