Former Priest Back In Court For Pre-Trial Hearing

By Amy Martinez
KVEO-TV
September 11, 2017

http://www.rgvproud.com/news/local-news/former-priest-back-in-court-for-pre-trial-hearing/809195345

EDINBURG, Texas - Former priest John Feit was back in court for a final pre-trial hearing.

The 84-year-old Feit is charged with the 1960 murder of school teacher Irene Garza.

In this highly anticipated trial, more than 3,000 Hidalgo County residents were summoned as potential jurors in this case.

Of those 3,000 residents, over 800 will be summoned this week to narrow down the group moving on to the jury selection phase.

During the hearing, attorneys agreed to have jury selection begin on October 3. While there's no telling how long the selection process will take, the presiding judge says he hopes to have the trial begin on October 9.

John Feit was indicted by a Hidalgo County Grand Jury in February 2016. Almost 60 years after Irene Garza's murder.

Soon after the indictment, Feit was extradited to the Rio Grande Valley from Maricopa County in Arizona where he lived for many years.

Irene Garza's body was found in a ditch near Sacred Heart Catholic Church in McAllen in April 1960. Her family has been seeking justice for her ever since.

Jury selection is expected to begin on October 3 and a tentative trial date is set for October 9.