PENNSYLVANIA
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A Franciscan friar from Cambria County accused of sexually abusing dozens of teens in at least three states — including more than 25 at Bishop McCort High School in Johnstown in the 1990s — has committed suicide.
Blair Township Police Chief Roger White said that an autopsy by the Blair County coroner found that 62-year-old Brother Stephen Baker killed himself with a knife. Chief White declined to say whether he left a note.
Another resident of the monastery discovered Brother Baker in his room not breathing and called Blair County 911 at 7:35 a.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy directed by Blair County Coroner Patricia Ross found he died shortly before his body was discovered.
The Diocese of Youngstown, which was among three parties that reached a settlement with 11 victims earlier this month, released a statement on its website earlier today about his death.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.