DUBUQUE (IA)
KWWL-TV, NBC-7 [Waterloo IA]
December 18, 2025
Punta Gorda FL — Father Leo Riley, formerly of Dubuque, passed away in Punta Gorda, Florida on December 16 at the age of 69, according to the Archdiocese of Venice in Florida. Riley’s death comes after allegations of sexual abuse in Dubuque from the 1980s.
Riley was charged with five counts of second-degree sexual abuse in April of 2024. Four individuals came forward with allegations against Riley, who served as an associate pastor for the Church of Resurrection Parish in Dubuque at the time. The victims were all identified as grade school-aged boys.
The case was dismissed because the statute of limitations had expired.
Then in October 2024, three civil lawsuits were filed in Florida court against Riley and the Archdiocese of Dubuque. Riley denied the allegations against him.
Riley was ordained in the Diocese of Dubuque in 1982 and remained there until 2002 when he moved to Florida and joined the Diocese of Venice.
Guy Cook, the Iowa attorney with Grefe & Sidney who represented Riley, provided the following statement to KWWL on Thursday:
“The passing of Father Leo Riley was unexpected. His family and friend are still trying to come to grips with death.
Father Riley was a well-regarded and much-loved priest at all the parishes he served.
From the start, Father Riley vigorously and steadfastly denied the more than than 40-year-old allegations, for which there was no objective evidence. Mere allegations are proof of nothing.
Importantly, after the allegations were made, Father Riley cooperated with the Diocese’s investigation and successfully passed two separate polygraph examinations, conducted by two different former FBI Special Agents, confirming his denial of any wrongdoing.”