TEXAS
San Antonio Express-News
By Aaron Nelsen
McALLEN — A former priest who was a suspect in the death of a McAllen beauty queen in 1960 was arrested Tuesday in Arizona.
John Feit, who faces a murder charge in the death of 25-year-old Irene Garza, was taken into custody in Maricopa County,where he awaits extradition to Texas.
“We felt that we had sufficient evidence to present to a grand jury. It was presented last week, and they came back with a true bill,” said Ricardo Rodriguez, the district attorney of Hidalgo County.
Garza was a prom and homecoming queen at Pan American College, and the Miss All South Texas Sweetheart 1958.
On April 16, 1960, Garza visited Sacred Heart Church in McAllen where Feit — who was 27 at the time — was a priest. She planned to go to confession that evening but never returned home, her body was found days later in an irrigation canal.
Feit, now in his 80s, long has been the subject of intense scrutiny in the murder of Garza, a faith-driven school teacher, but was never arrested until now.
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