Fr. Michael P. Santillo

Ordained: 1975
Status: Convicted

Died: 05/10/2000
Diocese: Diocese of Metuchen NJ

Left active priesthood in 1992 to care for his parents. Charged in 5/97 with molesting a 13-year-old boy in 1987. Working at time of arrest in non-priest role at church in the Albany, NY diocese. Convicted in 1999. Three additional known victims. Sentenced to ten years. Died of cancer in prison in 2000. Three claims included in 1/03 diocesan settlement involving abuse by five priests. Accused in a lawsuit in 12/20 of grooming then sexually abusing a boy during elementary and high school. Santillo allegedly began to ply the boy with alcohol then molest him when he was a teen in 1983, in the the rectory of St. Mary’s in Perth Amboy and during a trip to Disney World.


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