14 Accused in This Diocese
- Washington Post 09.26.02
- AP 02.06.03
- Washington Post 02.07.03
- Savannah Morning News 08.17.07
- WSAV 10.25.07
- Post and Courier 06.26.08
- Savannah Morning News 06.28.08
- Post and Courier 10.08.09
- Savannah Morning News 10.28.09
- WTOC 10.28.09
- Savannah Morning News 10.29.09
- Savannah Morning News 10.30.09
- Post and Courier 11.02.09
- Savannah Morning News 05.01.10
- Post and Courier 12.11.10
- Savannah Morning News 02.25.12
- WSAV 02.27.12
- Law360 07.26.12
- SNAP 01.04.16
- Fox 5 04.04.16
- Savannah Morning News 07.06.16
- SNAP 07.06.16
- WSAV 07.06.16
- WTOC 07.06.16
- Savannah Morning News 07.10.16
- WSAV 08.10.16
- Southern Cross 08.18.16
- WSAV 08.30.16
- WSAV 02.27.17
- WSAV 03.01.17
- ABC Columbia 08.28.17
- Island Packet 08.28.17
- Savannah Morning News 08.28.17
- WSAV 08.28.17
- WSAV 08.28.17
- WSAV 08.30.17
- WSAV 09.01.17
- WSAVi 09.01.17
- WSAV-TV 09.15.17
- Crux 10.24.18
- WCIV TV 10.25.18
- CNN 10.28.18
- Diocese of Savannah List 11.08.18
- Associated Press 06.25.19
- Savannah Morning News 06.25.19
- WSAV TV 06.25.19
- WTOC 09.24.20
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution 09.29.20
- WSAV 09.29.20
- WTOC 11.17.20
- WSAV 12.09.21
Fr. Wayland Yoder Brown, Jr.
First complaint in 1969 when Brown was lay CCD teacher in Savannah. Ordained by Bishop Lessard despite advice from Vocation Director. Complaints through late 1980s. Returned to ministry after treatment at St. Luke's in 1986. Abuse as children in 1960s and '70s alleged by 3 men. Pled guilty 9/02 to abuse of 2 boys in 1974 while at Catholic U. Seminary in DC; sentenced 2/6/03 to 10 years prison in MD. Laicized 2004. Released from prison 2008. New suit 6/08; settled 10/09 for $4.24M. On Sex Offender Registry. Suit filed 11/11; settled 7/16 for $4.5M. Indicted 8/17 in SC for rape of 2 boys in the late 1970s and 1980s on trips to SC, while assigned to St. James in Savannah; the boys were students at the parish school. Pled guilty. One victim said the abuse began at age 9, and that Brown put a gun to his head, threatened to kill him, his family and his dog, and liked killing small animals. Sentenced 10/18 to 20 years in prison. On diocese's list 11/8/18. Died in prison 6/8/19. Suit 9/20.
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Fr. Joseph Dean
Named publicly as accused by the Diocese of Savannah on its list 11/08/18. Worked in the diocese before 1962. Pastored missions including VA, KY, NC, MS, GA, TX, OK. Died 2/14/07 in Mt. Pleasant, TX. The diocese's list updated 11/16/18 notes that Dean was investigated by an "independent investigator", Praesidian, and "exonerated" in 2004.
Fr. Adolphe J. Gall
Named publicly as accused on the diocese's list 11/8/18. Noted to have worked in the diocese 1932-60. Deceased.
Fr. Lorenzo Garcia
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 11/8/18. Placed on administrative leave 8/08. Laicized.
Fr. Eugene A. Gavigan
Named as accused on the Savannah diocese's list 11/8/18. Joined Trappists 7/47 and took solemn vows 8/15/51. Ordained at Holy Ghost Abbey in Conyers in the Atlanta archdiocese. Released from cloister reportedly for ill health and to 'pursue his talent as a sculptor at Notre Dame.' After teaching assignments he worked in Savannah 1958-59 as assistant pastor of St James' parish. Died at age 30 on 7/28/59 in a fall, during a camping trip to the Grand Canyon with two 16-year old boys, one of whom also died. Included in 11/20 on the Atlanta diocese's list of credibly accused.
Fr. Henry B. Groover
Arrested in 2003 for exposing himself to a police officer. Accused in a 1/12/17 lawsuit of luring a young boy into sex acts, beginning 1983. Plaintiff's lawyer said Groover raped, molested and drugged his client, destroying his childhood. Also said Groover bought a house near the now-adult victim and his family and that he observes and approaches his client's children. Died by suicide 1/1717, days after he was served the lawsuit.
Fr. James A. Harrold
Named publicly as accused on the Savannah diocese's list 11/8/18, but with his surname misspelled as Harold. Middle initial A is given in the Official Catholic Directory. Noted on the list to have worked in the Savannah diocese 1948-56. He was assigned in Atlanta and then to an African-American parish and high school in Savannah. Subsequently he was a fundraiser based in Tenafly NJ, Doylestown PA, and Dedham MA, with two stints as a West African missionary in Liberia. He was also treasurer of the American province 1958-62 and superior in Dedham 1974-76. Harrold was trained in Ireland and was ordained there on 12/19/42. In 1992 he returned to Ireland, where he spent the last 17 years of his life. Died 8/30/09.
Fr. Bartholomew Keohane
Named publicly as accused on the Savannah diocese's list 11/8/18. Noted to have worked in the diocese 1947-61. Died December 12, 1989. Had been living in Tenafly, NJ.
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Fr. Austin Martin
Named publicly by the Savannah diocese on its list 11/8/18. Noted to have worked in the diocese 1964-69, and to have been laicized. Deceased.
Sources:
Br. Robert Murphy
In 2002 Murphy admitted he had received treatment for sexual misconduct with children in Georgia in 1973 and for inappropriate behavior with boys in Chicago in the 1980s. He was removed from his assignment in 1985 and reportedly sent for treatment 1985-99. Resigned from Board of Members at Joliet Catholic Academy after his admission. On Savannah diocese's list 11/8/18.
Fr. S. John Murray
Named publicly on the Savannah diocese's list 11/8/18. Noted to have worked in the diocese 1959-60. Deceased.
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Fr. Nicholas Quinlan
Named publicly as accused on the diocese's list 11/8/18. Retired in 1972. Died in 1981.
Fr. Joseph R. Smith
Named publicly as accused on the Savannah diocese's list 11/8/18. Noted to have worked in the diocese 1924-52. Died in 1952.
Fr. Robert Teoli
Named publicly as accused by the diocese on its list 11/8/18. Died 12/80.