NATIONAL BRIEFING / NEW JERSEY
A Chatham church janitor was charged with murdering a priest whose body was found in the rectory.
Morris County Prosecutor Robert Bianchi said that 64-year-old Jose Feliciano stabbed and cut the Rev. Ed Hinds 32 times Thursday after the pair had argued. Bianchi would not provide further details about the argument.
Hinds, 61, was found dead Friday morning in the rectory kitchen of St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church after he failed to show up for Mass. He was wearing his clerical robes.
Feliciano, who also faces weapons charges, had worked at the church for 17 years.
Bianchi said investigators found the priest’s cellphone, bloody clothing and a bloody towel at Feliciano’s home in Easton, Pa.
Feliciano’s son graduated from the church’s school, and his daughter is a student there, authorities said.
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