St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar confirmed during a Monday night news conference that a body believed to be that of missing Catholic priest Father Rene Robert was found in Georgia. However, his specific cause of death has not been determined at this time.
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Investigators with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Burke County Sheriff’s Office are now being briefed on what Florida detectives have learned so far. My brother may. My brother may be mad at me when (it) gets to him, but I’m not going to forgive him.
Authorities have not disclosed a specific timeline of events between the Florida priest’s disappearance and Steven James Murray’s arrest.
Shoar, the Florida sheriff, knew Robert from the priest’s ministry to prison inmates.
“Father was a gentle soul”, Shoar said.
As to what Murray said to GBI agents who interviewed him Tuesday afternoon, an agent with Coursey at Wednesday’s news conference said he couldn’t comment other than to say the 28-year-old was relaxed and answered their questions. “Father Rene was certainly one of our better angels”.
Aiken County Sheriff’s Office/AP Steven James Murray, 28, was believed to have met with the priest before his disappearance, and was arrested after a high-speed chase in SC. You may remember, Murray was captured in Aiken County, SC, on Thursday, April 14th following an extensive manhunt.
Shoar said authorities are convinced the homicide happened in Georgia, so the charges will come from that jurisdiction.
A “career criminal” has been charged in connection with the murder of a beloved Florida priest who spent his life trying to help prisoners rebuild their lives.
Roberts was first reported missing early last week after he uncharacteristically missed a church appointment.
Authorities believe Robert, originally from Florida, was killed on April 12, the last day he was seen alive. Over the weekend, a large scale search for Father Rene was conducted on the Westside of Jacksonville, WJAX reported. Although the Florida priest was a forgiving man, Bryan said he is simply not ready for forgiveness.
An emotional Shoar called Robert a dear friend and described the investigation as the most intense of his career.
“We believe Murray took advantage of his kindness”, Mulligan said. When police found him, he had multiple guns in his possession, Shoar said.
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“He was out there ministering to people everyone else gave up on: prostitutes, convicts, drug addicts”, Shoar said in an article for the Diocese of St. Augustine. Parishioners grew concerned when he didn’t show up for a funeral service.
