Teenager accused of revenge murder of pedophile priest by shoving crucifix down his throat
A teenager in France has been arrested after authorities say he tortured and killed an allegedly abusive priest by suffocating him and shoving a crucifix down his throat.
The revenge killing occurred Nov. 4 at 91-year-old priest Roger Matassoli’s house in Agnetz, Oise, France, where the 19-year-old, identified only as Alexandre V., was working as a housekeeper, according to the Daily Mail.
Alexandre claimed to have been sexually abused by Matassoli in the past. Alexandre’s father, Stephane, was also allegedly abused by the priest when he was a child. Matassoli was previously accused by at least four others of sexual abuse between 1960 and 2000.
Alexandre was initially arrested on the day of the priest’s murder but was not charged until Thursday because he was hospitalized for psychiatric reasons. The teenager told authorities he can’t remember killing the priest, whose body was found with signs of torture.
Matassoli was removed from his duties a decade ago because of sexual abuse allegations, though the church reportedly kept him on the payroll until last year.
Stephane said his father killed himself when he found out about the abuse. Alexandre also reportedly tried to kill himself after the murder.
“This man has shattered a whole family,” Stephane said.
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