Post by Scumhunter on Mar 3, 2018 5:10:41 GMT -5
(Above photo credit: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel website)
From The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Twenty years ago Sunday, a teacher at St. Michael's School in the small farming town of Dane arrived for work to find the priest on the floor in a pool of blood.
Police determined that the priest, Alfred Kunz, 67, had likely been attacked late the previous evening after he returned from recording a radio show called "Our Catholic Family."
His throat had been slit.
The case remains unsolved.
Dane County Sheriff David J. Mahoney is hoping to change that with the launch of a social media campaign.
"On the 20th anniversary, we thought we would start releasing information to the public that has not been publicly released," he said. "If holding back the information has not done us the service of bringing people forward, it’s time to start releasing information."
Modeled after an outreach in Florida that helped solve the cold case of a murdered girl, the effort features a Facebook page in Kunz's name. There, police will post information about the case in the voice of Kunz himself.
On other social media sites, the Sheriff's Office will use #whokilledfatherkunz to solicit tips and share information.
"I’m at a position in this case now, that if we haven’t solved it in 20 years, we need to do something different," Mahoney said.
The first post includes this:
"I was a controversial figure in the Catholic church; I led very traditional Latin Masses almost daily at the church. My conservative views, while serving on the Marriage Tribunal for the diocese, ultimately led to my dismissal. I had resisted the changes made by “Vatican II” in the 1960s, which drew many to me and turned many away."
Mahoney, who was a sheriff's detective at the time of Kunz's death, had met the priest at fish fries at St. Michael's, which were a popular Friday night destination. Kunz cooked the cod himself.
"In my contact, he was just gracious," Mahoney said. "I didn’t get into the principles of his beliefs — I’m a Catholic — but it was more greeting him and thanking him for dinner and lending my support."
In hindsight, Mahoney believes the early investigation was hindered by tunnel vision. Their main suspect from back then remains a person of interest, but he isn't the only one. There are a handful of people on that list, the sheriff said.
With all the time that has passed, perhaps the killer has a guilty conscience or a child who has since grown up will come forward, Mahoney said.
He believes the case can be solved.
"We’re at the 10-yard line, but we’re pitted against a pretty strong defense and we need a good Aaron Rodgers to get us across the goal line," he said.
Anyone with information about the death of AlfredKunz is asked to contact the Dane County Sheriff's Office at (608) 284-6900 or email tips@danesheriff.com.
www.jsonline.com/story/news/investigations/2018/03/02/murder-dane-county-priest-alfred-kunz-still-unsolved-after-20-years/386548002/
Alfred Kunz Facebook page: m.facebook.com/alfred.kunz.1422?fref=search
Wikipedia page on the case: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Alfred_Kunz
Thoughts? Father Kunz's case will also be discussed on season 3 of the podcast "Unsolved". It seems to be that police have a suspect they think likely committed this horrible crime, but need that final piece of the puzzle in order to arrest him. Hopefully the social media efforts and/or the upcoming podcast helps get them to the finish line. Aaron Rodgers has made numerous Hail Marys in his career and all they need is 10 yards.
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