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Two Catholics priests are connected by a violent and unexpected fate.
CASE DETAILS  The caller asked for a priest to say last rites On the evening of August 7, 1982, a call was placed to the rectory of the St. Francis Cathedral in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The caller needed someone to administer last rites. Father Patrick Gerard was unable to leave the rectory and asked the caller to telephone again in fifteen minutes. Exactly fifteen minutes later, the telephone rang again. This time, Father Renaldo Rivera took the call. The caller was insistent—he wanted a priest to come immediately to administer the last rites. The man said his name was Michael Carmello. According to Lieutenant Gilbert Ulibarri of the Santa Fe Police Department, Carmello was calling from a rest stop near Waldo, New Mexico:
 Rivera met the caller at a remote rest area Three days after he vanished, Father Rivera’s body was found on a deserted road three miles from the rest stop. At Father Rivera’s funeral, the entire city mourned. Ordained Catholic priests vow to become servants of God and servants of their community. Their door is always open. But, as was the case in New Mexico, that very openness can also be exploited—especially by someone with diabolical intentions. The night of the murder, the man calling himself Carmello was waiting for Father Rivera at the rest stop in a blue pick up truck. Lieutenant Ulibarri has developed a theory of what happened next:
 Police believe Rivera was taken at gun point Lieutenant Ulibarri believed the killers took Father Rivera to a remote desert area:
According to Lieutenant Ulibarri, the killers returned to the rest stop after the crime to remove Father Rivera’s car:
Lieutenant Ulibarri had few clues and after a nationwide check, he found no suspects named Michael Carmello:
Two years later, on August 8, 1984, in Ronan, Montana, another priest mysteriously disappeared. Father John Kerrigan was new to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ronan. He had only been there four days before he too vanished. At 11 PM on the night he disappeared, Father John Kerrigan went to a bakery across the street from the church to chat with his parishioners. After a few minutes, he was returning home to go to bed. But he was never seen again. According to Detective Sergeant Bruce Phillips of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the next day a passerby discovered a pile of bloody clothes at a turnout along the highway that circles nearby Flathead Lake:
A week later, Detective Sergeant Phillips found Father Kerrigan’s car five miles from the area where his clothes had been discovered:
Detective Sergeant Phillips also found Kerrigan’s wallet, which contained more than a thousand dollars in cash:
When Lieutenant Ulibarri learned of Father Kerrigan’s disappearance, he flew to Ronan to investigate the similarities between the two cases:
There are other similarities also. Both victims’ cars were driven away from the crime scene and both were wiped clean of all fingerprints and evidence. A metal coat hanger was found near Father Kerrigan’s clothes, and there was evidence a coat hanger was used in Father Rivera’s murder. In both cases, robbery was not a motive, and perhaps most significantly, both priests belonged to the select Order of Franciscans. Watch this case now on Amazon Prime in season one with Robert Stack and season eight with Dennis Farina. Also available on YouTube with Dennis Farina. Various seasons available now on Hulu. SUBMIT A TIP |
Thomas
I think the obvious motive is that the man who murdered these two priests had been sexually molested by both. We know now of this enormous problem in the Catholic church, when this episode first aired in 1988, it was pre-Internet and most people had no idea this was so prevalent. This was personal revenge since no other Priests were murdered in this fashion.
Anonymous
I wish the Catholic church would cooperate more with law enforcement as to the past of the two clergy men. Both went to a special perish for possible sexual delinquency issues. That right there would show a possible motive. But the Catholic church will not report such matters to the police. They will just relocate them. The pillow found in Montana show me the homicide may have happened in a bedroom. And even though there are many differences. I believe the police were correct connecting them to the same two people. And knowing what we know today with how common that problem has become in the United States, I’m surprised the detectives were able to relate them. So many people have killed priests for that and been convicted. It is a long list of suspects.
Erik Reed
I hope/pray Fr. Kerrigan’s body will be found and the perpetrators of these crimes come to light.
Bill Poser
It seems to me that Father Rivera’s killing might be a case of mistaken identity. Say someone wanted revenge on Father Kerrigan and learned that he had been in New Mexico without realizing that he was no longer there. He mistakenly identifies River as Kerrigan – both Franciscan priests, the same age, same model and color car, etc. He kills Rivera and then learns that he was the wrong guy, so he starts the search again and this time finds the right man and kills him.
Ann
I was a student at the Catholic school in Clovis NM a long time ago. Our Lady of Guadalupe Church & school. Father Reynaldo was the Priest there for many years. My brothers were alter boys. One of my friends parents were good friends with him (father Reynaldo). I would spend the night at my friends house sometimes and Father Reynaldo would be there for dinner. I have to say. I remember him well. He had a huge interest in us as children at school. He was always around us kids. I have no doubt this happened to him because he did something horrible.
Anonymous
I agree 100 percent.
johny
What he did that was horrible?
Karen
Police have probably already thought of this, but I first thought is to check the list of alter boys who served there. Very possible they were sexually abused by the priest there and are seeking vengeance.
Anonymous
I agree with the possibility of someone in the church. But the killers were likely adults. There was confusion in the first case of which priest was to be at which location. And the 2nd one with the pillow had to know where the priest slept at. It could have been an inside job. But I’m not 100 percent certain.
Bill Blaski
I believe that this case and John Kerrigan are related. Kerrigan spent time in New Mexico to get cured from depression, sex addiction, or another mental anguish. I can’t help but think the same killer tracked down these 2 priest. A lot of similar evidence in both cases. Kerrigan car has blood splatter all over. I believe Reynaldo car was wiped down. I wonder if police have DNA from these killers? I can’t help but think the new familial DNA sites hold the clue in solving these old cases.
Anonymous
Interesting that you brought up the spatters. The 2nd priest may have died in the car after being tied from his bed. The first priest may have had all of that evidence in the 2nd vehicle. Two killers, two victims and three vehicles is very confusing. But I agree with both cases being related.
Bilpro6
To make a long and over 30 year old story short I can almost summarize the murder in Montana had a local perpetrator.
I met someone in 1980’s when we was both weightlifters. After some acquaintance he learned I was catholic and at one time he was excitedly telling me about Kernighan like he knew all about it until some loud dude broke into our conversation. I doubt he had direct knowledge about the murder however I strongly suspect he had criminal dealings with someone who did. It seems he looked up at criminal things and was influenced by personal acquaintances. He bragged up things like that. He often times mentioned someone who was big in local crime referring to him either by nickname or last name. He was sent to prison during that time period and was later killed in a prison riot back in 1991.
RF
It is my opinion that the perpetrator of these crimes is Curtis Holmen. I base this on the following. Curtis Holmen disappeared just a couple of days after Father Kerrigan in the same mountain range just south east of Flathead lake MT.. Holmen was known to drive a mid 70’s blue Toyota Pickup truck which is a suspect vehicle in the murder of Father Rivera. Holmen was at the very least a closeted bi-sexual, and Holmen was known to have been an alter-boy in the Catholic Church and evidence appears to point to the fact that both Holmen and Father Kerrigan may have been at the same church during the years when Holmen could have been abused by Kerrigan. It should also be noted that Father Kerrigan was assigned to a retreat in New Mexico and just an 1 1/2 drive from the cathedral where father Rivera was assigned and both priests came from the order of Franciscans. It seems highly unlikely that these two priests wouldn’t have been at the least acquaintances considering the unique nature of the Catholic Church and it’s priests and leaders..
Anonymous
That is very interesting. Because I didn’t know this guy. I was studying a different case and had images of him. I think he was responsible for the murder of Dexter Stefonek. That killer had a red beard. (That was my vision, even though the witness said he was clean shaven.) He also liked blue pick ups. Had an Arizona license plate. Arizona is right next to New Mexico. Dexter Stefonek left some graffiti in the restroom suggesting a possible LGBT affair. So Curtis Holman was probably a possible killer. The detectives will have a hard time finding him. He is rumored to be dead. But he may still hang out in Montana rest areas asking for some inappropriate favors. That is a very good possibility you brought up.
Mark
Oh my gosh! I was just reading over this and saw your post about a possible nexus with the Dexter Stefonek case. I came to the same exact conclusion as you several years ago, and even tried to contact some of the local LEOs handling the cold cases about that possibility, thinking that if they all start to communicate that could help crack the cases open. I was just reading that Charles Sullivan, who was from Arizona, is considered to be a person of interest in the Dexter Stefonek case.
Anonymous
I honestly believe you are correct. That missing person is probably a serial killer. The way he moves vehicles around and moves people, makes you think he is two people. But he is physically capable of doing everything himself.
Anona Mouse
It does seem pretty obvious to me. I would find the link between the priests. They always say that the first one or two is usually ‘close to home’. Dig as far as you can into these murders and then find the link. Since this episode was played, we all now know the horrible secrets the church hid. Considering the killer(s) didn’t take the money, it was definitely personal. Bet if you dug into the priests past, you will find some skeletons in their closet. Also, isn’t one of the typical hook ups rest stops? I don’t know if that is hearsay, just saying. I find it odd that they can’t find this guy(s). Surely it wouldn’t take too much research and detective work. Also, can’t they do DNA testing on the bloody clothes and bloody hangar? Anyway, just my thoughts.
Anonymous
Just a theory, but maybe they should look for a disgruntled alter boy… did the priests at one time serve at the same church? If so where there any alter boys there at the same time? Maybe they were molested…just my opinion
Anonymous
Your killers motive may be, he was molested as a kid by priests. Just a thought.
Anonymous
I do genealogy, found a Michael Carmello in Ajo Arizona possibly on and Indian Reservation,, also in Phoenix
kitty
Perhaps crimes were confessed to the priests in a weak moment. Sins that might be exposed were maybe silenced.
James Harry Reyos
Other strange and unsolved priest murders occurred in the early 1980s. Google “Father Patrick Ryan, Odessa, TX”; ” Father Benjamin Carrier, Yuma, AZ”. The Boise John Doe, who committed suicide by swallowing a cyanide capsule, is strongly suspected of being linked to these murders (including Father Reynaldo Rivera). Also, Google “Did the Cyanide Stranger Murder Father Ryan?” and “Father Benjamin J. Carrier’s murder remains unsolved” . I was wrongfully convicted of Father Patrick Ryan’s murder. Today I still profess my complete and ACTUAL innocence. I know in my heart — I DID NOT kill Father Patrick Ryan!!! JAMES HARRY REYOS.