MA MA - Daniel 'Danny' Croteau, 13, Chicopee, 15 April 1972

[jgfitzge]

Bumping.

Thinking of Danny and all who love him particularly at this time of year.

There may be only one suspect but this case cries out for justice

 

[Richard]

DANIEL CROTEAU

April 15, 1972, thirteen-year-old Daniel Croteau’s body was discovered in the Chicopee River in the area under Governor Robinson Bridge in Chicopee.

Those with information about this case please contact the State Police Detective Unit at 413-505-5941 or the State Police Unresolved Cases Unit at 1-855-MA-SOLVE (1-855-627-6583) or you can text the word Solve to 274637 from your cell phone.

LINK:

Unsolved Homicides | Hampden District Attorney

 

[jgfitzge]

Keeping Danny’s memory alive and hope someone with a conscience comes forward

The Death of an Altar Boy - Danny Croteau • Morbidology

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Hampden DA to Give ‘Significant Update' on 1972 Murder of Danny Croteau

Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni will give a "significant update" Monday in the murder investigation of Danny Croteau, an altar boy who was found dead in Chicopee, Massachusetts almost 50 years ago.

Gulluni will announce developments in the thirteen-year-old boy's homicide investigation at noon in Springfield. Gulluni will be joined by members of the boy's family.

 

[jgfitzge]

major update today on Danny....

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/05/24/metro/murder-13-year-old-danny-croteau-may-finally-be-solved-though-prime-suspect-has-himself-died/

 

[Yemelyan]

Case closed. It almost sounds like the suspect may have committed suicide as he died the very same day detectives were going to apply for an arrest warrant.

Priest died before he could be prosecuted for altar boy's 1972 murder

Former Catholic priest Richard R. Lavigne was named as a suspect in the case but never charged. He died Friday, Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni said.

"In fact, earlier that day, I authorized members of my office's state police detective unit to present the facts of our investigation to a magistrate in order to obtain a complaint and arrest warrant for Richard Lavigne," Gulluni said.

"Regrettably, due to Lavigne's death, there will be no prosecution or trial. But, due to the credible and significant evidence that has been assembled in the last year that incriminates Richard Lavigne, I am announcing today that the investigation into the murder of Danny Croteau is now officially closed."

Too bad he will never have to face justice for this as he sounds like a thoroughly evil person.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Prosecutor: Late former priest killed altar boy in 1972

Investigators were preparing to seek an arrest warrant for a defrocked Roman Catholic priest long considered a suspect in the 1972 killing of a western Massachusetts altar boy shortly before his death last week, a prosecutor said Monday.

Incriminating admissions Richard Lavigne made in a series of recent interviews while in a medical facility further implicated the longtime suspect in 13-year-old Danny Croteau's death, Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni told reporters.
Gulluni said his office was prepared to prosecute Lavigne for Croteau's killing, but he died Friday at the age of 80 before he could be arrested.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

‘Danny Croteau died at the hands of Richard Lavigne,’ DA says in closing 50-year-old case

SPRINGFIELD — In a dispassionate voice, defrocked Catholic priest Richard Lavigne told a state trooper about Daniel “Danny” Croteau’s final hours before the boy was found dead in the Chicopee River in 1972.

 

[Betty P]

Prosecutor: Late former priest killed altar boy in 1972

Investigators were preparing to seek an arrest warrant for a defrocked Roman Catholic priest long considered a suspect in the 1972 killing of a western Massachusetts altar boy shortly before his death last week, a prosecutor said Monday.

Incriminating admissions Richard Lavigne made in a series of recent interviews while in a medical facility further implicated the longtime suspect in 13-year-old Danny Croteau's death, Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni told reporters.
Gulluni said his office was prepared to prosecute Lavigne for Croteau's killing, but he died Friday at the age of 80 before he could be arrested.

Nice that he was able to live a long life without being punished for killing a young boy. I hope the DA can live with himself. It appears this case could have been adjudicated many years ago. JMO.

Lavigne, the Croteau family's parish priest was the only named suspect in the killing of the boy found dead in Chicopee, miles from the family's Springfield home. But a lack of evidence left the case unsolved for decades.

Lavigne had a close relationship with the Croteau's family and often hosted the boy for overnight visits. Days after Croteau's body was found, Lavigne asked authorities: “If a stone was used and thrown in the river, would the blood still be on it?"

One of Croteau's other brothers told authorities a man called shortly after the boy's death and apologized for what happened to Danny, saying “it was an accident” and that the boy had seen "something” he shouldn't have. The caller would not identify himself and hung up, but Croteau's brother said he recognized the voice as Lavigne's.​