PA PA - Carol Dougherty, 9, Bristol, 22 Oct 1962

[dotr]

First of all - I want to thank all of you for keeping this thread - and case! - alive for so long. I'm not a detective, but I do have first hand information about Sabadish. (I'll not refer to him as 'Father'. In my opinion, he does NOT deserve that title)

I tried to block this man out of my memory, but a recent message from a family member telling me what he did to her made me want to find out more about the person I was forced to see on a daily basis for many years. I apologize if this is rambling, but there is so much I've processed about him over the past few days that my head is spinning.

He spent the better part of 3 years stationed at my home parish, but this isn't listed in his files. It was Sacred Heart in Bethlehem, PA. My mother took to him and the man was at my house EVERY DAY. I know my father didn't agree with it because they fought about it constantly. If you look at the files of where he was stationed, there are several different versions and they don't match up. From what I can recall - and I have a message in to the Diocese of Allentown because I want the exact dates - he was stationed in Bethlehem - the Miller Heights section - from 1976 - 1979, but I think he was there longer. There is a suspension listed in his years of service from 76 - 79, so that could be it, but like I said, I thought it was longer than that.

In those years, my family got to know his family. Just to address some of the questions I saw floating in this thread: I believe they were from Minersville or Branchdale and the sisters lived in an old row home there. I can't remember if it was Minersville or Branchdale. I apologize!! He had 2 sisters that I know of and met: Peggy and Agnella. Agnella had some kind of deformity in one of her hands. For some reason, I thought Peggy had married, but her husband passed away at a young age, but again, the details are a bit foggy right now.

I do remember that he wasn't a very nice man. He would yell at me and my friends a lot and didn't seem to like children. I remember once when I was caught smoking when I was about 10. It was the first time I tried it. My mother made me go to confession and it was him hearing confessions. He knew it was me because he was at my house when I got caught. (This would have been 1977) He yelled at me in the confessional and said he would shove 10 cigarettes in my mouth and make me smoke them all at once and see how I liked it then. I just thought it was a strange thing for a priest to say during a confession!

His records show that there were credible allegations of molestation against him and that he was sued. I don't think I was a victim, at least not that I remember, but have found out that another family member was.

He died in 1999 and is buried in St. Mary's Star of the Sea in Branch Township, PA.

If you have other questions, I'd be happy to answer what I can remember. I'm currently trying to find out all I can about him. My father died in 2000 and my mother is in a nursing home battling Parkinsons. I'm trying to figure out how to ask her what she really knew about him, but I don't know if I will ever get the truth.

Again - THANK YOU. If nothing else, I feel like I can get this out here, because I don't know who to talk to about this. When I found out all of the skeletons in his closet. I was sick to my stomach!!

Welcome to Ws TheDiva and thanks for sharing your story, it may well help someone else down the line!

 

[TheDiva]

As an aside, in looking at his (Sabadish) funeral arrangements, it has survivors listed as Anna Fand Peggy S.... I'm thinking maybe Anna is the sister who was married and Peggy never was? However, Agnella is NOT listed and I KNOW there was a sister named Agnella. I met her. I remember the way she held her hand and I remember that name. Also, I've called the Diocese of Allentown and I spoke to someone there about all of the holes in his record and why Sacred Heart was not listed in his files. They are doing some research and said they will try to find out and get back to me by tomorrow. It says he lived in a private residence during the time he was at Sacred Heart, yet he said mass and heard confessions while he was there. I just can't wrap my head around all of this. :banghead:

 

[Ausgirl]

Welcome to Websleuths, TheDiva! And thank you for sharing your information on Sabadish. I am sorry that your relative had to suffer abuse from this man. Please do continue to share any memories or information that comes up. I think there's probably a LOT of other victims out there we'll never know about..

Interesting, how you said your mum 'took to him', and even argued with your dad about how much he was around the house... It's just like a pedo to groom the mother, to get closer to the kids and help make sure he's above suspicion.

Maybe some other people who knew Sabadish and knew about his crimes will read your words here and feel inspired to come forward and talk about it..

Also, that he appeared to hate children, yet molested them. My thoughts here are -- his MO was, he sucked up to the mothers, and scared the kids into silence, and his position as priest enabled him to do this successfully. It does nothing to ease my suspicions that this man indeed had a whole lot to do with Carol Ann's death. Maybe others, besides..

 

[Robin Hood]

This might help with family members, from the LDS site

Name: Joseph F Sabadish
Titles and Terms (Original):
Also Known As: Father Joseph Sabadish
2nd Also Known As Name:
3rd Also Known As Name:
Residence Date: 01 Dec 1993-31 Dec 1996
Residence Place: Branch Dale, Pennsylvania, United States
Birth Date: 1918
Phone Number: 363-6536
Phone Number Recorded Date: 31 Dec 1996
Address: 60 Stone
Address Continued: Branch Dale, Pennsylvania 17923
Address Date: 01 Dec 1993-31 Dec 1996
2nd Address: 217 PO Box
2nd Address Continued: Norristown, Pennsylvania 19404
2nd Address Date: 01 Oct 1986
3rd Address: St Philip James Church
3rd Address Continued: Exton, Pennsylvania 19341

01 May 1986
-----------------------------
From the 1930 census, seems odd that Joseph is listed as aged 11, I think it's them though.

HouseholdGenderAgeBirthplace
Head
Andrew SabadisM41Czechoslovakia
Wife
Veronica SabadisF35Czechoslovakia
Daughter
Annie SabadisF15Pennsylvania
Son
Joseph SabadisM11
Pennsylvania
Daughter
Mary SabadisF6Pennsylvania
Daughter
Agnes SabadisF4Pennsylvania

 

[ScarlettScarpetta]

I so wish I could get someone to really look at this case. Someone big. Jolt memories talk to people no longer afraid to talk.


Forgive the autocorrect. Tapatalk has a mind of its own.

 

[Robin Hood]

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/reports/2005_09_21_Philly_GrandJury/Philly_C_46_Sabadish.pdf

Funeral arrangements

 

[TheDiva]

Interestingly enough, I contacted both the Diocese of Allentown - which is the diocese that Sacred Heart in Miller Heights falls under - and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to get some answers.

When I asked for the years he was stationed at Sacred Heart, here is the response I got
Ms. Green, Joseph Sabadish was never stationed at Sacred Heart Church in Bethlehem, PA.

He did serve as Chaplain, Sacred Heart Hospital in Norristown, where he also resided.


I responded with the following:
Thank you for that info - however, I know he was there for about 3 years. He said mass and heard confessions. Any reason this isn't listed in his files? Or any reason he was allowed to to do that if he was suspended?


The next day she responded again with:
Joseph Sabadish served as Chaplain, Sacred Heart Hospital, Norristown from 1986 to 1994. During that time he lived at the hospital. This information is included in his file, which is available on the Archdiocese of Philadelphia website, under the heading Protecting Children, Office of Investigations, Status of Clergy.

If you would like to speak with someone about victim assistance, please call 215-587-3880. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has professional Victim Service Coordinators who have a sincere commitment to the emotional and spiritual well-being of individuals who have been impacted by abuse and they are available to help.


By this time, I was getting angry, so I responded with this - Note the line where I say I have PICTURES of him saying mass at Sacred Heart.

Thank you for your response. While I realize you are not the one at fault for this missing information - and it IS missing information - I'm aghast at how long this has been going on/covered up. Please understand, I'm not upset with you, rather the fact that this man was protected, when, in fact, his victims as a result of this are the ones who should have been afforded that same protection.

I'm not talking about Sacred Heart Hospital in Norristown in the 90s. He may well have been there and I'm sure it's listed on his 'official' records. This was Sacred Heart Parish in the Miller Heights Section of Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania and it was in the 70s. I know it isn't listed in his 'official' records and I KNOW HE WAS THERE. It was during a time when he was supposed to have been suspended, yet, I have pictures of him at that time in Miller Heights, and witnesses who attended masses he said and went to him for confession.

Thank you for the number for Victim's assistance. I have already called the line in the Allentown Diocese, but I will also be calling this number. The FACT that this monster was shuffled around and allowed to prey on young children in unconscionable. While I realize you are not the one who made that decision, it happened none the less and I am going to find out why.

Thank you

Approximately 1 hour after this, I received a phone call from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia saying "Oops. There is a mistake in his records and he WAS at Sacred Heart in Miller Heights from May 1976 through January 1978"

Interesting how vehemently everyone I spoke to denied he was there until I said I had pictures and witnesses. Then, all of a sudden, they will 'admit' he was there. They claim they are going to change his official records. When I asked why he was allowed there when he should have been suspended for molesting children, they said that sometimes, there are agreements between the bishops of certain diocese where they will house priests if needed. The Bishop of the Allentown diocese during this time was Joseph McShea. I believe he is deceased as well.

It just sounds like they are really trying to protect him even in death and I just don't understand it.

 

[TheDiva]

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/reports/2005_09_21_Philly_GrandJury/Philly_C_46_Sabadish.pdf

Funeral arrangements

If you notice, the executor is listed as Ms. Peggy S. She is his sister, as was Agnella. I am positive of those names. Positive. I believe there might have been another sister who married and did not stay in the area, but I can't remember her name. I remember Peggy and Agnella because we would visit them and they would visit our home.

 

[robela]

I joined web sleuths yesterday and I have to say that people here are great. Cold cases, missing persons, everybody wants to help. I read about these case few years back on the net, and I know that I saw a movie or something similar with a girl murdered in a church. I too think that priest Sabadish had something to do with Carols death, but I think that he was not alone. To pass lie detector is not that hard for people who did something wrong, like we heard before (and people who are not guilty sometimes don't pass because they are to nervous as they lost someone etc), because as I know it's all about tension and concentration. What I want to say is that lie detector is not admissible in court because of that.
This case as I think, will never be solved because the Catholic church is involved. I'm catholic but I do not believe in priests because they are humans as we are but they have restrictions that they can't handle, not like other religions where priests can have families. I live in very small and beautiful country in Europe, and even in my country where it's very safe to live, with not so much crime, and when children go missing, they almost always come back because they run away from home, some priests do things they are not supposed to do. Like we all know church don't suspend all of them but just move them to another town. I read about some catholic priests that have very hard time dealing with celibacy and love to God. So some of them resigns, and others stay. Thats why you don't hear that other religions (priests) have so much pedophiles or some other sex crimes.
Ok enough about that, sorry.
So I really think that priest Sabadish had an accomplice. What I don't understand is why they didn't questioned more all of the suspects just because they pass lie detector test? They didn't have alibis, they lied about their whereabouts (even if some of them were criminals)? and what about that handyman Zuchero? Ok apparently he's confession was coerced, and they said he was delusional and 'slow'. Sometimes 'slow' people say things in the only way that they can - wacky way - but sometimes it is the truth. He said :'The brain says to do. If you don't then we'll straighten you out, the brain says.' So maybe he was little bit wacky, but maybe, just maybe he was talking about the priest or somebody who told him what to do. That's my opinion about Zuchero.
Somebody mentioned Wayne Roche who is now in jail for all kinds of criminal stuff, and he was then 19, with scratches on his face that could be from fighting him off, and on top of that his own parents reported him to the police. So he could have helped the priest, and maybe he was one of the children (when younger) that was molested by priest.
Well, the priest was the sexual predator who 'knew' that he was sterile. There was no DNA testing back then only blood type test, and if he was 0 or A+ then they couldn't do anything to him because these are most common blood types. I don't think that this was premeditated murder, but it just happened because of certain events. Maybe two man were talking in the church when she came in, and then priest started talking to her (while another went to close the door), and one lead to another, and things started rough, maybe the priest didn't raped her, maybe other guy did and when he wanted he couldn't so he got angry at her and strangled her? But as I said before, church takes care of the priests because of the shame, and it was 1962, now is no different at all, only to those that were caught or a lot of people speak up. Well that is my opinion.
sorry for my bad english, because english is not my first language.

 

[dotr]

Welcome to Ws robela, you express yourself very well!

 

[robela]

Thanks dotr

 

[Robin Hood]

If you notice, the executor is listed as Ms. Peggy S. She is his sister, as was Agnella. I am positive of those names. Positive. I believe there might have been another sister who married and did not stay in the area, but I can't remember her name. I remember Peggy and Agnella because we would visit them and they would visit our home.

Here's the names of the sisters

From the census

Daughter
Annie F 15 Born Pennsylvania

Son
Joseph M 11 Born Pennsylvania

Daughter
Mary F 6 Born Pennsylvania

Daughter
Agnes snipped out last name F4 Born Pennsylvania

 

[musicaljoke]

Here's the names of the sisters

From the census

Daughter
Annie F 15 Born Pennsylvania

Son
Joseph M 11 Born Pennsylvania

Daughter
Mary F 6 Born Pennsylvania

Daughter
Agnes F4 Born Pennsylvania

Perhaps Agnella was a pet name for Agnes.

 

[bessie]

Welcome TheDiva and robela. We're very glad you've joined us.

:welcome5:

If you haven't done so yet, take a few minutes to read our Rules and Etiquette.

Also, check out the other threads in Forum Finesse and Esoterica to find helpful information on posting on WS.


​

 

[robela]

Thanks bessie, did I said something I'm not supposed to? Sorry

 

[bessie]

Thanks bessie, did I said something I'm not supposed to? Sorry

No, you're fine, robela. I am curious why we're posting the names of the sisters. If wer're trying to establish his whereabouts at different times, then some of it is okay. We should use initials or first names only, though.

 

[TheDiva]

Bessie - my apologies. Just trying to figure out why there are so many conflicting accounts of him and his family - right down to names. I'll use initials if I need to bring them up again.

 

[ScarlettScarpetta]

I still don't think it was the priest. I know that a lot of people do but I just don't see that here. The church front doors are on a main street but there are side doors that someone could sneak in unseen. At this point I really believe it was someone who was following her there.

 

[dotr]

I still don't think it was the priest. I know that a lot of people do but I just don't see that here. The church front doors are on a main street but there are side doors that someone could sneak in unseen. At this point I really believe it was someone who was following her there.

Either someone followed Carol Ann, or was planning on meeting with the Priest for one reason or another. imo.
Could it be a transient?

 

[ScarlettScarpetta]

Either someone followed Carol Ann, or was planning on meeting with the Priest for one reason or another. imo.
Could it be a transient?

The street that the Church is on is a big street the runs a long the river. The doors she went in, in the front where her bike was found are completely exposed to the street.

I don't think it was a transient. I just don't. Especially back then Bristol was a close small community. It is still a little town, Bristol proper anyway. The township is bigger but the TOWN of Bristol is a quaint quiet town.

I just think if it was a transient, A wanderer he would have been id'd quickly.