* Jose Feliciano and the rectory where Rev Ed Hinds’ body was found.
A caretaker has been charged with the murder of a priest whose body was found in the rectory of his US church.
Jose Feliciano, 64, stabbed and slashed Rev Ed Hinds 32 times with a kitchen knife after the pair had an argument, according to prosecutors.
The 61-year-old pastor had been in his clerical robes when he was killed and Feliciano was one of two people who said they found the body, it is claimed.
The body was discovered at about 8am on Friday after Rev Hinds failed to attend Mass at St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in Chatham, New Jersey. Feliciano, who had worked at the church for 17 years, was arrested the following day and also faces weapons charges.
Morris County Prosecutor Robert Bianchi said investigators found the priest’s mobile phone, bloody clothing and a bloody towel at Feliciano’s home in Easton, Pennsylvania.
The pastor had wounds on his upper torso, the back of his body and his head that were created by a kitchen knife, officials said. Rev Hinds also had defensive wounds on his hands and face, according to Mr Bianchi.
A post-mortem found the cause of death was severe trauma. Mr Bianchi told reporters: “Mr Feliciano had got into an argument with the pastor at approximately 5 pm the night before (Thursday night).
“It was during that altercation that the pastor was assaulted. “Mr Feliciano grabbed a knife inside of the rectory and inflicted the multiple stab wounds that led to the unfortunate demise of the pastor.”
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