NY (CNN) Nearly 50 years after a Massachusetts teenager was murdered, officials announced Monday that a Catholic priest close to the family was responsible for the crime. On Friday, officials were obtaining an arrest warrant for Richard R. Lavigne, but he died that evening in the hospital, Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni's office said in a statement Monday . "While formal justice may not have befallen Richard Lavigne here on this earth, we hope now to provide answers and some measure of closure to Danny's family," he added. The defrocked priest refused to admit he killed Daniel and attempted to mislead and distract investigators, Gulluni's office said. Lavigne did not notify police or Croteau's parents, Gulluni's office stated.

Source: CNN May 25, 2021 08:15 UTC