Suspect in Slaying of Priest Pleads Not Guilty

CLEVELAND —  A man recently fired from a Franciscan brother training program pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges that he fatally shot a Roman Catholic priest and set fire to a rectory building.

Daniel Montgomery, 37, was ordered held without bond on charges of aggravated murder and aggravated arson in the slaying of the Rev. William Gulas.

Gulas’ body was found Saturday in the burning rectory at St. Stanislaus Church in the city’s Slavic Village neighborhood. The coroner said the 68-year-old priest had been shot in the chest and hit in the head.

Defense attorney Henry Hilow said Tuesday that he had not met with his client but planned to explore Montgomery’s mental health.

“Here is an individual with no history of violence and very much of a pacifist,” Hilow said. “We have to look at what are the reasons that could explain the behavior he is accused of.”

According to a police report, Montgomery called 911 Saturday to report the fire, saying he had tried to fight the flames with an extinguisher. Fire Chief Kevin Gerrity would not say whether investigators found a used extinguisher, but said the fire was set with “available combustibles” -- matches or other material at hand.

Montgomery was arrested Monday. His mother, who spoke to him by phone the day after the fire, said he seemed mentally ill.

“I don’t know. Did he suddenly develop another personality?” Janice Montgomery said in an interview Tuesday. She said her son had attended Catholic schools, earned a master’s degree in social work and had never before shown signs of mental illness.

“It’s just so overwhelming -- we never had any indication of this,” she said. “He’s always helped the poor and underprivileged.”

Montgomery was in his seventh year of training, according to the Rev. Thomas Luczak, provincial leader of the Franciscan order.

Luczak would not specify why Montgomery was fired, but said it was clear he was unsuited to be a Franciscan. As a brother, he might have taught or worked in church offices but would not have celebrated Mass or heard confessions.

Gulas reported on Montgomery’s performance but did not make the decision to oust him, Luczak said.