Church Intern Reportedly Admits to Killing Priest

CLEVELAND —  A recently fired Franciscan brother trainee told detectives he shot the Roman Catholic parish priest who supervised his work, then set a fire to the rectory to conceal the slaying, police said Wednesday.

Father William Gulas was shot in the chest while he sat at his desk in his church office Saturday. He had been pastor for nine years at the historic St. Stanislaus Church in the city’s Slavic Village neighborhood.

The detective’s report, filed with the court, said church worker Daniel Montgomery admitted he shot the priest and set the fire. He then called the Fire Department, the report said.

Police said Montgomery, 37, also provided a written statement admitting to the crime that was not released. He pleaded not guilty Tuesday to murder and arson charges.

Defense attorney Henry Hilow did not return a call Wednesday seeking comment on the police report.

Montgomery was told Nov. 28 that he would be fired from his internship effective Wednesday. One reason reportedly was his use of foul language at the church’s elementary school.

Montgomery’s mother, Janice, who spoke to him by telephone the day after the fire, said he seemed mentally ill.

Montgomery had consoled parishioners outside the rectory after the fire and helped distribute communion at Mass on Sunday.

“I embraced him during this horrible weekend, along with about half of the congregation,” said Yolanda Kane, 72, a parishioner who taught for 30 years at the St. Stanislaus school.

“I was totally unaware that he was responsible for this. It’s just like having a traitor in your midst,” she said.

Gulas, a native of Hazleton, Pa., was ordained in 1961 and came to St. Stanislaus in 1993.

Montgomery is jailed without bond, and a preliminary hearing was set for Jan. 14.