Gerald Robinson
Encyclopedia
Reverend Gerald Robinson (born April 14, 1938) is a retired Roman Catholic priest
. On May 11, 2006 he was convicted of the murder of a nun
, Sister Margaret Ann Pahl, on Holy Saturday
, April 5, 1980. On July 11, 2008, Ohio's Sixth District Court of Appeals reaffirmed his conviction. He is currently seeking to have his case taken to the Ohio Supreme Court.
at the Toledo Mercy Hospital in Toledo, Ohio
where he ministered to the sick and terminally ill. Sister Pahl was the caretaker of the chapel.
Robinson was convicted of strangling and stabbing Pahl, who was 71 at the time, in the sacristy
of a chapel of the hospital where they worked together. The priest presided at her funeral Mass four days after her death. Pahl was stabbed 31 times, including nine times in what prosecutors contended was the shape of an inverted cross, leading investigators to believe the slaying was intended to humiliate Pahl in death. Pahl was found covered in an altar cloth, her clothes and body arranged to suggest she had been sexually assaulted, although this was not clear.
Forensic tests indicated that a sword-shaped letter opener
found in Robinson's apartment was not inconsistent with the weapon that inflicted the wounds; in the words of the prosecutor's expert, it could "not be ruled out." The tip of the opener fit a wound in the jaw of the nun's exhumed body "like a key in a lock," according to prosecutors.
Male DNA was found underneath the sister's fingernails and on her underwear, which did not match the DNA of Robinson. Prosecutors argued that the DNA was an "artifact," in other words it must have come from an unrelated source after the murder.
Bloodstains found on the altar cloth were also consistent with the shape of the letter opener, although one prosecution witness also conceded that the stains appeared to match a pair of scissors which were missing from the scene. Robinson was questioned about the crime in 1980, but was not charged. The case remained unsolved, with no new leads, until 2003 when police received a letter from a woman who claimed that Robinson had sexually abused her when she was a child in a series of Satanic ritual abuse
that also involved human sacrifice.
The case shocked parishioners in the Toledo Catholic community. The case against Robinson went to trial on April 24, 2006. Robinson was found guilty on all counts on May 11, 2006. This ruling marks the second time that a Catholic priest has been convicted of a homicide in the United States
. Hans Schmidt
was the first.
The U.S. Supreme Court refused to consider Robinson's appeal in October 2009.
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
. On May 11, 2006 he was convicted of the murder of a nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
, Sister Margaret Ann Pahl, on Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday , sometimes known as Easter Eve or Black Saturday, is the day after Good Friday. It is the day before Easter and the last day of Holy Week in which Christians prepare for Easter...
, April 5, 1980. On July 11, 2008, Ohio's Sixth District Court of Appeals reaffirmed his conviction. He is currently seeking to have his case taken to the Ohio Supreme Court.
Murder of Pahl
In 1980 Father Robinson was the chaplainChaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
at the Toledo Mercy Hospital in Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
where he ministered to the sick and terminally ill. Sister Pahl was the caretaker of the chapel.
Robinson was convicted of strangling and stabbing Pahl, who was 71 at the time, in the sacristy
Sacristy
A sacristy is a room for keeping vestments and other church furnishings, sacred vessels, and parish records.The sacristy is usually located inside the church, but in some cases it is an annex or separate building...
of a chapel of the hospital where they worked together. The priest presided at her funeral Mass four days after her death. Pahl was stabbed 31 times, including nine times in what prosecutors contended was the shape of an inverted cross, leading investigators to believe the slaying was intended to humiliate Pahl in death. Pahl was found covered in an altar cloth, her clothes and body arranged to suggest she had been sexually assaulted, although this was not clear.
Forensic tests indicated that a sword-shaped letter opener
Letter opener
A paper knife or letter opener is a knife-like object used to open envelopes or to slit uncut pages of books. Electric versions are also available, which work by using motors to slide the envelopes across a blade...
found in Robinson's apartment was not inconsistent with the weapon that inflicted the wounds; in the words of the prosecutor's expert, it could "not be ruled out." The tip of the opener fit a wound in the jaw of the nun's exhumed body "like a key in a lock," according to prosecutors.
Male DNA was found underneath the sister's fingernails and on her underwear, which did not match the DNA of Robinson. Prosecutors argued that the DNA was an "artifact," in other words it must have come from an unrelated source after the murder.
Bloodstains found on the altar cloth were also consistent with the shape of the letter opener, although one prosecution witness also conceded that the stains appeared to match a pair of scissors which were missing from the scene. Robinson was questioned about the crime in 1980, but was not charged. The case remained unsolved, with no new leads, until 2003 when police received a letter from a woman who claimed that Robinson had sexually abused her when she was a child in a series of Satanic ritual abuse
Satanic ritual abuse
Satanic ritual abuse refers to the abuse of a person or animal in a ritual setting or manner...
that also involved human sacrifice.
The case shocked parishioners in the Toledo Catholic community. The case against Robinson went to trial on April 24, 2006. Robinson was found guilty on all counts on May 11, 2006. This ruling marks the second time that a Catholic priest has been convicted of a homicide in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Hans Schmidt
Hans Schmidt (priest)
Hans B. Schmidt was a Roman Catholic priest, the only one to receive the death penalty in the United States.-Background:...
was the first.
The U.S. Supreme Court refused to consider Robinson's appeal in October 2009.