Ex-Westfield Area Priest On Church Sex Abuse List Murdered: Cops

WESTFIELD, NJ - A former New Jersey parish leader named on the list of priests "credibly accused" of child sex abuse released last month was found murdered in his home in Henderson, Nev., on Saturday, according to officials.

John Capparelli, 70, was discovered by the Henderson Police Department after conducting a welfare check on him in his home in the 1400 block of Bonner Springs Drive shortly after 9:30 a.m., authorities said.

Police immediately deemed the circumstances of Capparelli's death suspicious and began investigating it as a homicide, police said. The Clark County Office of the Coroner said Capparelli died of a gunshot wound to the neck and ruled his death a homicide.

Henderson Public Information Officer Katrina Rothmeyer said that the investigation is still open and they would not be releasing any further information at this time.

Capparelli was reported to have worked at North Bergen's Our Lady of Fatima, Summit's Oratory Prep, Westfield's Holy Trinity, Kenilworth's St. Theresa and Ridgewood's Valley Hospital.

Read more: Here's List Of NJ Priests Accused Of Child Sexual Abuse (UPDATED)

According to leaders of the Catholic Church in New Jersey, Capparelli was permanently removed from ministry and laicized more than two decades ago.

According to officials, laicization is the loss of the clerical state or the removal of a bishop, priest or deacon from the status of being a member of the clergy. In the Catholic Church, a bishop, priest, or deacon may be dismissed from the clerical state as a penalty for certain grave offenses.

In an interview with KTNV, Rich Fitter, a man set to testify before the State Board of Examiners and who settled with the church, called Capparelli a "serial predator" and said he can't feel sorry for him.

"I don't want to sound cold, but the world is a safer place without him," he said.

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