1 Year Since Priest Dies After Brutal Home Invasion, $10K Reward

SHELTER ISLAND, NY — One year after a Shelter Island priest died from his injuries following a brutal home invasion, a $10,000 reward has been offered for information that leads to an arrest, police said.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad detectives are asking for the public’s help to identify and locate whoever burglarized the Shelter Island home last year and injured a retired priest, who died in April, 2018.

Rev. Canon Paul Wancura, 87, was found seriously injured in his home, located at 3 Oak Tree Lane, at approximately 12:40 p.m. on March 19, 2018, police said. The house had been burglarized and jewelry, including the Lucien Piccard Seashark watch pictured, was stolen, police said. Wancura was transported via Suffolk County Police aviation to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he died one month later on April 16, police said.

One year later, Suffolk County Crime Stoppers is offering a fast-cash reward of $10,000 for information that leads to an arrest; the reward will be issued within 72 hours, police said.

Wancura died almost a month after he was "restrained" and left in critical condition following the burglary in his Shelter Island Home; he was in critical condition after he was left in his home for an extended period of time after the burglary, authorities said.

At a press conference in Yaphank after the incident, Acting Suffolk County Police Commissioner Stuart Cameron said Wancura was supposed to assist with a mass at the Church of the Messiah in Central Islip and "didn't show up."

The Diocese reached out to a local pastor on Shelter Island to check on his welfare and when he arrived, "he heard noises through the open garage door," Cameron said.

Shelter Island Police officers responded to the residence Oak Tree Lane at 12:40 p.m. where they found him tied up, police said.

"He was found between his bed and the wall," Cameron said. "We do not believe this is a random incident," Cameron said. "We believe he was specifically targeted."

Shelter Island is a safe area, he added. "That's one reason this is so shocking," Cameron said. "But we don't believe this is a random attack and we don't believe it is affecting the safety of other residents of Shelter Island."

When asked if there was anything in Wancura's life that might have led to the targeted burglary, Cameron said he was an "honorable man" and there was no indication otherwise.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest.

Anyone with information about the incident can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, texting “SCPD” and a message to “CRIMES” (274637) or emailing www.tipsubmit.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.