Father Otis Young, a local Catholic priest, and another victim were killed in a double murder in Louisiana. The second victim has been named.
The second victim has been named as Ruth Prats, a 73-year-old former employee who worked for Young while he served as pastor of St. Peter Catholic Church in Covington, St. Tammany Parish Coroner Dr. Charles Preston stated Thursday at a news conference.
The coroner’s office said that Young’s death, which was verified Tuesday, was brought on by “sharp- and blunt-force trauma.”
The coroner’s office said that the killings happened on either Sunday night or Monday morning. According to rumors, Young and Prats were both reported missing on Sunday.
Less than a mile from the church, the two remains were discovered together, “burned beyond recognition.” According to Sergeant James Hartman, a spokesperson for the Covington Police Department, the victims were discovered in a back alley behind a glass shop in the city’s center.
Police said on Monday night that they had arrested a suspect, Covington resident Antonio Donde Tyson, 49.
Two charges of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree abduction, two counts of obstructing the administration of justice, one count of resisting an officer, and one case of unlawful possession of stolen property were all brought against Tyson.
According to Fox8live.com, Tyson was released from jail in August after completing a portion of a 1993 term. According to the source, he was incarcerated on forced rape and home invasion accusations.
According to Hartman, there is no evidence to imply that the suspect and the victims were acquainted.
The district attorney’s office for St. Tammany Parish said that the case is still being looked into by law authorities.
The agency provided the following statement: “Before a determination is reached about the pursuit of the death sentence, all capital cases presented to our office undergo a comprehensive examination procedure. Once law enforcement formally submits the case to our office by providing a thorough report of its investigation into the alleged infraction, that review procedure will start.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond prayed for Young and Ruth Prats. Prats was not identified as the second victim of the double murder at the time of the statement. But her status as a missing person has not changed.
“The atrocities that have taken place here in Covington are beyond horrifying. The statement from Aymond read, “The anguish, sadness, and bewilderment that anything like this could happen will linger with us for a very long time, especially those who are most directly touched. You can read his whole statement here.
We learned how to bear our crosses from you.
In July, Young stepped down as a priest. Prior to a Mass for Young at St. Peter Catholic Church in June, Prats provided a personal comment on Young before announcing his resignation. You may see the reflection in this church-posted YouTube video.
“It was an extraordinary privilege to work with you as your pastoral companion for eight of the 10 years you were here at St. Peter parish,” Prats stated in response to Young.
Prats talked about Young’s amazing additions and upgrades to the church. Even Young’s joyous sense of humor came into her thoughts.
Prats said that Young’s example of how to endure suffering would be “the greatest legacy” he would leave the church.
Prats replied, “You showed us how to bear our crosses. She noted in her address that when Young’s health deteriorated, she felt prompted to resign her position as a church staff member and serve as a caregiver for him.
She expressed gratitude and called her time spent caring for Young “the most modest duty.”
In her address, Prats referred to a “holy moment” when the congregation saw a peek of Young’s private prayer life. When several young children received their first holy Communion, Young shared a prayer he prays before Mass with them.
“Lord, give me the grace to celebrate this Mass as if it were my first Mass, as if it were my last Mass, and as if it were my only Mass,” the prayer goes, according to Prats.
She continued, “May the private prayer of Father Otis be our prayer today at this Mass and from this day forward as we celebrate Mass.”
May we transmit this prayer to future generations and to everyone who comes to St. Peter’s, she prayed. We will remember Father Otis that you lived in our midst as our pastor here at St. Peter’s and you deeply affected our lives in that prayer, his private prayer.
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