NJ grand jury indicts church janitor in fatal stabbing of Roman Catholic priest in October

Janitor indicted in fatal stabbing of NJ priest

MORRISTOWN, N.J. — A New Jersey grand jury has indicted a church’s longtime janitor in the fatal stabbing of a Roman Catholic priest.

The indictment handed up Tuesday in Morris County charges Jose Feliciano with murder, robbery, weapons offenses and hindering apprehension.

Feliciano had worked for St. Patrick Parish in Chatham for 17 years. He is being held on $1 million bail.

Prosecutors say he stabbed the Rev. Edward Hinds 32 times in the rectory kitchen. The indictment alleges the October attack took place during a robbery.

Police have released an abbreviated 911 call in which a man believed to be Hinds is heard trying to give the operator his address. No officers were dispatched to the scene.

The county public defender’s office, which is representing Feliciano, did not return a message seeking comment.