Cape priest tied to slaying probe

By Associated Press, 10/8/2003

FALMOUTH - A Woods Hole priest with ties to alleged killer and convicted sex offender Paul R. Nolin Jr. has been placed on leave from his duties, pending the outcome of the investigation into the slaying of a 20-year-old Falmouth man, a spokesman for the Diocese of Fall River said.

The Rev. Bernard Kelly, 70, of St. Joseph's parish in the Woods Hole section of Falmouth, was placed on leave Monday pending the outcome of an investigation into Jonathan Wessner's death, spokesman John Kearns said.

Wessner's body was found last week on a rocky beach in Woods Hole. Nolin, 39, has pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping and murder.

Nolin's attorney, Robert Nolan, told the Cape Cod Times that Nolin and Kelly were ``good friends,'' and that Nolin was a parishioner at St. Joseph's and worked for the church as a handyman.

Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O'Keefe informed Bishop George Coleman last week that authorities wanted to talk to Kelly as part of the murder investigation, according to a statement from the diocese.

At a meeting with the bishop Monday, Kelly was relieved of his duties ``until the investigation into the death of Mr. Wessner is completed or at least any questions that would involve Father Kelly are answered,'' Kearns told the Cape Cod Times.

Wessner was last was seen leaving a Falmouth party with Nolin on the morning of Sept. 20. The identification of the body, discovered early Saturday, was confirmed by Julie Donahue, Wessner's mother.

Donahue reported her son missing on Sept. 22. Two days later, his blood-spattered Jeep was found in a Brockton supermarket parking lot.

A pretrial hearing for Nolin is scheduled Nov. 3.