The tragic death of 13-year-old Danny Croteau in 1972 faded from headlines and memories for 20 years until the Boston abuse scandal—a string of assaults within the Catholic Church—exploded in the early 2000s. Despite numerous indications—including 40 claims of sexual misconduct with minors—pointing to him as Croteau’s killer, the Reverend Richard R. Lavigne remains “innocent.”
Drawing on more than 10,000 pages of police and court records and interviews with Danny’s friends and family, fellow abuse victims, and church officials, the author uncovers the truth—church complicity in a cover up and the masking of priests’ involvement in a ring of abusive clergy—behind Croteau’s death and those who had a hand in it.
Quote:Without the many people who spoke to me, this would not have been possible. I cannot adequately express my gratitude to all those who talked about their most painful memories, events that can’t be forgotten, no matter how much they wish they could. Special thanks to those who did so on the condition of anonymity. I apologize to anyone I failed to mention. Carl and Bunny Croteau graciously answered difficult questions and encouraged me to tell Danny’s story from the time we first spoke in 2004. Danny’s brother Joe took every one of my hundreds of calls and was generous with advice, stories, photos, and often-painful remembrances of Danny and Richard Lavigne. Thanks also to his other brother, Carl Jr. The book would have been impossible without their input and help.
R.C. Stevens provided invaluable information and background. He unearthed more about Danny’s life and death in ten years than four sets of investigators in 35. Bill Zajac courageously penned hundreds of newspaper stories critical of a powerful Church—stories nobody wanted to write, accounts that eventually took down a bishop. Bill offered enthusiastic assistance, and invaluable files, since the first call the day I decided to tell the story. Warren Mason, whose anger forced the Springfield diocese to face its criminal past, provided direction and important recollections. My friend Darby O’Brien offered invaluable counsel for my Phoebe Prince book and did so again here, as did Luke Gelinas, another Phoebe colleague.
A special thanks to several people in the middle of Danny’s story, from the beginning. Drew Nicastro courageously discussed events I’m sure he would rather have kept to himself. Sandra Tessier’s details of Richard Lavigne’s relationship with her and her family were critical to unmasking a suspect never investigated. Jack Downing offered stories that helped define the role of a bishop in all this. Carol Mazzarino, daughter of a central character in Danny’s story, provided invaluable help. I am grateful also to John Stobierski, who fought legal battles for more than 75 cleric abuse victims; longtime Croteau family lawyer F. Michael Joseph; Mike Rezendes and Alan Wirzbicki of the Boston Globe “Spotlight” team, instrumental in exposing the Church’s clergy abuse problem, for their assistance; and Sgt. Mark St. Germaine of the Rensselaer (NY) Sheriff’s Department for trying to find records of an obscure 1971 arrest.
Joe Fitzgerald’s remembrances of a long-ago high school classmate were central to the story, and Brian Fitzgerald offered invaluable advice and stories of life in his childhood neighborhood. To our old and dear friends, Bill and Linda Campbell, again, thanks. Once more, Linda offered invaluable assistance deciphering the psychological aspects behind people and accounts, and Bill provided dozens of Red Sox tickets over the years and took my mind off the dreadful stories by dragging me from my keyboard to play golf. Our family priest, Father Hugh Crean, suffered through hundreds of morning Masses with my brother and I as his altar boys when I was Danny’s age.
