Priest charged with nun's murder

A Roman Catholic priest has been charged in the 1980 killing of a nun whose body was found in the chapel of the hospital where he served as chaplain, police said.

The Rev. Gerald Robinson, 63, was arrested yesterday, five months after police reopened the investigation into the death of Sister Margaret Ann Pahl, Chief Mike Navarre said.

Pahl, 71, was stabbed about 30 times and strangled on April 5, 1980, police said. Her body was found in the chapel of Toledo’s Mercy Hospital, Ohio, where she was the caretaker.

At a news conference last night Navarre said “new technology” led to Robinson’s arrest.

He would not elaborate on what the link was to Robinson nor would he talk about evidence or a motive.

Police started up the cold case based on a tip provided to the Lucas County prosecutor’s office.

The Rev. Michael Billian, spokesman for the 19-county Diocese of Toledo, said church officials would co-operate with police.

“It certainly saddens the diocese,” he said.