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	Diocese Got inside Data on Slaying Probe Letter Reported Police Kept Quiet about Priest By James Ewinger Cleveland Plain Dealer May 9, 2006 http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1147163937185140.xml&coll=2 Toledo - Testimony in a priest's murder trial showed how the Toledo Catholic Diocese got inside information from police about their investigation and worked behind the scenes on the priest's behalf. A senior detective testified Monday that a deputy police chief interceded in a way that made him livid, and that he found to be inappropriate. A 1980 letter introduced by prosecutors contains references to the diocese seeking a lawyer for the priest. The Rev. Gerald Robinson is on trial now for murder in the 1980 stabbing death of Sister Margaret Ann Pahl, a nun in the hospital chapel where both worked. He was not charged then but was the prime suspect. Robinson was only indicted in 2004, after a second investigation and the discovery of new evidence. This unfolded against the backdrop of revelations that the Toledo diocese had tried to handle complaints of sexual abuse by priests outside legal channels, with help from Toledo police officers. A 2003 sexual-abuse claim triggered the renewed murder investigation. After a woman went to the diocese and felt that she was rebuffed and ignored, her complaint found its way to Lucas County Prosecutor Julia Bates, who created a cold-case unit after her election in 1996. The 2003 sexual-abuse complaint named Robinson, and investigators recognized him as the suspect in the 1980 homicide. The letter detailing some of the information was written by the Rev. Ray Fisher, and the salutation is merely "Bishop." It makes a reference to Bishop Hoffman, the auxiliary bishop then who was elevated to full bishop in 1981. Hoffman died in 2003. John Donovan was the bishop in charge during the 1980 murder probe. He resigned months after it began and died 11 years later. The letter tells the bishop that Deputy Chief Ray Vetter told a monsignor that police would have to take information to the prosecutor. It also makes reference to Robinson falsely telling police that the nun's real killer confessed to him. Vetter also told the monsignor that his department "has remained silent about their suspicions" of Robinson, Fisher wrote. Vetter, who retired in 1986, testified Monday that he would state only facts about a case, never suspicions. In an interview before trial, he said police and prosecutors did not seek an indictment in 1980 because they felt the evidence was too weak. Lt. William Kina testified Monday that Vetter interrupted his interrogation of Robinson two weeks after the killing. He said Vetter ordered him out of the room and entered with Monsignor Jerome Schmidt to talk to Robinson. Then they walked Robinson out of police headquarters without allowing Kina to ask any more questions. Kina also said that Vetter took the unusual step of having all detectives' reports on the nun's killing delivered to him, instead of allowing copies to remain with the detectives, as was customary. Some of those reports have never been found. Vetter said he had no memory of the reports or of interrupting the interrogation. He said that he is a practicing Catholic but that had no influence on the investigation. Vetter was the deputy chief in charge of detectives then. He said he contacted Schmidt for help on the case and acknowledged that it was unusual to discuss an ongoing investigation with someone outside the department. But he said the circumstances were were unusual, because the case of the slain nun "was probably the most notorious we ever had."
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