RAYMONDVILLE, Texas (AP) — Authorities say a man has been charged in the death of a retired Roman Catholic priest whose body was found buried in a remote area of far South Texas after he went missing earlier this month.
The Texas Rangers confirmed Friday that the body found Aug. 17 in Willacy County was that of 71-year-old William "Bill" Costello, a retired Massachusetts parish priest. He'd last been seen Aug. 1 on South Padre Island.
The Valley Morning Star in Harlingen reports that 27-year-old Juan Carlos Baez Escobedo was arrested Wednesday in the slaying. He remained jailed Saturday on $2 million bond on a murder charge. Jail records didn't list an attorney for him.
The Catholic Diocese in Fall River, Massachusetts, said Costello came to Texas more than three years ago.