Convicted priest John Geoghan was reportedly killed in prison by another inmate. This file photo shows the Roman Catholic priest leaving a Massachusetts court after being sentenced to 10 years for having sexually abused a 10-year-old boy. Photo by AFP
Former priest John Geoghan, a convicted child molester at the center of the sex abuse scandal that shook the Catholic church nationwide, died after apparently being strangled by a fellow inmate convicted of murder, authorities said. Geoghan, 68, was attacked just before noon Saturday by Joseph L. Druce, 37, said Worcester District Attorney John J. Conte. Geoghan died at 1:17 p.m., shortly after he was taken to UMass Memorial Health Alliance, Leominster Campus, Conte said. Preliminary indications are that Geoghan was strangled, Conte said. An autopsy will be conducted Monday.