Ex-Priest Kills Himself After Sexual Abuse Allegations

PUEBLO, Colo. -- A former Catholic priest from Pueblo committed suicide Wednesday with a gunshot to the chest, the Pueblo County coroner has ruled.

Andrew Burke, 62, was found dead in his yard at about 8 a.m., with a newly-purchased revolver that still had the price tag on it, police said.

Burke's wife told police he had been depressed since allegations of sexual abuse were made against him a year ago.

The allegations were reported to Pueblo police by representatives of the Catholic Diocese of Pueblo. Monsignor Mark Plewka, chancellor of the diocese, and human resources Director Teresa Farley reported to Sgt. Troy Davenport that they had been contacted by a man who accused Burke of molesting his nephew in the early 1970s, when Burke was a priest assigned to St. Pius X.

Plewka was out of town, and Farley did not return a phone message on Wednesday.

According to Davenport's report, representatives of the diocese visited Burke's accuser and he told them that in the early 1970s Burke would make him strip down to his underwear, blindfold him, tickle him, then take a wet towel from a freezer and lay it across his chest.

Initially, Burke's accuser denied any touching or sexual contact followed, but later sent a letter to Plewka saying that "this sick man (Burke) was masturbating over me when he put the towels on my chest."

Burke's accuser, now 45, is serving a prison sentence for theft.

After leaving the priesthood in 1973, Burke worked at Parkview and St. Mary-Corwin medical centers as a social worker, substance abuse counselor and behavioral science supervisor.