John Patrick Kerrigan, a 58-year-old Catholic priest, vanished on July 20, 1984, shortly after being transferred to the Sacred Heart Church in Ronan, Montana. He was last seen leaving Deneault’s Bakery after a jog. The next day, Kerrigan’s blood-stained clothing, along with a deformed coat hanger, was found along Highway 35 near Flathead Lake. A week later, his blood-soaked car was discovered abandoned near Polson, Montana. Inside the vehicle, authorities found a bloody shovel and pillow, but no signs of Kerrigan himself. His wallet, with over $1,000 in cash, was also found, ruling out robbery as a motive.
Kerrigan had a complex past, having been transferred between 13 different parishes since his ordination in 1954. His disappearance occurred just days before he was due to give his first sermon at Sacred Heart.
Adding to the mystery, Kerrigan had previously spent time at a rehabilitation center in New Mexico for priests dealing with personal issues, including sexual misconduct. In 2015, his name was linked to a broader sexual abuse scandal within the Catholic Church, but it remains unclear whether this connection played a role in his disappearance.
His case has eerie similarities to the unsolved murder of Father Reynaldo Rivera, a priest who was killed in New Mexico two years earlier. Both men’s cars were wiped clean of fingerprints and abandoned, and a wire coat hanger was believed to have been used in both crimes. Despite numerous investigations, Kerrigan’s body has never been found, and his case remains unsolved, though foul play is suspected.Last Seen: Jul 20, 1984
