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A priest from the United States has been identified as the 80 year old tourist found dead earlier this month in a Malaga apartment.
Father Richard Gross is believed to have suffered a serious blow to the head at around 8.30pm on January 20, when neighbours heard ‘screams of agony’ and called in police.
Arriving officers were unable to locate the body in the apartment where the screams came from.
According to El Español, The corpse was discovered by an anonymous person the following morning, and the police were contacted to return to the scene.
The police’s current theory is Father Gross was victimized by a violent robbery. No arrests have yet been made.
The Jesuit priest from Massachusetts was murdered a day before his cruise.
In a release, the USA East Province of The Society of Jesus stated: “Fr. Gross was a dedicated teacher, chaplain and minister who had a long and distinguished career in many schools and institutions. “He will be missed.”
Father Gross has taught in a variety of schools including the Phillips Academy, a prestigious boarding school where he spent more than 10 years.
He worked as an ordained minister in a number of universities including University of Conneticut and Vanderbilt.
Boston College High School, where Gross had lived in a residence for many years, released a statement saying: “Our prayers and thoughts are with the family of Father Gross, his Jesuit brothers, and those who have been blessed by his friendship and ministry.”
“We pray that he will find eternal peace and comfort to those who are mourning his loss.”
Father Gross, who had arrived in Malaga just a few days earlier for a holiday, was found dead in an apartment rented on Calle Viento. This is just off Calle Carreteria and in the tourist district of Malaga.
The police launched an immediate murder investigation when his possessions were stolen.
A neighbour reported hearing ‘screams of agony’ at around 9pm on the night of his death, according to SUR.
They were described as ‘the sounds of someone being murdered’ and suggested it sounded like someone was being smothered.
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The witness reported: “I could hear a man screaming.” He was fighting back and it felt like someone smothered him with a cushion. The screams went on for 10 minutes.
She spoke to another resident, who had not heard anything. This initially calmed her fears.
Despite the fact that some residents contacted emergency services and the local police were on the scene the following night, investigators could not find the American who was believed to be dead.
Detectives revealed that a man had suffered a fatal injury to the head inside the apartment, but the exact cause is unknown.
