Tuesday, May 09, 2000
Law grad, 25, accused of stabbing priest
By Janet C. Wetzel and Sue Kiesewetter
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MIDDLETOWN - A 25-year-old law school graduate was released on $25,000 cash bond Monday after pleading not guilty to felonious assault in the stabbing last week of the Rev. Charles Mentrup. But police say Marcus Andrew Finefrock, of Columbus, might escape prosecution because the priest doesn't want to cooperate.
Finefrock
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Mentrup
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Police are meeting with Butler County and Middletown prosecutors to determine how to proceed. Mr. Finefrock, who has no crimi nal record, police said, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Monday in Middletown Municipal Court.
After Father Mentrup, 41, was stabbed in the abdomen with a steak knife from his kitchen early Friday, he identified Mr. Finefrock as his assailant, Middletown Police Chief Bill Becker said during a news conference Monday.
Now the Bishop Fenwick High School principal, who was in good condition Monday at Middletown Regional Hospital, says because of the priest-penitent relationship, he will not press charges against Mr. Finefrock, Chief Becker said.
Father Mentrup had reportedly been hearing Mr. Finefrock's confession at the priest's home on Carol Lee Lane just before the stabbing.
And while technically the police may proceed with the investigation and pursue the case, it might turn out to be futile with so many questions and so few answers, Chief Becker said.
“It would be very, very difficult to prosecute a case without somebody being able to tell us what happened and the circumstances around that,” Chief Becker said.
The chief said police will continue to try to persuade Father Mentrup to cooperate in the case, which is drawing national attention.
“If he chooses not to, that's his choice,” Chief Becker said. He added that police have no motive in the case and few details about the connection between Father Mentrup and Mr. Finefrock.
Dan Andriacco, communications director for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, said Mr. Finefrock graduated in 1992 from Archbishop Alter High School, Kettering, where he played football four years, and played basketball, baseball and wrestled one year. Father Mentrup, who was ordained in 1988, was athletic director at the school during that time.
Mr. Finefrock's attorney, Clyde Bennett II of Cincinnati, said his client, a Dayton native who recently graduated from a law school in Columbus, will be vindicated.
“Mr. Finefrock is not guilty of committing a crime. He's not guilty of any wrongdoing or any illegal act,” Mr. Bennett said Monday. “He's a law-abiding, productive citizen, with no criminal record.”
The Rev. Thomas Kuhn, pastor of the Church of the Incarnation, Centerville, where Father Mentrup is an associate pastor, said apparently the suspect was at Father Mentrup's home for a confession, then left for a minute or two before returning to attack him.
Father Kuhn said Father Men trup appeared more alert Monday and seemed to be improving. Father Kuhn, who celebrated Mass at Fenwick Monday, said the students “were very quiet and attentive. They've known all weekend. The shock has worn off.”
Fenwick senior Micah Fening said information given at Mass helped students.
“The weekend seemed like a roller coaster of rumor. It was nice to have some real (idea) of what happened. We're still shocked he was stabbed but we're glad he'll be OK. We miss him already,” Micah said. “I'm just so proud of Father. He showed so much dignity. He's already forgiven his assailant.”
Chief Becker said police want the case to end with a prosecution.
“It's frustrating,” because police want to solve the crime and might wind up with no case. “We have a victim of a crime here ... If he chooses not to reveal the circumstances, that's another issue.”
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