Black Collar: The Crimes of Reverend Ryan Erickson

WILDCIDE

GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains graphic content around sexual abuse of minors, substance abuse, suicide and homicide. Listener discretion advised.

In June of 2000, Ryan Gene Erickson was ordained as a priest at St. Anne’s Church in Somerset, Wisconsin. Shortly thereafter, Father Ryan, a new priest with a long history of questionable behaviors to include cruelty to animals, alcoholism, and sexual abuse, was stationed at St. Patrick’s Church in Hudson, Wisconsin. Despite the fact that he had been under the seminary spotlight for eight years and having been psychologically evaluated no less than three separate times by three separate professionals. Father Ryan maintained rigid, traditional and conservative views often preaching on the sins of sex and sexuality. He wore a cassock with a 9mm under it, drank alcohol, smoked cigars and had an unhealthy interest in minor boys. By February of 2002, two members of the Hudson community were mercilessly executed in the O’Connell Funeral home: 39-year-old Dan O'Connell, a parishioner at St. Patrick's Church, and 22-year-old James Ellison. Though there were no substantial leads in the initial years following the murders, by 2004, there would be new evidence pointing to the most unlikely person as the perpetrator behind the double homicide. This episode is not for the faint of heart and it’ll have you questioning with whom and in what you place your faith.

***Make sure to tune in on Friday, May 10th to listen to the interview episode with Survivor and Advocate Tim Lennon as we discuss the dark corner of the world: Clergy Abuse. ***

Resources:

Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (snapnetwork.org)

https://www.awakecommunity.org/

https://faithfulamerica.org/

https://www.catholicwhistleblowers.com/

If interested in the canon of Catholic beliefs: awrsipe.com

State Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Numbers | Child Welfare Information Gateway

Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline | (childhelphotline.org)

CyberTipline (missingkids.org)

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​​Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen. Editing/Production for the podcast by Bltzwolff ([e-mail]).

​WILDCIDE Podcast and any content posted is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

References:

CrusadeAgainstClergyAbuse. (n.d.). About James. CrusadeAgainstClergyAbuse . https://www.crusadeagainstclergyabuse.com/htm/JamesEllison.htm

Felthous, Alan R. (1998). Aggression against Cats, Dogs, and People. In Cruelty to Animals and Interpersonal Violence: Readings in Research and Applications. West Lafayette, Indiana: Purdue University Press. pp. 159–167.

Heaton, M. (2021, June 4). The O’CONNELL murders: 15 years later and still healing. Star. https://www.hudsonstarobserver.com/news/public_safety/the-oconnell-murders-15-years-later-and-still-healing/article_e1618499-b5d4-55c2-95ec-6835e809711c.html

Podles, L. J. (2008, December 19). The Rev. Ryan Ryan Case Study: A Case Study of Sexual Abuse and Murder. Leon J. Podles. https://podles.org/case-studies/files/Rev-Ryan-Murder-Case-Study.pdf

The Ladysmith News. (2013, December 13). Father Ryan Ryan. https://www.ladysmithnews.com/obituaries/article_50305458-f705-5947-9e20-dde691e55456.html

Vilas County District Attorney’s Office, Case CSO 94-2231, Investigator’s Report, May 10, 1994;

Paul Levy, “Ryan Was Dogged by Sex Accusations,” Star Tribune, October 13, 2005.

Hudson Police Department, Case J-02 0477, Supplemental Report Form, January 14, 2005.

“Diocese of Superior Statement on the Late Rev. Ryan Ryan,” Winona Daily News, October 8, 2005.

Letter from [page with signature missing] to Rev. Kevin M. Gordon, Vocation Director, August 28, 1996. But Hansen later agreed that Erickson was a “good candidate” (Letter from Rev. Phillip J. Rask to Ryan Erickson, October 25, 1996)

Memo from Rev. Ronald J. Bowers, Admissions Committee Chair, to Rev. Phillip J. Rask, Rector, October 14, 1996.

Rubenstein, B. (2005, October 5). The Sins of the Father. The sins of the father Two murders and a suicide: The strange story of father Ryan Erickson and the rift he made in Hudson, Wisconsin. https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2005_07_12/2005_10_05_Rubenstein_TheSins.htm