911 call released in priest murder

NEWARK, N.J. (WABC) -- The 911 call was Rev. Edward Hinds' attempt to save his own life.

Father Hinds was in the rectory of St. Patrick Church in Chatham on October 22nd, a Thursday evening, suffering a brutal attack. He was being stabbed repeatedly.

On Hinds' initial call, on the evening of Oct. 22, the operator asks the 61-year-old priest, "911, what is your emergency?"

Hinds is heard trying to give an address: "Washington Avenue" is all he can get out.

The 9-1-1 call is received by state police in West Trenton, but because it is a cell phone, not a land-line, dispatchers cannot pin down the priest's location. The dispatcher calls back.

It goes straight to Hinds' voicemail.

A second attempt is made and a new voice answers.

"This is the state police, you called 911, do you have an emergency?" a woman's voice asks.

"No, we don't, thank you," a man's voice answers.

"Yes, we do," a second man seems to say in the background.

"No, thank you," the first man repeats.

Police say that voice on the line, belongs to the accused killer, 64-year-old Jose Feliciano.

Feliciano, a janitor who had worked for St. Patrick Parish in Chatham, Morris County, for 17 years, has been charged with murder and is being held on $1 million bail.

Prosecutors say he stabbed Hinds 32 times, possibly after Hinds discussed terminating his employment.

      QUICK HEADLINES | NEW YORK NEWS | GET NEWSLETTERS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABC 7 SOCIAL NETWORKING
Find us on Facebook® | Follow us on Twitter
More social networking
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MORE FROM ABC 7
Contact NJ Bureau | Most popular stories | Street-level weather
Mobile Alerts | Report Typos | See News? Tell Eyewitness news
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Get more Local News »

• Comment Now
• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•