Not even safe on a school bus parked on Catholic school grounds

It was 8:00 am, December 5, 1989, when the phone rang and I was instructed
to go to the emergency room of McKeesport Hospital, there had been an acci-
dent on my son’s bus and he was involved.  On the way, I made a conscious
effort to focus on my family and positive thoughts.  This simple decision may
have played a role in the miracle that would take place.

I took another route, because I feared the unknown, perhaps an overturned bus
or maybe a bus still on fire because of a wreck with a train or tractor trailer, or
whatever else may have occurred that morning.  When we arrived at the emer-
gency room my wife, eldest son Michael, and I soon realized that we had got-
ten there before the ambulances carrying the injured students. This concerned
me even more, because I now thought of my son trapped in a crumbled bus,
with the jaws of life clawing away to get to the injured students.

Next came a disheveled and highly unprofessional McKeesport detective ap-
proaching us.  He quickly pulled a small caliber gun out of a brown paper bag
and asked if it belonged to our son.  Shocked and dazed, we all replied no.
Just then, someone shouted that the ambulance had arrived.

An EMS attendant quickly wheeled in the first gurney.  I knew to stay out of
the way, especially once I saw a blanket covering almost the entire body.   I
shouted to the attendant, if that’s Adam Ference; let him know his family is
here.  We felt helpless.

Moments later, a second and last gurney was wheeled in.  Adam was elevated
and appeared to be alert.  Finally, we learned tht our son had been shot in the
head.  Certainly it had to be a superficial wound, and perhaps he was grazed.
Wrong again.

I went into see my son, while he was still sitting up, and advised him to try and
relax, and try to rest.  I glanced over at the other boy, peeking through the cur-
tains; seeing the blood-soaked bed sheets absorbing what must have been a
steady stream of blood from the boys head.  If he wasn’t already dead, cer-
tainly he soon would be.

Still not knowing what happened, I made a promise to God that no matter what
took place, if my son was somehow responsible, I would do whatever I could
to make things good, or at least as good as possible.  Never for a moment did
I think that my son was capable of hurting some one.  Rather, maybe my son
tripped someone or pulled some sort of prank that resulted in a gun acciden-
tally discharging?

We decided to have my son sent to Presbyterian University Hospital in Oakland,
now known as University of Pittsburgh Medical Center --- or simply UPMC.  It
was obvious that McKeesport Hospital was not equipped to handle this type of
emergency.  They transported my son by helicopter, and by the time we reached
Presby, plans were already in the works to perform emergency neurosurgery.

The medical treatment and accommodations at Presby for my son and our family
were beyond superb.  As we entered the parking area, I explained that my son
had been flown in by helicopter.  The security guard was expecting us.  The guard
offered to park the car and gave us instructions on where to go.

We were ushered into a suite used by families during such emergency procedures.
We were greeted by a team of hospital personnel specifically trained to handle
these types of situations.

We were advised to request a media block with a hospital spokesperson. No infor-
mation would be given, until we reversed the block.  The lead surgeon came to re-
view the operation.  I called a senior official at my job, to find out about the surgi-
cal team.  The CEO of the company was a major contributor to the University of
Pittsburgh, and our company supplied Presby with thousands of dollars worth of
food service supplies and equipment weekly.  I needed to know if the surgeons
were any good.

The phone rang in minutes.  My friend reassured me that the doctors were the
best in their business.   A bullet had penetrated Adam’s skull.   It was hard to say
how much damage was done.  Whatever part of the brain was damaged from the
bullet or bullet fragments would be gone for good.  The bullet had entered the left
side of the brain which would affect the right side.  The doctor was hoping that on-
ly damage would be done to the peripheral vision.  We would have to wait and see.

The operation would take hours.  When the doctor left, a nun who was part of the
support team, offered to lead us in prayer.  I politely interrupted and volunteered
my services instead.  No offense was intended and none was taken.  If anyone
was to lead the prayer, I felt it was my duty as a father to reach inside my heart
and soul and offer up the best sales pitch for God to somehow spare my child
from death, but also to allow him to lead a normal life again.  That too, I believe,
was another important decision made that day.

What seemed like days was only hours.  I started smoking again that afternoon.
My wife didn’t even try to chastise me.  When the operation was over, the doc-
tor was very please with the results.  But, he cautioned that my son was still in
very critical condition.

Time would be telling the story, now.  When we were allowed in the special in-
tensive care unit, we saw Adam with his head bandaged.  We were all relieved
to see and hear each other.  Adam was even cracking jokes.  A bouquet of bal-
loons had been delivered from one of my customers.  The doctor had cautioned
us that Adam may be in the hospital or rehab until February. Miraculously, he was
home a week before Christmas.

By the next day, we new for sure that it was an attempted murder on my son, by
a boy suffering from a whole host of problems.   As the headlines about the shoot-
ing continued to project negative implications about the shooter, our family stayed
focused on Adam’s recovery and the recovery of other patient.

We shared fruit from a gift basket with folks in from Oklahoma.  The family head
was a rancher, he reminded everyone of JR Hewing on the television series Dallas.
He was grateful for the fruit, but mostly because we showed compassion to his
family, while ours was still in disarray.

Our family learned a lot during this tragedy.  Twenty-five years, later, we’re still
learning.  More importantly, it may be a time to let others learn from our experi-
ence.  When I promised God that I would do whatever I could to make good of
the situation, no matter whose fault it was, little did I know that it would virtually
consume my life.  I’ve been told I have a passion for seeking the truth.   Maybe
so ... so that truth will be told.  Today, December 25, 2013, is just the beginning.
______________________________________________________________

Headmaster priest interrogated Adam, instead of letting him rest.

On December 5, 1989, my son was the victim of handgun bullet wound
in the back of his head.  The gun was held inches from his skull before
the shooter pulled the trigger.  The shooter then turned the gun on him-
self and successfully committed suicide.

The prime witness in this event was now dead.  Believe or not, this was
not the worst of it.  What would happen over the next few days, the next
few months, the next few years, and would continue for almost two de-
cades tells the story of just how corrupt and uncivilized the Common-
wealth of Pennsylvania has become.

Teenage suicides, sexual molestation, and attempted murders proved to
be nothing more than inconvenience for the Pennsylvania power mongers
who were present when the exploitation of the political/judicial system
was occurring  –  of a system they continue to maintain for the benefit of
a few well-placed and well-networked persons who don't have the com-
mon good in mind.

After undergoing six or seven hours of emergency neurosurgery, my son
was admitted to the intensive care unit and his vital signs would be closely
monitored for the next several days.  That night, my wife would begin her
14-day vigil, almost never being more than a few feet from our son’s bed-
side.  Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Diocese would begin its 20 year vigil of
covering up accusations leveled against people employed by the church;
not only Pittsburgh Diocesan personnel, but personnel from the Archdio-
cese of Boston, as well.

The Red Flag Incident 

  On the night of Adam’s shooting, Serra Catholic High School 
  Headmaster Sysol  (now deceased)  ventured into Presbyterian 
  Hospital  (now the Univ of Pittsburgh Medical Center).  Sysol 
  would ask my wife if he could visit with our son.  It was close 
  to midnight and it had been the toughest day ever for my son 
  and our close-knit family.  When Headmaster Sysol asked to 
  visit with my son, my wife thought that she would be going in 
  with him.  No such luck. 

The Questions as to the Headmaster's Intentions

Was Sysol on a mission?  Was Sysol on a clandestine operation, to find
out what, if anything, Adam knew about the shooter who befriended a
Fr. John Wellinger a few years earlier, at St. Clare of Assisi Parish in
Clairton?  Sysol would conveniently be in a position to also check and
see if my son, Adam, knew anything about Brother Kenneth Ghastin, a
teacher at Serra High School who was accused of molesting two teen-
age brothers in 1974, during a time when he taught at the now-defunct
Christopher Columbus High School, in Boston's North End.  This is ac-
cording to an article published by the Framingham Metro West Daily
News.

As far as goes any concern for my son, Sysol had none that I could de-
tect.  He would question my son for almost three relentless hours, ask-
ing the same questions of a kid still dazed by a shotgun blast to the head
and still trying to recover from seven hours of intensive neurosurgery.

Let me repeat:  At Serra Catholic High School, in the Diocese of Pitts-
burgh, at the time when my son was the target of an attempted murder,
there was a member of the Boston Archdiocese stationed there who
was accused of molestation and who had close access to the school’s
male youths.  No one warned us of this.  Instead, they covered up their
mess.

It wouldn’t be until the middle 1990s that the Archdiocese of Boston
would finally reach a financial settlement with the families, concerning
that teacher.  The settlement would include a $30,000 payment to one
of the brothers.  Sadly, according to the paper, one of the brothers who
had a history of drug misuse would die in 1994.  Church files would re-
gard it as a suicide, as if he intended to die from that occasion of drug
misuse, and even though he apparently had no intention to die from drug
use at any time prior.  That is to say, the archdiocese did not mark the
death as an accidental one resulting  from long-term emotional trauma.

For now, that’s the rest of the story.  But plenty of questions still need
to be answered.  Did Donald Wuerl cooperate with the Archdiocese of
Boston and permit known pedophiles to remain in the Pittsburgh Diocese?
If so, were other pedophiles admitted to Serra Catholic High School and
other Catholic institutions without us knowing it?  Was it the assignment
of Headmaster Sysol to keep an eye on Brother Kenneth Ghastin and
possibly other abusive clergy transferred from Boston?  Knowing what
we know now about the Archdiocese of Boston abuse scandal, anything
is possible.

Little wonder that Father Ron Lengwin allegedly badgered the police of
McKeesport to quash the case of the attempted murder of my son, with
little investigative effort on the part of McKeesport police ...  and with no
cooperation with Pennsylvania State Police.  No wonder Serra Catholic
High School administrators would not permit McKeesport police to in-
vestigate the crime scene, according to the police report, and so done
against Lengwin’s judgment.  Incidentally, McKeesport police were not
permitted on Serra Catholic High School property for over 24 hours af-
ter the shooting of my son and the suicide of his shooter.

It is becoming clear as to why the Pittsburgh Diocese went to such great
lengths to cover up the accusations leveled against not merely one alleged
predator, but at least two, namely John Wellinger and Kenneth Ghastin.
No wonder why current St. Vincent Archabbot Douglas Nowicki would
have motive to offer me what I construed was a de facto bribe, in his be-
ing willing to admitting my son Adam to St. Vincent College, while saying
it in such a way that I interpreted the offer as having strings attached to it.
No wonder why Cardinal Bernard Law would visit that same Latrobe in-
stitution before his final and most shameful departure for Rome.

A telephone call to Serra Catholic High School in McKeesport, PA re-
sulted in the principal refusing to give his last name and almost begging
for advice on how to handle this latest development.  I advised the man
to do the right thing.  He did not know how to respond or what I even
meant.  So much for the training and all the zero-tolerance policies.

I had hoped to speak with Barbara Thorp of the Archdiocese of Boston
as soon as was possible.  Likewise, New York Franciscan administrators
Father Patrick Boyle and Father Robert Campagna seemed prepared to
cooperate and provide the necessary information needed to finally get to
the truth.  But, that hope was sparked in 2009.  It's now the Year 2012,
and I have gotten no results.  Incidentally, Brother Ghastin asserted his
innocence, at last count.

Mike Ference

Anyone with additional information on this story or anything similar is re-
quested to send a message to Mike's at mike@ferencemarketing.com,
or to call him at 412-233-5491.  He is a personable guy, with exquisite
public manners.
________________________________________________________

The Ten Red Flags which show that Fr. John Wellinger was reported long before the Diocese of Pittsburgh claimed he was.

Appearing below are the top ten red
flags flying over the Pittsburgh diocese
which indicate that Fr. John Wellinger
was being a dysfunctional sex freak at
will, while Pittsburgh bishops Anthony
Philadelphia Inquest Bevilacqua and
Lavender Don Wuerl looked the oth-
er way:

Red Flag 1. Allegedly, in the first quarter of 1987 Fr. John Wellinger, priest
of the Pittsburgh diocese and pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in West Mifflin, PA,
drugged a Univ of Pittsburgh student in an apartment that the victim shared
with his older brother, also a Pitt student.

According to the victim, he was knocked out for hours.  When he awoke, he in-
tuitively called 911.  After rushing downstairs, against the wishes of Fr Wellinger,
the teenage victim would meet the ambulance & the attending EMTs in the street.

The allegation of the rest of the event goes as follows:

The ambulance whisked away to Presbyterian University Hospital (now Univ
of Pittsburgh Medical Center; UPMC).  Fr. Wellinger allegedly followed the
young victim to the hospital.  Upon finding him in the emergency room, the vic-
tim requested to Wellinger that he find his nurse.  The victim would explain to
the nurse that Wellinger was the man who had drugged him.

Wellinger was ushered out by the nurse.  To the best of my knowledge police
were not notified; not even a security guard from the hospital.  The victim was
not examined by a doctor.  In other words, the entire event was covered-up.

The parents of the victim came to the hospital and took their son home.  Fur-
thermore, I was told by then Clairton Public Safety Director William Scully,
in January of 1990, that a hospital worker, possibly a social worker, warned
the parents to not take on the Pittsburgh diocese, because they are too pow-
erful and wealthy.

Red Flag 2. Allegedly, a few days after the Red Flag #1 event, the victim’s
father searched out Wellinger at the parish house.  At the time, Wellinger was
holding a parish council meeting.  So, there were plenty of witnesses present,
including the victim’s mother.  The victim’s father was angry, because Welling-
er had allegedly drugged his son and possibly raped and sodomized him.  The
man was also angry over an outing that lasted all night long between Wellinger
and his wife.

Concerned for the safety of Fr. Wellinger, parish council members ushered the
priest out the back door and called the West Mifflin Police.  Parish councils
were logically concerned, because the victim’s father may have been intoxi-
cated and carrying a weapon.

There was no evidence of any police report, but the father would receive no-
tification from the attorneys for the Diocese of Pittsburgh to stay away from
Father John Wellinger and to stay off Holy Spirit property in West Mifflin, PA.

Red Flag 3. An allegation was brought to my attention within the past year or
two, by a Catholic priest who stated to me via telephone that a person by the
last name of Volmer went to Father Charles Bober in 1987 and warned Bober
about Fr Wellinger’s deviant behavior.  To the best of my knowledge, nothing
was done.

It should be noted that Bober is now a monsignor at Saint Killian’s Parish in
Mars, Pennsylvania.  A gem of a parish that’s raising millions and millions of
dollars for a high school named after Cardinal Donald Wuerl.  My guess is
that Bober was rewarded with this plum position for being a team player.
Covering-up for the crimes of Fr. John Wellinger would constitute being a
team player in the Pittsburgh diocese, it would logically seem.

Red  Flag 4. Sometime in 1988, the personal secretary of Father Wellinger
went to the Pittsburgh diocese and spoke to Father Ronald Lengwin about
Wellinger’s deviant behavior.  She also reported that a teenage boy used the
rectory as his home for the longest time and enjoyed making 900 calls to porn
sites, while costing the parish hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.

Sadly, the women whom I interviewed would be labeled as a rumor-monger,
and once again, Bishop Bevilacqua and his cast of merry men would err on
the side of dysfunctional sex freak, Fr John Wellinger, rather than erring on
the side of caution.

Red Flag 5.   A suicide occurred in Father John Wellinger’s parish in 1989.
According to then Clairton Public Safety Director William Scully, the suicide
was linked to Wellinger.  Scully said that he just didn’t have the needed proof.
The boy was a 16 year old who took a gun to his head and pulled the trigger.

According to Scully, the boy had an interest in the occult and Satanism.  Well-
inger would hold a seminar on occult practic and Satanism months later.  Was
the seminar a real concern of Wellinger’s or just another ruse to make it look
like he cared?

Sadly, there’s not much concern for PA children.  When children turn up dead,
there’s no quick response – when compared to emergencies involving  law en-
forcement personnel – when the call comes in on the police radio that an offi-
cer is down.

Red Flag 6.  Coincidentally, in 1989, another teenage boy who was befriend-
ed by Father John Wellinger would also commit suicide with a gunshot blast to
his head.  This boy served as an altar boy for Wellinger when he was a student
at St. Clare Elementary School (also known as Clairton Central Catholic.)
Wellinger was an assistant parish priest.

This young man would also try and kill a fellow student, my son.   Similarly to
the 16 year old mentioned in Red Flag 5, this second suicide victim had a very
strong interest in the occult and Satanism.  He and his friends carried the Satan-
ic Bible back and forth to classes at Serra Catholic High School, in McKees-
port, PA.

According to a Pennsylvania state trooper who was an expert in the occult and
Satanism, the young boy had an advanced knowledge on the topic.  This con-
clusion was based on his findings when brought in, to investigate the case.

Red Flag 7.  The attempted murder of my son, Adam on Serra Catholic High
School school ground, in McKeesport, PA, on December 5, 1989:   At least
one investigating officer (then Clairton Public Safety Director William Scully)
would allege that the shooter (who committed suicide after he tried to kill my
son) was sexually abused by Father John Wellinger.

According to the former McKeesport Police Chief Tom Brletic, he stated
to me in a telephone conversation that Father Ronald Lenguin refused to al-
low investigating officers on Serra High School property for over 24 hours.

Obviously, the diocese needed to prepare their version of the crime and to
prevent police from doing a proper investigation.  Clairton Public Safety Di-
rector William Scully would claim the entire investigation had been quashed.
Scully even provided details of Father John Wellinger drugging the teenager
mentioned in Red Flag 1.

More on the corruption of the city of McKeesport was in a copy of Scully’s
original notes.  I was told that the paper can be tested and dated, as well be-
ing able to determinecwhen the message was written.   If Scully knew about
Wellinger drugging a teenager, then who else knew?  Why was nothing done?

Red Flag 8.  Following the attempted murder of my son I spoke to a Sister
Dorothy Dolac, principal of St. Clare School in Clairton ,who lived on the
school premises when Father John Wellinger was an assistant priest in the
adjoining parish.  She alleged that she notified Bishop Donald Wuerl about
my concerns of Fr. John Wellinger, as well as her own concerns.  The boy
who tried to kill my son on the Serra Catholic High School bus was an al-
tar boy for Fr John Wellinger and also a student of Saint Clare Elementary
School.   At the time, the school may have been called Clairton Central
Catholic.

When I talked to Sr. Dorothy about Fr, John Wellinger, I asked her if he
were capable of giving drugs and alcohol to underage teenagers.  She an-
swered yes.  When I asked if Wellinger were capable of sexually abusing
young boys, she answered yes.  When I asked if she were aware of any of
Wellinger’s victims, she answered she couldn’t say.  But, it did't seem that
she wasn’t aware of any victims.  It seemed as if she had promised to keep
the information a secret.

Red Flag 9.  In our family’s lawsuit against the Pittsburgh diocese, my attor-
ney’s first question,  when deposing former Clairton Public Safety Director
William Scully, was what he knew about Fr John Wellinger sexually abusing
any students at Serra Catholic High School.  The attorney immediately stood
up, pounded his fist on the table, and stated that, if this type of questioning did
not cease, the diocese would file the appropriate legal maneuvers.

My attorney’s question startled me, and the attorney for the Pittsburgh diocese
scared the hell out of me.  In looking back, it might have been rehearsed and the-
atrical collusion between the diocese, my attorney, Brian Knowles, and the law
firm for whom he worked; Behrend and Ernesberger.   I dropped the case,
then and there.

Instead of my attorney trying to calm me down and stating he would just rephrase
the question ... or at least take a break and explain to me that I had nothing to wor-
ry about ... he allowed me to walk out on what should have been a multimillion dol-
lar settlement.  Lawyers, just like PA judges, are bought and sold, like stolen mer-
chandise on sale at an outdoor flea market.

Red Flag 9. I have literally published dozens of articles on Fr. John Wellinger
and the cover-ups involving the Pittsburgh diocese, as well as elected pennsyl-
vanian officials and PA law enforcement officers at all levels.  My articles on
Father John Wellinger and Cardinal Donald “Lavender Don” Wuerl are pub-
lished on Bishop-Accountability.  My editorials and comments have been pub-
lished in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Philadelphia Inquirer, and
other newspapers, magazines, websites, and blogs on an international level.

Local and national television producers, editors, writers and investigative re-
porters have sought my advice on the cover-ups in the Pittsburgh Diocese and
beyond for years.  The same can be said for victims of clergy sex abuse, victims
of PA corruption, and their family members having recourse to me, for advice.

And how does the Pittsburgh Diocese respond?  Well, according to a source,
the powers that be in the diocese allegedly allegedly allegedly did something
somewhat equivalent to posting a Mike Ference, Wanted, Dead or Alive
poster.  This is proverbially speaking, of course.  But, not absolutely proverb-
ial.  It's something that a reasonable would find hard to believe, if what was
alleged to me is true.

Red Flag 10.  In the Spring of 1991, I scheduled an appointment with Penn-
sylvania state trooper, Corporal Robert Griffin.  I met Griffin at his training fa-
cility in the old St Joseph Seminary on Route 30 in Greensburg.  I shared with
Griffin all of the information I had assembled, concerning the quashed investiga-
tion of the attempted murder of my son and all the information I had gathered
on John Wellinger.

Griffin applauded me for my efforts and then shared additional information about
the case.  He counseled me on letting go, much like a friend would do.  He also
arranged for me to meet with an Allegheny County detective who he knew had
investigated clergy sex abuse crimes, promising to contact West Mifflin police.
He wanted the West Mifflin Police to at least question Father John Wellinger
about some of my concerns.

In other words, a seasoned PA State Trooper with expertise in the occult and
Satanism took me seriously and even commended me for my investigative and
research skills.  Now, only two people knew I were visiting with Griffin and
William Scully.  Within a week, Father Wellinger would abruptly leave Holy
Spirit Parish in West Mifflin, PA.   I have confirmation of this from Wellinger’s
former personal secretary.

Wellinger would leave on his own, only to be replaced by Father Valentine,
the alleged fixer, as expert witness and author Richard Sipe likes to call them.
For what it’s worth, Fr Valentine is in hiding somewhere.   A story for another
day.

According to Scully and Wellinger’s former personal secretary, Fr. Wellinger
would spend some of his new-found  free time in a McKees Rock Parish with
Father Richard Dorsch, according to several sources alleged to be Wellinger’s
lover from their days in the seminary.

Summary

According to Pittsburgh diocesan bishops Anthony Bevilacqua, Donald “The
Lavender One” Wuerl and diocesan spokesman Ron Lengwin, the first time
they ever caught wind of Father John Wellinger’s inappropriate behavior was
1995.  Parents of Chris Mathews spoke directly to David Zubik, years before
he was a bishop, and complained about Wellinger sexually molesting their 11
year old son in 1989.

Whom do you believe, Mike Ference or a person with Bishop or Cardinal
before his name?  Much more to come.

4th accused priest in less than three months

For the fourth time in less than three months, a Roman Catholic cleric with ties to
the Pittsburgh Diocese makes the news ... and for all the wrong reasons.  Brother
Bernard Joseph Hartman who taught at  North Central High School  in the Pitts-
burgh Diocese from 1986 to 1997 ... and short stints 1961 and 1979 ... is facing
a trial in Australia on multiple charges of beating and molesting four children.

As always, Fr. Ron Lengwin, official spokesperson for the Pittsburgh Diocese
explains it all away by paraphrasing the words made famous by the Nazi prison
camp sergeant on Hogan’s Heros:  “I know nothing.”

Since January of this year, I forced the Pittsburgh Diocese to send three letters,
warning parishioners and school alumni of catholic clerics who were credibly ac-
cused of molesting children.  How is it that a $9 an hour security guard has the
wherewithal to protect children, but the Pittsburgh Diocese lacks the resources
and the gumption to do the same?

Again, I'd be willing to offer my knowledge based on my 25 years of research
on clergy sex abuse and other crimes in the Pittsburgh Diocese free of charge.
I’m committed to helping survivors, and one has to wonder if the Pittsburgh Di-
ocese is also committed?

Here’s some background information I would like to share with the Pittsburgh
Diocese, concerning the harm done by Fr John Wellinger.  I happen to person-
ally know that there are still victims who have not only been harmed by Welling-
er, but also by the Pittsburgh Diocese.

http://www.snapnetwork.org/pa_marianist_brother_accused_of_abuse_in_australia_spent_time_in_pittsburgh
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
This link provides facts on Father John Wellinger's past behavior:
http://mikeference.blogspot.com/2013/12/red-flags.html

Here’s a link to the article on Brother Hartman:
http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2014/03/22/Former-North-Catholic-teacher-charged/stories/201403220087

Pittsburgh Crime Family Underboss Chuckie Porter ... and son

My guess would be that, some time in the 1980s, organized crime began to take a different direction - at least in Pennsylvania. The New York mob wasn’t allowing any new made men in the Pittsburgh Cosa Nostra. In the1990s, things began to change. In my opinion, organized crime was successfully evolving into synchronized crime.  My investigations would lead to the conclusion the PA government eventually became compromised. Unless all of my sources were lying, judges, elected officials, and law enforcement personnel would soon be bought and sold like stolen merchandise at an outdoor flea market.

Briefly, Chuckie Porter, an underboss for Michael Genovese, was doing time. He decides to get out of jail and start spilling his guts to the feds in the early 90s. Around the same time his son, Charles Porter Jr, would become a partner in a law firm with Stephen Zappala Jr.  Was it a coincidence or the beginning stages of Synchronized Crime?

As an underboss, Chuckie Porter would have been privy to all of the corrupt that politicians, elected officials on-the-take, and dirty cops had to offer.  Porter would know all the financial data used to buy protection. Thus, he could pass such information to his son, under the veil of lawyer/client confidentiality.  Is it possible that the partnership between Zappala and Porter’s son, Charles Jr, was the new beginning for the mob? With this kind of insider information coming from (and even to) an under-boss, all the more people could be bought and sold.

No need to whack anyone, just indict, prosecute, and make sure the judge hands down a lofty sentence. That would send a strong message to anyone willing to mess with the Zappala family.  This would make the Zappala family an authentic terrorist group, causing as much fear as those group which use explosives.

Dr. Cyril Wecht first mentioned the “threat to indict,” while DA Zappala was either prosecuting or persecuting Senator Jane Orie. The Orie family characterized the legal attack as a Mafia hit, coincidentally.
And equally coincidental is the observation that Charles Porter Jr would represent one of the witnesses in the trial.

http://triblive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/tribpm/s_660862.html#axzz2qhUe037f

http://triblive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_724020.html#axzz2qhUe037f

So, the question is simple. Was it the merging of two families that would some day forge the new power structure.  Porter Jr was could represent his father in some capacity and then could share confidential information with his partners. As an underboss, Chuckie Porter would have known all the dirty DA's.
He would have known which judges could have been bought and sold.  The feds don't share this kind of information.

http://old.post-gazette.com/regionstate/20001202porter2.asp

Upon graduation from law school, Stephen Zappala Jr joined the Pittsburgh law firms of Grogan, Graffam, McGinley & Lucchino and Dattilo, Barry, Fasulo & Cambest as an associate. In 1990, he became a partner at Brucker, Zappala, Schneider & Porter, another Pittsburgh law firm.

http://triblive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_724020.html#axzz2qhUe037f

http://old.post-gazette.com/regionstate/20001202porter2.asp

http://old.post-gazette.com/regionstate/20001106mobnow6.asp

http://lacndb.com/php/Info.php?name=Michael%20Genovese

http://www.crimetv.com/page/people/syndicate/pittsburgh-crime-family/1254

Synchronized Crime McKeesport Style, where anything went, as long as it went into the pockets of the mob

The attempted murder of my son took place in McKeeport, PA, on the grounds of Serra Catholic High School.  The day was December 5, 1989. Almost a quarter of a century later, the truth will finally be written.

Then McKeesport Mayor Lou Washowich was rewarded with a plum position on the PA Turnpike Commission.  Ever so coincidentally, he helped the Pittsburgh Diocese keep hidden the intricate details of the attempted murder of my son.

One of his underlings, current PA Senator Jim Brewster, spearheaded passage by McKeesport Council to award a pension to Washowich prior to his leaving for the PA Turnpike Commission.  This was done, even though Washowich did not have the accumulated years to qualify for a pension. Brewster was a councilman at the time.

Then McKeesport police chief, Tom Brletic, also covered-up the details involving the attempted murder of my son.  He then enjoyed favor from those in power, ever so coincidentally. Firstly, he was given the democratic endorsement for district  magistrate, and this is the same as winning the election. Next, he was chosen to be an investigator for the Casino Board.

Today’s trivia question arises:  Which PA agency is the most corrupt? PA Turnpike Commission or the PA Casino Association? Both have strong ties to the Zappala Family, and it should be noted that the solicitor for the city of McKeesport (when my son was shot) was Dodaro, Cambest & Associates. They would come to be the law firm of choice for the Zappala family ... ever so coincidentally.

Take note in the article linked below how many former McKeesport police were indicted. Take notice that one McKeesport councilman was indicted, too. He also owns a restaurant where the influential family holds its pow-wows.

The Police Chief of Forward Township who was also a former police officer in McKeesport allegedly ran a coffee shop/sports betting/video poker machine/numbers joint while still on the McKeesport police force, or better yet, police farce.

It only gets worse.  Or perhaps I should stay it only get all the more ever-so-coincidental. Stay tuned.
http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/4653630-74/count-charged-counts#axzz2pRm5hN1L

An open letter to Bishop David Zubik, Pittsburgh Diocese

Could the attempted murder of my son, Adam Ference, have been averted, if the diocesan hierarchy had properly supervised former Catholic priest, Father John Wellinger.  Please review my allegations and note which ones are true or false. If you need additional information, I would gladly provide it.

Question 1. Allegedly, in the first quarter of 1987 Fr. John Wellinger, a priest of the Pittsburgh diocese and pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in West Mifflin, drugged a University of Pittsburgh student in an apartment that the victim shared with his older brother, also a Pitt student.

According to the victim, he was knocked out for hours.  When he awoke, he intuitively called 911.  After rushing downstairs, against the wishes of Fr Wellinger, the teenage victim flagged down and met the ambulance and the attending EMTs in the street.

The allegation of the rest of the event goes as follows:

The ambulance whisked away to the  University Hospital emergency room (now University of Pittsburgh Medical Center; UPMC).  Fr. Wellinger allegedly followed the young victim to the hospital. Upon finding him in the emergency room, the victim requested that Wellinger find his nurse.  When the nurse returned the victim would explain that Wellinger was the man who had drugged him.

Wellinger was ushered out by the nurse.  To the best of my knowledge, police were not notified; not even a security guard from the hospital.  The victim was not examined by a doctor.  In other words, the entire event was covered-up.

The parents of the victim came to the hospital and took their son home.  Furthermore, I was told by then Clairton Public Safety Director William Scully, in January of 1990, that a hospital worker, possibly a social worker, warned the parents to not take on the Pittsburgh diocese, because they are too powerful and wealthy.

I can provide the victim's name and contact information to verify my story.  Bishop David Zubik, is this event TRUE or FALSE?  If it's true, the attempted murder of my son could have been averted.

Question 2. Allegedly, a few days after the above event, the victim’s father searched out Wellinger at the parish house.  At the time, Wellinger was holding a parish council meeting.  So, there were plenty of witnesses present, including the victim’s mother.  The victim’s father was angry, because Wellinger had allegedly drugged his son and possibly raped and sodomized him.  The man was also angry over an outing that lasted all night long between Wellinger and his wife.  According to an eyewitness Wellinger was ushered out a back door and the West Mifflin Police were called.  Parish council members were logically concerned, because the victim’s father may have been intoxicated and carrying a weapon.

Is there evidence of any police report?  Did the father receive notification from attorneys of the Diocese of Pittsburgh to stay away from Father John Wellinger and to stay off of Holy Spirit property in West Mifflin, PA?  Bishop David Zubik, is this event TRUE or FALSE?  If it's true, then the attempted murder of my son could have been averted.

Question 3. An allegation was brought to my attention within the past year or two, by a Catholic priest who stated to me via telephone that a person by the last name of Volmer went to Father Charles Bober in 1987 and warned Bober about Fr Wellinger’s deviant behavior.  To the best of my knowledge, nothing was done.

Bishop David Zubik is this event TRUE or FALSE?  If it's true, then the attempted murder of my son could have been averted.

Question 4. At sometime in 1988, the personal secretary of Father Wellinger allegedly went to the Pittsburgh diocese and spoke to Father Ronald Lengwin about Wellinger’s deviant behavior.  She also reported that a teenage boy used the rectory as his home for the longest time and enjoyed making 900 calls to porn sites, while costing the parish hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.

Sadly, the women whom I interviewed would be labeled as a rumor-monger, and once again, Bishop Bevilacqua would err on the side of dysfunctional sex freak, Fr John Wellinger, rather than erring on the side of caution.  Bishop David Zubik, is this event TRUE or FALSE?  If it's true, then the attempted murder of my son could have been averted.

Question 5.   A suicide occurred in Father John Wellinger’s parish in 1989.  According to then Clairton Public Safety Director William Scully, the suicide allegedly was linked to Wellinger.  Scully said that he just didn’t have the needed proof.  The boy who took a gun to his head and pulled the trigger was 16 years old.

According to Scully, the boy had an interest in the occult and Satanism.  Wellinger would hold a seminar on occult practice and Satanism months later.  Bishop David Zubik is this event TRUE or FALSE?  If it's true, then the attempted murder of my son could have been averted.

How hard could it really have been to have gotten rid of a district attorney in the State of Pennsylvania? ... the Cash for Kids State.

How hard is it to get rid of a district attorney PA?  In my opinion, it’s easy to do, with help of Synchronized Crime. Below are exerpts of Yardbird.com's Bill Keisling, on former Allegheny County District Attorney Robert Duggan. Duggan, too, was allegedly involved in the gambling ring protection and payoffs scheme that I described in my earlier post.

At the bottom of this post is the link to other murders ... or suicides, as the authorities like to call cases with multiple stab wounds. Keep in mind that once a crime is labeled a suicide, it’s a closed case. Like the attempted murder of my son, being that the shooter committed suicide, McKeesport authorities from Mayor Lou Washowich on down the ranks were only too happy to accommodate the wishes of the Pittsburgh Diocese and close the case of my son's attempted murder, ASAP.

As a brief note:  The shot gun which killed Duggan was 6 to 7 feet away from his corpse.  He was found near ten foot tall pine trees.

The Allegheny County Courthouse during aPittsburgh February.

In his 1991 book, Maybe Four Steps, author Bill Keisling recounts the mysterious fate of Allegheny County District Attorney Robert Duggan:

"Robert W. Duggan was district attorney of Allegheny County, which includes Pittsburgh, from 1964 until his death in 1974. During Duggan's ten-year tenure as DA there were few prosecutions for gambling. Republican Duggan, however, was hardly the first or last corrupt Pittsburgh official. Duggan's predecessor in the DA's office was Democrat Edward "Easy Going Eddie" Boyle. Boyle is said to have lost at the polls to Duggan because, during the election campaign, the Republicans under governor William Scranton sent state police on a much-publicized raid of previously untouched Pittsburgh whorehouses, arresting 70 people in vice raids, underscoring just how "easy going" DA Eddie Boyle had been."

"Once in office, by most accounts, Duggan picked up where Easy Going Eddie left off. The main difference in both men's public service seems to be that Boyle's career was allowed to end at the polls, while Duggan's was terminated at the hands of a relentless prosecutor -- Richard Thornburgh."

"Historically, as in most communities, Pittsburgh's politicians sent around collectors to the bookies and the prostitutes and the purveyors of vice, insisting on a piece of the sin money for the political machines. It's the old protection racket. One observer told me that up into the 1950s, through the mayorship of David Lawrence (who later became governor of Pennsylvania), Pittsburgh's collectors turned the money over to the political parties. But in the 1960s, with the advent of television, the party system began to break down and each politician became a free agent, each having to raise money for, among other things, expensive television commercials. In the old days office holders were selected by party bosses. Television commercials suddenly provided the means of going over the heads of the bosses straight to the public. Television, the herald of democracy the world over, killed the political machines in the United States."

"District attorney Duggan used two collectors to raise money -- Robert Butzler, the rackets squad chief at the county detective bureau and, later, Samuel Ferraro, who followed Butzler as rackets squad chief. If you were a gambler and you wanted to avoid trouble with the law you paid the DA's rackets squad chief. If you didn't pay the rackets squad chief he'd arrest you and Duggan would prosecute, though this seldom happened, as the graft system by this time was so entrenched and well practiced."

"In Pittsburgh it's widely held that Duggan's undoing wasn't dishonesty, but a falling out he had with wealthy Republican matron Elsie Hillman. She had married Henry Hillman, holder of one of the world's great fortunes, and her contributions and whims could sway the decisions of senators and presidents."

"Duggan himself had been born into money, was comfortable among the country club set, controlled a family estate in nearby Ligonier Township, and enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Cordelia Scaife May, an heir to the Mellon fortune."

"The precise nature of Duggan's supposed falling out with Hillman remains in dispute. One observer said Duggan wanted his cousin named as US attorney, while Hillman wanted Thornburgh. This dispute, said the observer, caused bad blood. In the end, according to Pittsburgh political lore, Hillman offered Thornburgh the job only after he promised to go after Duggan."

"The Pollyannas among us suggest that Hillman and the other party bosses ran out of patience with patrician Duggan, who hung out at the club, remained above the fray and refused to do the party bosses' bidding. Some even suggest that Duggan didn't know what his collectors were up to, that he had money of his own and so didn't need graft, that Duggan was an innocent bystander who was persecuted for activities his party had sanctioned for more than one hundred years. Others say Duggan certainly knew what his collectors were up to, that the money they skimmed went into his pocket (or at least was meant to meet campaign expenses, such as television time)."

"In any event, Thornburgh went after Duggan. What followed was a cat and mouse game between the two prosecutors, a relentless pursuit. Fearing that Thornburgh was about to come after collector Robert Butzler, Duggan moved Butzler out of the way to a police chief's job in the suburbs while shifting the collection duties to Samuel Ferraro. As Thornburgh got closer, Duggan secretly married Cordelia Scaife May, whose wealth, observers say, was meant to mask the unaccountable graft money Duggan had been receiving for years. Thornburgh then subpoenaed records which he said proved Duggan's money was graft, and not May's. Collector Samuel Ferraro then was threatened with prosecution, only to be released after he agreed to cooperate with Thornburgh's investigation. With Ferraro agreeing to talk against Duggan, finally the day came when Duggan was indicted for failing to report income of $137,416 from 1967 through 1970."

"Thornburgh's victory was extremely short lived. Within hours of his indictment, on March 5, 1974, Duggan was found shot to death on his family estate in Ligonier, the victim of a shotgun blast. The body was found on the grounds of the estate; somehow the shotgun ended up seven to ten feet from the body. Duggan, authorities said, apparently had been hunting before accidently or purposefully turning the shotgun on himself."

"The Pittsburgh Press asked, "Was the law closing in on Robert W. Duggan so inexorably that his only escape was suicide?"

"Upon hearing the news of Duggan's death Thornburgh told a reporter, "The terrible personal tragedy overshadows every aspect of this case. Anytime a guy perceives himself to be in a position that he thinks he has to take his own life, it's very sad. I've known tragedy in my own life. I know what it is."

"Thornburgh's crocodile tears aside, it's not all that clear that Duggan took his own life. For one thing, how had the shotgun ended up ten feet away from the body? For another, how had Duggan managed to shoot himself with the long-barrelled gun? "You don't shoot yourself with a shotgun with your shoes on," one investigator told me, pointing out that the barrel was so long only a bare toe could have fired the trigger."

"Speculation persists that Duggan had been murdered. Who had a motive for killing the indicted DA? Perhaps mafia bookmakers who'd been paying off Duggan over the years feared he'd talk. The suspects could even had included wealthy Pittsburghers, who'd been embarrassed by Duggan. We'll probably never know, as Thornburgh accepted Duggan's death as a suicide and closed the case. There was never a serious investigation of the supposed suicide, though such an investigation may have laid bare a century's practice of organized crime buying political protection."

"The point is, Thornburgh obviously wasn't interested in exposing the historical involvement of organized crime in law enforcement. He was obviously only interested in getting Robert Duggan out of the way."

http://yardbird.com/midnight_ride_another_missing_PA_prosecutor_1.htm

Now that I have an element of credibility, let's go to the next step:

An Introduction to Synchronized Crime 101, from my angle of view through the years

Although I only coined the term Synchronized Crime in the past year or so, it's been around for decades.  Here's a brief synopsis as it allegedly applies to Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, and Western Pa, pursuant to the Zappala Family which, in my opinion, and after all of my investigation, has the features of a terrorist group, only without the need of dynamite and suicide bombers.  The terror that they made people feel was equally as real, none the less.

Enter Antonio Ripepi, an alleged underboss in the Pittsburgh Mob, along with his alleged Irish mobster friend from Glassport, PA, who, with Ripepi, allegedly opened up the sum total of gambling joints in Western PA, parts of Ohio, and West Virginia, some of which are still in operation.

Ripepi also allegedly made it easy for elected officials and law enforcement to not only play along, but to embrace the corrupt system with enthusiasm.  Essentially, what you had, not only in Pittsburgh, but in any Sicilian-dominated urban setting, was the corruption of elected officials and the top brass of law enforcement which just filtered down to the rest of the schmucks. Many community leaders and business executives also embraced the system, allegedly --- more on this aspect of alleged Synchronized Crime at a later date. However, for now, keep in mind that Synchronized Crime makes it very easy to cover-up clergy sex abuse crimes. From my years of investigating, it's my opinion that all the players are at the same table.

Here’s how it was explained to me by a gentleman, first name Gene, who married a woman who claimed to be Antonio Ripepi’s goddaughter. Each city with numbers writers or gambling devices (ei, video poker machines) bought protection by means of cash payments to police chiefs, district magistrates, and mayors on the local level ... according to Gene.

On the county level, everything was controlled through the district attorney’s office, including the collection of cash payments and the identification and tracking of illegal operations ... so said Gene.

In my hometown of Clairton, Synchronized Crime was a daily routine, when I was a youth, I grew up with friends whose dads were in the mob, yet who served as police chiefs, mayors, etc. When I was a kid growing up, I played in the backyard of Mayor Jack Matz, with his children. I played with the son of a former police chief and the son of a mobster. They would a;;do time.  They would all become convicts.  They were crooks and robbed decent citizens of an honest government. 

Don’t think for a moment that the crooks only stole from Clairton residents. Antonio Ripepi allegedly did an awesome job. Corrupt and rotten public officials, in conjunction with dirty cops, are still allegedly the norm in western PA, thanks to Antonio and the mob. As an observation, any town which allows video poker machines is more apt to be corrupt than not. 

There are two possible explanations for the existence of illegal gambling when it emerges in any town ... and only two. Either the elected officials and law enforcement are collecting a monthly stipend from the mob or else they’re leaving money on the table. Which do you think it is? 

The following obituary tells part of the story. By the way, Bazzanos, Ripepis and Zappalas are all related through marriage and allegedly so via the alleged family business.

http://www.post-gazette.com/obituaries/2008/07/29/Obituary-John-Bazzano-Jr-Member-of-the-dwindling-Pittsburgh-mob/stories/200807290152

Allegedly Yours,

Mike Ference

My Interview with Fr. John Wellinger's Former Secretary

Editor's Preliminary Note:    Below is the transcript of the alleged recorded
interview with The former secretary of Fr John Wellinger's former parish.  The
secretary alleged that she informed  Pittsburgh diocesan spokesman, Fr. Ron
Lengwin, about Wellinger in the late 1980s.  In contrast, Fr. Lengwin publicly
stated that Wellinger was not reported to the diocese until 1995.  This means 
that someone is lying about a Father John Wellinger who walked away from
ministry on his own accord.  Either Lengwin or the secretary of the late John
Wellinger were lying.

Now, the red flag about the Wellinger case is that he left ministry via "person-
al leave."  There was no strong disciplinarian enforcing administrative leave
on him.  In addition, since 1999, I have never heard anything honorable about
the very tall Ron Lengwin, by any of my sources.  He was repeatedly alleged
to be Donald Wuerl's attacking pit bull.  A bully ... allegedly.  A media person-
ality of the Southwestern Pennsylvania area said that Lengwin's bully tactic
including him mentioning that the diocese was going to have to insist on the
media member losing his job, with the insisting being directed directly toward
the media member's employer.

And yes, I surprised to see how tall Lengwin was, as we passed by each  oth-
er in a diocesan building hallway.  This was during the Torquato Retaliations.
Incidentally, when he did say hello to me, he did so with slightly gritted teeth
and an ornery facial expression.  I kept walking.

The transcript below is preceded by an introduction, written the Mike Ference
who  is no stranger to diocesan intimidation tactics ... allegedly.

In the Ference case, the Ferences had the right to know the motivating force
behind Bobby Butler pulling the trigger of a lethal weapon twice on a school 
bus of unarmed teenagers.  Add to the Serra Catholic equation, the previous-
ly accused Kenneth Ghastin who was stationed there when the shooting oc-
curred.  Include the accused Fr Michael LeDoux who would be assigned to 
Serra after the Adam Ference shooting.  There is something of substance in 
the Ference case, in as far as goes the motivating force in sweeping the en-
tire matter under a carpet.

Incidentally, all that is posted herein is presented to you as 'alleged,' 
concerning the contents.  Now for site's host, Mike Ference:

________________________________________________________

This is part of a taped interview with Marta P******* which I had got-
ten transcribed.  It's her describing her attempts to inform the Pittsburgh 
diocese of possible sexual abuse, along with drug and alcohol abuse, di-
rected toward Pittsburgh-area youths by late Catholic priest, Father John 
Wellinger.   For a description of Father John Wellinger’s alleged crimes 
visit either www.bishopaccountability.org or www.post-gazette.com.

At least one alleged victim of John Wellinger credits my (Mike Ference's) 

years of investigation as helping to force the Pittsburgh Diocese to settle 
out of court with 31 other alleged victims of clergy abuse.   He's Chris 
Mathews, and if you would like to contact Chris, let me know and I'll 
pass your phone number or email address to him.

The Diocese of Pittsburgh could have prevented some tragedy, perhaps.

If the Pittsburgh Diocese had done the prudent thing, instead of adopting the
policy of disregarding people, Chris Mathews wouldn't have been sexually 
abused by John Wellinger, as was alleged.   Bobby Butler, Jr. may not have 
attempted to murder my son.  As importantly, Bobby may still be alive to-
today also, depending if he too were molested by Wellinger.  However, the
Pittsburgh diocese didn't seem to care.
____________________________________________________________ Editor's Note:  Keep in mind that, during the deposition of a Clairton law
enforcement man, the Ference attorney asked him if he new anything about
John Wellinger molesting youth in the Clairton area.  The diocesan attorney
then banged on the table and starting employing intimidating speech which
including mention of him filing this, that, and/or the other thing.  This made
the Diocese of Pittsburgh (under Donald Wuerl at the time) look extremely
suspicious.  All that the witness had to say was, "I know nothing about that."
Back to guest writer, Mike Ference: 

____________________________
Had the Diocese of Pittsburgh done the prudent thing, Fr. John Wellinger’s

alleged lover, laicized Catholic priest, Richard Dorsch, may have been halt-
ed before he began to sexually abuse youth.  Even Archbishop Bevilacqua 
may have been prevented from causing so much pain and agony in the Phil-
adelphia Archdiocese, as was described in the scathing report of the grand
jury investigation that transpired through the Philadelphia District Attorney’s 
office.   

Respectfully, Mike Ference

______________________________________________________________

Beginning of interview

Mike: And I’m talking to Marta P******* (Mike then spelled her full name), 
           is that correct?

Marta: Right.

Mike: Your telephone number is 412-***-****.   What is your mother’s maid-
           en name, if I may ask?

Marta:  And you need this?

Mike:  I just wanted to identify, again if some one says “How do we know 
            we’re talking to Marta?”  You know what I mean, if that’s okay with 
            you?   If not, that’s okay.  You do not have to give that.

Marta: No, I don’t.   No.

Mike: You’d rather not give that?

Marta: No.

Mike: Ok, that’s fine.  That’s fine.

Marta: I mean, I am in the church year book, if you were to need anything 
            else.

Mike: Okay.

Mike: You are a resident of West Mifflin, is that correct?

Marta: Right.

Mike: You have been a member of the Holy Spirit Church for some time now, 
           for a number of years, since at least 1980 or 81?

Marta: Since 1968.

Mike: 1968! Oh my goodness.  Okay.

Mike: At the time a Priest by the name of (John Wellinger) came there, you 
          had a position with the church if I am not mistaken.  What position was 
          this?

Marta: I was the Parish secretary.

Mike: Was this a fulltime or part-time position?

Marta: It was part-time.

Mike: If I am not mistaken, you became suspicious of John Wellinger based 
           upon a couple of things that were occurring.  Is that correct?

Marta: Well, yeah.  I had a feeling that there was something not right. 

Mike: You were also told about a possible assault on a young boy by the 
           name of (*********).  Is that correct?

Marta: I wouldn’t say assault. 

Mike: Okay

Marta: What was told to me was that, he had given, I guess, liquor and 
            drugs to this young man, and was taken to the hospital. 

Mike: Right, okay.  And that Hospital was Shadyside Hospital, if I am 
           not mistaken.  Is that correct?

Marta: I am not sure. 

Mike: Okay.  And this would have happened? Do you think this happened 
           sometime in 1987?

Marta: Yeah, I guess so. 

Mike: Okay, so this happened in 1987.  You are also aware of the alleg-
           ed abuse that took place with a young boy by the name of (Chris 
           Mathews) sometime in 1989.  Is that correct?

Marta: Only that, I knew about it when it was in the paper.

Mike: When it was publicized.  Okay, it was publicized in 2003, or some-
           thing like that. 

Mike: The (*********) boy, I believe his first name is (****)?

Marta: Right. 

Mike: Okay.  At the time, he would have been about sixteen (16) years of 
           age, do you think?

Marta: Yeah, maybe fifteen (15) or sixteen (16).

Mike: Okay.

Mike: You can be relatively sure that he was under the age of eighteen (18)?

Marta: Yeah.

Mike: (**** *********’s) mother would have been (**** *********), 
            correct?

Marta: Yes.  

Mike: She also worked for the church, or (John Wellinger) at that time, is 
           that correct?

Marta: Yes.  She was the CCD coordinator.

Mike: So, she was often around the church, and often either with John 
          Wellinger or performing church duties.  Things like that.  Is that 
           correct?

Marta: Yeah. 

Mike: Am I permitted to ask you who told you about (****’s) incident?  
           I believe initially you may have said so.  Did you say it was (****
           *********) who told you this happened? 

Marta: No.

Mike: Okay, I am sorry. 

Marta: It wasn’t her.  You know, I can’t remember who told me.

Mike: Okay.

Marta: I kinda think it may have been (Michelle ********). 

Mike: She was the organist?

Marta: Right.

Mike: Okay.

Marta: But, I am not sure.

Mike: Okay.

Mike: Put it this way.  There were several people who were well aware 
           of this.

Marta: Yeah.

Mike: Okay, Okay.

Mike: So, again, we are proceeding with the assumption that John Well-
           inger may have given drugs and alcohol to a boy by the name of 
          (**** *********) sometime in the year of 1987.  The boy was 
          certainly under the age of eighteen (18), and was a minor to the 
          best of your recollection.

Marta: Right.

Mike: Okay.  Now, you also told me during the conversation we had,
           I believe back in August, that you had gone to the Pittsburgh 
           Catholic Diocese to talk about some of your concerns about 
           John Wellinger.  Is that correct?

Marta: That is correct. 

Mike: Would you say that you did that some time in the year 1988.

Marta: Yeah, I think so.  Although, this was before I resigned.

Mike: So this was before you resigned.  Do you know when you re-
           signed your duties from the church?

Marta: No.  I would have to look at my records. 

Mike: Do you have any idea when it might have been?

Marta: Um, It was probably in 1988 or 1989.

Mike: If it were 1989, do you have any idea about what month or any-
           thing like that?

Marta: That I resigned?

Mike: Yeah.

Marta: It may have been like late summer.

Mike: Late Summer of 1988 or 1989. Okay.

Mike: Is there any way you could double check this to see?

Marta: Yeah, If I am thinking if I still have my pay records or not.  Then 
            I could look that up. 

Mike: Okay, very good. 

Mike: So, you proceeded to go to the Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese.  Any 
           idea who you might have met with at the diocese?

Marta: I don’t remember.  I am thinking it was (Ron Lengwin) but I am 
            not sure.

Mike: You are not one hundred (100) percent sure?

Marta: No.

Mike: Okay.  Well let me ask you this.  To get a time frame on this, was 
           Bishop Bevilacqua that bishop at the time?

Marta: Yes, he was.

Mike: So, this was before Donald Wuerl?

Marta: Yes.

Mike: How do you know Bishop Bevilacqua was the bishop?  Is there 
           anything that you can say for sure other than “you know what, 
           I knew that when I went down there Bishop Bevilacqua was the 
           bishop, simply because he was the bishop”.  Maybe that is suf-
           ficient. 

Marta: Umm, Yeah. 

Mike: Okay.  We could probably re-establish these dates, if we wanted to.

Mike: So, you met with a gentleman who you think may have been Fr Ron 
           Lengwin).  Do you recall some of the things you told him. 

Marta: Umm, Yeah. 

Mike: And, what were they?

Mike: I think, if I am not mistaken, you mentioned that there was a young 
           boy living at the rectory at the time?

Marta: Right.
Mike:  Did you tell that to Father Lengwin?

Marta: Yes.
Mike:  Do you recall what else you told to Father (Lengwin)?
Marta: Oh. Probably that a young couple spent the night at the rectory.
           They were trying to sneak out the next morning, and I just hap-
           pen to come by the stairs when they were trying to get out.
Mike: When you say young couple, do you mean young boy and girl?
Marta: I would say in their early twenties. They were friends of his.
Mike:  Do you know who they were?
Marta: No.
Mike:  Was that the type of behavior you might have experienced or at
            least heard about on a regular basis, or was this something new?
Marta: As far as the young couple, this only happened the one time that
           I am aware of.
Mike:  Okay
Marta: I did tell Father (Wellinger) that I saw them there, and He said it
            was only a few friends of his that stayed there.
Mike:  Okay.   You felt there was much more to it than just people staying
            overnight.
Marta: Well, I don’t know. I did not think it was proper for them to stay all
            night at the rectory, and then try to sneak out.
 Mike:  Okay.
 Marta: If they had been proper guests there, then why would they be
             hiding? Why wouldn't they just come out in the open?
Mike:  What makes you think they were actually sneaking out?
Marta: Because, there were people in the dining room.  That is where
            we would meet to have our staff meetings, and I came to my
            office through the living room to the dining room.  In that hall
            between the rooms is the stairs . As I came around the bend, the
            two were coming down the steps. They were trying to be real quiet.
Mike:  Do they know that you saw them?
Marta: Yeah.
Mike:  You were startled, and they were probably startled, I guess.  They
           were also kind of embarrassed, too?  I am guessing.   And then they
           just kind of …
Marta: ... left
Mike:  They shuffled out without saying hello, goodbye, or anything?
Marta: Yeah.
Mike:  Now, what did Father (Lengwin) say about this?
Marta: You know, I really do not recall.  I think he was just trying to write
            things down, not really making any comments about it.
Mike:  And you also told him about the young fellow that was living there
           for a time.   Do you have any idea on about who he was, or how old
           he was?
Marta: I do not know who he was.  I would say he could have been around
            seventeen or eighteen.
Mike:  Okay.
Marta: The only reason I knew, because I did not realize there was anybody
            up there, was the telephone bill came in, and I questioned Father
          (Wellinger) about it.   It was a big, long list.  I called the telephone
            company about this one number, but I am not sure what number it
            was.
Mike:  Was it like a 900 number, or something similar?
Marta: Yeah.
Mike:  Okay.
Marta: This is the only way I knew, and he said “Oh, that’s ( ).”  I am not
            certain of what name he gave.  He then said “he has been staying up
            there, and that would be him.  In fact, I think (Maria C******) hap-
            pened to pick up the phone, and heard him on the phone.”  Although,
            nothing was apparently ever said or done, because we got the tele-
            phone bill listing all those calls.
Mike:  So you told Father (Lengwin) about the boy living up there.   Was
            there any reaction from Father (Lengwin)?
Marta: Not that I can recall.
Mike:  After, was there anything else that you may have told Father (Lengwin)?
Marta: Umm, I am trying to think. 
Mike:  Did you tell him about the (W********) boy?
Marta: I don’t think I knew that at the time.
Mike: To make along story short, or to paraphrase it, you went to Father
          (Lengwin) with concerns about John (Wellinger) because of inap-
           propriate behavior.  Did you think at the time that it could have
           been some type of sexual behavior that may not have been accep-
           table for a Priest?
Marta: No, not at that time.
Mike:  No,  OK.  Not at that time.   Basically, you were reporting behavior
            that in your mind was suspicious.
Marta: Right.
Mike:  OK
Mike:  Now, so you left the diocese.   How did the diocese react to your
            concerns?
Marta: Well, they ... um ... Let’s see:  I know that I had put another call in
            to them, or they called me.  I can’t remember.
Mike:  That’s OK
Marta: They said it sounds like people inform you of things, and they made
            me feel like I was a busybody or something.
Mike:  Like you were sticking your nose into somebody else’s business
           where it did not belong, maybe?
Marta: Because people would tell me things.   I was they’re secretary, and
            people would tell me things.  I don’t know.  They would express
            concerns or thoughts.
Mike:  So, people would come to you because they had confidence in you.
            Probably also because of the fact that maybe you had been privy to
            something, and maybe they felt like they were helping in some way
            by putting some of the pieces together by giving you additional in-
            formation?
Marta: Or they were curious and wanted to know.
Mike:  They may have come to you and said, what do you think?  And
            people were coming to you about his behavior, showing concern.
           As a result of this, you went to whom we think is Father (Lengwin)
           and, said, "Hey, I’m not sure if anything is going on, but here is what
           we have so far.
Marta: Right.
Mike:  Father (Lengwin) or whomever you spoke with, said “quit being such
           a busybody, and mind your own business.”  Now, did they send you
           any type of a letter or anything at all?
Marta: Oh, yes.   They sent me a letter, and asked me if they questioned
          (Wellinger) about anything that I said, would I want my name
            mentioned?
Mike:  Okay.
Marta: I said no, because I think at that time I was still working.
Mike:  Okay, you were still working.
Marta: Right.
Mike:  Did they state anything else in that letter that you can recall?
            By the way, do you still have that letter?
Marta: I don’t know. I would have to look.
Mike:  Okay, you would have to look.  Do you recall anything else in that
            letter that may have been stated, or who the letter may have come
            from?
Marta: I know it came from the diocese.
Mike:  Okay.  Have you ever told anybody else about this, such as law en-
            forcement officials or anybody else that may have been able to help
            in this situation?  I think you did as much as you could with as much
            information as you had.  Is that a reasonable assumption on my part?
            I mean, you don’t have the authority to arrest anybody.    For you to
            question (Wellinger), that really doesn’t do any good, although you
            may have questioned him, or put him on the spot at times. 
Marta: Right.
Mike:  That doesn’t mean he’s going to tell you the truth or anything like that.
Marta: Yeah, I know.
Mike:  Did you ever talk to anybody else about this that may have been in a
           position to get some things done?
Marta: I’m not sure.   At one time, I think I did talk to one of the parish
            council members.
Mike:  And who would that have been?
Marta: That would have been (Rick M**********), but it would not have
            been about this.  It would have been more about how the money was
            being used.
Mike:  I see.
Marta: This would have involved with the parish share money.
Mike:  Okay.   Now when you are talking about money, are you talking about
            inappropriate expenditures in any way, or question about where some
            of the money was?  Was it something like that?
Marta: Well, yeah.  The parish share money wasn’t necessarily going to that.
             I didn’t know where it was going, you know.
Mike:  Okay.   Did anybody ever look into that?
Marta: I don’t think so.
Mike:  Okay.
Marta: You know. Nothing ever came back to me.
Mike:   Okay.  And what was that gentleman’s name again that was on the
             parish council?
Marta: That was (Rick Manischevic).
Mike:   Is he still a member of the parish council?
Marta: No.
Mike:   Okay.  Is he still involved in the church in any way?
Marta: yes. I believe he trains the ultra service.
Mike:  Were there any people who may have covered for John (Wellinger)
            if he did anything wrong that the church?
Marta: Oh, sure.
Mike:  Who do you think some of those people might have been?
Marta: Well, (Marie Capana), would have been one.
Mike:  Okay.
Marta: (Marina C*******) I think too, and there may be one more,
            although I’m not sure.
Mike:  Okay. Mike: Do you mean (Marina Cataro)?
Marta: Yes.
Mike:  I tried talking to her, and she wouldn’t talk to me.
Marta: No, she wouldn’t.
Mike:  Do you think she may know something?
Marta: I am sure, yes, she would know something.   I am sure somebody
            would have said something to her.
Mike:   Okay. Did you ever discuss anything like this with (Gretchen
            W*****)?
Marta: Yes.
Mike:   She is the sister of mercy, I believe?
Marta: Right. Mike: I think (Gretchen W*****) had some suspicions con-
            cerning (Wellinger)?
Marta: Oh Yeah.
Mike:  Do you know if she ever went someone at the diocese to say, "Hey,
           something is amiss here?"
Marta: I don’t know that.  I kind of think not, but I don’t know.
Mike:  Okay.  Any idea what she may have known?
Marta: Umm, Well...
Mike:  Did she know about the (W********) boy?
Marta: I believe she did.
Mike:  Okay.
Marta: All I remember her telling him was that she was not going to fight
            his demons.  That’s all I can remember.
Mike:  I see.  I’m trying to think if there’s anything else.  Somewhere around
           1988 or 1989, you resigned as the parish secretary, but you still stayed
           on as a member.  No one was going to keep you out of a church you be-
           long to and helped build, and all that kind of stuff.  Somewhere around
           1991 is when (Wellinger) left, is that correct?
Marta: I believe so.
Mike:  Do you remember anything surrounding when he left?  Usually when
            a priest leaves, there is some type of formal announcement like in a
            month I’ll be leaving.   Do you recall anything like this with ...
          (Wellinger)?
Marta: No, I don’t recall that.  All I recall at that time is that Bishop (Boal)
            came to our church or some type of function, maybe for confirmation,
            although I am not sure, and within like two weeks (Wellinger) was
            gone.   I just thought, well, somebody with some type of clout may
            have sent the bishop here.
Mike:  Okay, but you’re not completely sure.
Marta: No.
Mike:  You do, however, know where he stayed when he left Holy Spirit
           Church.
Marta: Right. Mike: Where did he stay?  I think he first went to Allentown.
Mike:  But you said ...
Marta: I think he did stay with … but then he went to Allentown as a priest.
Mike:  Okay.
Marta: After that, I think he went to St. Francis with Father (Dorsch).
Mike:  When you say he went to Allentown, he left Holy Spirit Church
            abruptly?
Marta: Yes.
Mike:  And, was immediately assigned to a church in Allentown?
           Was that the way it went?
Marta: Yes.
Mike:  If I’m not mistaken, Allentown may be a separate borough,
            but it is also part of Pittsburgh, near Carrick and that area.
Marta: Right.
Mike:  And then from there, he may have stayed just for a short time.
           Now, how do you know?  Did he just go down to St. Francis on
           his own, or was he like an assistant pastor there?   Do you have
           any idea?
Marta: I don’t’ know.  I think he was just staying there.  I got a copy of
            a letter that he wrote, although I’m not sure where I got to copy
            from or who I got the copy from, to some friends.   In his letter
            he was just complaining about what he had been through over the
            past year or so.  It was written on stationery from St. Francis.
Mike:  Okay.  The reason why you are familiar with St. Francis, which is
            the Church in the McKees Rocks area, you were a parishioner there
            at one time?
Marta: Right.
Mike:  So you’re very familiar.  You are assuming that, if you received a
            letter or saw a letter from St Francis, he had some connection there?
            That’s where he was staying there as a result, or did he mention in
            the letter that he was staying there?
Marta: I believe he did mention it
Mike:  Okay. He wouldn’t have sent a copy of that letter to you right?
Marta: Oh no.
Mike:  Any idea who he sent that letter to?
Marta: I’m not sure. It might’ve been Marina or it could have been ... I really
           don’t know.
Mike:  Okay
Marta: All I know is that it was a copy.  Somebody had made a copy of
           the letter.
Mike:  Okay.  So we are assuming that, from this letter, he stayed with
            Father (Dorsch) at St. Francis in McKees Rocks.  Father (Dorsch)
            was the head pastor there for some time.
Marta: Right.
Mike:  This would’ve been around 1991 maybe 1992 correct?
 Marta: I think so
Mike:  Are you aware that Father (Dorsch) was eventually convicted of
           sexual abuse?
Marta: I am aware now yes. I was unaware of it then.
Mike:  Do you know who made you aware of that?
Marta: I believe you did. Mike: Okay.
Mike:  Do you know if Father (Dorsch) was a regular visitor from time to
            time with John (Wellinger)?
Marta: Yeah, I think he did visit sometimes.
Mike:  Okay.  Did he ever mention where he met Father (Dorsch)?
Marta: No.
Mike:  No, okay.  At this point, is there anything you would like to add 
            to our conversation that you can think of?
Marta: I don’t know.   I just know that I did not have a good feeling from
            the time he came there, and when he was instilled as pastor, I re-
            member him mentioning that I think he came from Clairton to
            Holy Spirit.
Mike:  Right
Marta: He also mentioned that his friends gave him different gifts, and
            some more drugs.
Mike:  He indicated that his friends had given him drugs as a kind of
           going away gift?
Marta: Yeah
Mike:  He didn’t mention that those friends were?
Marta: No, Just that they were friends from Clairton.
Mike:  Do you think he was serious?
Marta: Well yeah.
Mike:  In other words he talked about this in such a fashion, that if I were
            to say to you even though I don’t know you that well,  “Oh. I just
            left my old job, and those folks were kind enough, they gave me a
            bottle of wine, they gave me watch,” it was that carefree?
Marta: Yeah
Mike:  And the way I describe it to you, it’s even believable, so that even
           though he is … ?  For someone of our age, for someone to say, "Oh
           they gave me drugs, …"
Marta: I don’t think he said drugs, I think he said goodies from my runner.
Mike:  So he even describe it is marijuana?
Marta: Yes
Mike:  So he didn’t leave it as drugs, he said marijuana?
Marta: Right
Mike:  Do you think he abused drugs on a regular basis, or some type of
            basis?
Marta: Alcohol, as far as I know.
Mike:  What do you think his relationship was with Maria (C******)?
Marta: Well, I don’t know. I guess I always thought they were a twosome.
             I mean, she practically lived there.
Mike: Okay
Marta: I believe there was another woman, although I cant’ remember her
            name.
Mike: Was it Virginia (Voytech)?
Marta: Yes, She always hung around there too.  She was a nurse.  She would
            come to the rectory, and stay there all day.
Mike: Okay
Marta:She was also there sometimes after I left.
Mike:  Just a few more things.  You knew (Marinell), which was
          (Wellinger’s) sister?
Marta: Yeah.
 Mike:  And that’s where complete name Marinell?
Marta: M-A-R-I-N-E-L-L, that’s it.
Mike:  Do you recall an outburst, or know anything about a public out-
            burst, in the church after or during Mass by I believe it was Bob
          (W********)?
Marta: That wasn’t in the church, it was in the parking lot.
Mike: Okay Who was this outburst aimed at, (Wellinger) himself?
Marta: Oh yeah.
Mike: Okay. Were there people around, who could’ve heard this?
Marta: Oh yes, we were having a staff meeting that morning.
Mike: Okay.
Marta: And his wife, Ann, was of course at the staff meeting.
Mike: Okay
Marta: And he was yelling.  As a matter of fact, he came into the
            rectory, grabbed her, and pulled her out.  He had been drink-
            ing.  I think he may have had a gun, or someone mentioned
            that he had a gun.
Mike:  Okay
Marta: I think it was Maria or someone who took (Wellinger) out the
            back door.
Mike:  Okay
Marta: And then they said that we should leave too.
Mike:  Okay, did Bob (W********) explain to anybody what was going
            on?  Why he was angry, why he had a gun, or why he wanted to
            talk to (Wellinger)?
Marta: No, except I guess that Ann was kind of taken with him. I don’t
           know.
Mike: Okay.
Marta: I guess they would like to have lunch together, or do things
            together.
Mike:  Was this before or after his son ended up in Shadyside hospital?
Marta: I think it was after.
Mike:  So, if it was after, he was also angry because of what happened
            to his son, and angry because his wife was still involved with
          (Wellinger).
Marta: Right.
Mike:  It seems to me that one of the things that (Wellinger) used was
           women to help disguise his other bad habits.
Marta: Right.
Mike:  I would go so far as to say that, if I were a betting man and I’m
           not sure which way I would bet if someone were to say to me.
           Do you think John (Wellinger) and Ann (*********) had an
           affair?  I would not know which way to bet, but even if you
           flipped a coin, you could win. Is that a fair way of analyzing
           that situation?
Marta: Well for some reason, I just never thought of it that way.
             I thought it was more on her part than on his.
Mike:  Okay.  So she was truly infatuated with him much like Virginia
          (V*****)?
Marta: No.  It was more like Maria.
Mike:  So these women were infatuated with him, and John (Wellinger)
           knew how to use that?
Marta: Yeah.
Mike:  This included selecting **** ********* as a victim, given he
            knew he had an edge.  This may have helped him in some way.
Marta: I don’t know.
Mike:  I, myself, can’t think like a pedophile.  But, I’m guessing that
           this may have played a role.
Mike: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Marta: No not that I can think of.
Mike: When Bob ********* had this outburst, was Marinell there?
Marta: Oh.   No, I was still working there.
Mike: So, Marinell replaced you?
Marta: Yes.
Mike: Okay very good.   When Bob ********* had this outburst, even
           though he didn’t say anything about his son being hospitalized,
           you’re saying that everyone knew, at that point, what was going
           on?
Marta: Yeah, it had kind of gone around, you know.
Mike:  Is it fair to say that it may be? ... Let’s say there are a thousand
            people who are members of the Holy Spirit Church.   It would
            be real easy to say that for 50 of those parishioners, the (Wellin-
            ger) gossip and scandal may have been common knowledge.
Marta: Right.
Mike:  And the reason I asked that question is because I talked to Frank,
            the former police chief, who told me that his neighbor said this
            was all common knowledge.
Marta: Yeah.
Mike:  That he was sex idiot?
Marta: There could have been.  Like I said, I don’t think I heard anything
            else other than what I told you.
Mike:  Right
Marta: If Frank knew, I’m not sure where he lived.  Jim Matthews also
            knew of this stuff at the time.
Mike:  He was also a police officer.
Marta: Right.
Mike:  Frank (Defazio)? Frank (DeFazio) was the chief of police at the
            time, but he tells me he didn’t know anything.
Marta: Okay
Mike:  I can tell you this much, or do you think he is not necessarily
            telling the truth?
Marta: I don’t know.  Do the policemen have to report to them if anybody
           would call or anything?
Mike:  Yeah, that’s right, were the policemen summoned to any of these
            things?
Marta: Yes.   They did call the police when Bob ********* came to the
            rectory, but also the police came to my house one night because
            they were trying to get the money to (Wellinger) to get it put away
            for the night, and they could not locate him.  So they came here to
            ask me for the keys for the rectory.   I guess when Jim came back,
            he gave me the keys to the rectory and told me that (Wellinger) was
            passed out.
Mike:  Okay.
Marta: I guess that was sort of hush-hush.
Mike:  Do you think any police knew about the outburst that Bob *******
            had at the rectory?  Were any police called for that, and would any
            West Mifflin police at least be aware of something like that?
Marta: I would think they would be aware of it, because I’m almost sure
           we called the police.
Mike:  Okay, you did call police. Who would’ve been the one to call the
            police?
Marta: It wasn’t me.  I’m not sure.   It could have been Maria or Virginia.
Mike:  It sounds like people were legitimately scared, also because Bob
           had gun.
Marta: Well yeah.
Mike:  Or least people thought he had a gun, or that he might’ve had a gun.
Marta: Right
Mike:  Do you know if any of this was reported diocese?
Marta: Well it must have been because, who else could have restricted him
            from coming on church property?
Mike:  In other words, you are aware of the fact that Bob ********* re-
            ceived a letter from the lawyer for the diocese to stay away from
            the church?
Marta: Well all I know is that, I was told that he was not allowed to be on
            church grounds.  That is all I know.
Mike:  Okay, you don’t know.  Who told you this?  Was it (Wellinger)?
Marta: No wasn’t him. I guess it was just a rumor or common knowledge.
Mike:  Okay.   Sr Gretchen would have probably known about all this stuff?
Marta: Oh yeah.
Mike:  Did she live there at the time?
Marta: No.
Mike:  No? Okay.  She would have known about it certainly ...
Marta: If not from others, then at least from me.
Mike:  Okay.
Marta: I think she might’ve been there that day, as I think she was already
           on staff.
Mike:  Okay.  That’s right.  She would have been there for the staff meeting.

I want to thank you again Marta. I’m not exactly sure what’s going to happen.
But again, I applaud you for your willingness to help because this has truly
been a tragedy, and I don’t like stuff like this going on, and I don’t like stuff
like this being covered up.  We will see what happens.  Again, Michelle ****
would be willing to help me?  I have already talked to her.   There are some
things now that I just want to get squared away.  Anyway, I reserve the right
to give you a call back.  Thank you again.   Bye-bye.

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