Stabbed priest called 911 before dying

CHATHAM, N.J., Nov. 5 (UPI) -- A New Jersey priest who died in his rectory from 32 stab wounds called the police emergency telephone number asking for help, a 911 recording suggested.

The Rev. Edward Hinds of St. Patrick Church in Chatham tried to tell a police dispatcher the street address of the rectory, but the call, placed at 5:27 p.m. Oct. 22, quickly became disconnected, the recording indicated.

When the state police dispatcher called back, another person said there was no emergency.

The dispatcher answered the call saying, "911, where is the emergency?"

Hinds, in a weak and halting voice, said, "85 Washington Avenue."

The call was placed from a cell phone, so the dispatcher could not identify its location, The Star-Ledger reported.

The dispatcher asked, "Washington Avenue?" but Hinds did not immediately reply. The dispatcher continued, "Hello? Hello?"

Hinds then could be heard saying, "Help," and trying to utter something else just before the call became disconnected.

The dispatcher called the cell phone back, first getting the priest's voicemail.

She immediately hung up and called back again. This time a man believed to be church custodian Jose Feliciano, who authorities have charged with murdering Hinds by beating him and stabbing him 32 times, answered the phone and told the officer there was no problem.

Hinds, 61, was found dead the next day, shortly after he failed to show up for the daily 8 a.m. Mass.

Feliciano, who worked at the church for 17 years, later allegedly confessed to Hinds' murder, the report said.

Police are reviewing how the dispatcher handled the 911 call.

"Our preliminary investigation indicates that the dispatcher followed the proper protocol," police spokesman Gerald Lewis told The Star-Ledger.