- Text
Sleeping priest, 80, severely beaten in Chicago rectory
The Rev. Daniel Mallette
/ St. Margaret of Scotland Church/CBS ChicagoCook County Sheriff Tom Dart is a parishioner at the church, and was with the Rev. Dan Mallette the attack early Tuesday morning. He said Mallette was the victim of "a vicious, vicious assault," according to CBS Chicago.
Police say shortly before 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, the suspects broke into the rectory at St. Margaret of Scotland Church, and found Rev. Mallette asleep.
"He was completely taken by surprise," Sheriff Dart said. "He was sound asleep in his bed, and was awoken by two people standing there demanding money and threatening to kill him."
Dart says Mallette suffered broken ribs and facial injuries in the assault, reported CBS Chicago.
Mallette had returned to the rectory later Tuesday after being treated and released from the hospital.
Longtime friend and parishioner William Harris said Mallette "is in a lot of pain - a couple of broken ribs, stitches, black eyes - he was beaten pretty badly."
Mallette married Sheriff Dart and his wife, baptized his kids and conducted his father's funeral.
"He was one of the kindest people I've ever met in my life. It's just so outrageous," Dart said. "You don't know where to start with this - the evil and the cowardice, I mean, in the middle of the night, attacking an 80-year-old man who's sound of sleep in his bad - a man who frankly would give his shirt off his back, and does it all the time."
Harris agreed that the attack was horrific, but he says Father Mallette is all about forgiveness.
"It's an outrage. The first feeling is a feeling of anger, but then the second feeling comes quickly about - how would Dan feel?" Harris said. "Dan would forgive these people, even though they did something that is totally unexplainable."
CBS Chicago reported Mallette has been a fixture at the church since 1977. He turned 80 just this past weekend.
Police were looking for the assailants, who they say did get away with some money.
- Report: Okla. teen vanishes while hiking in South America
- Report: NFL player not ruled out as suspect in murder probe
- Ex-Playmate pleads guilty in immigrant smuggling case
- Report: NFL player questioned in death investigation
- Atty: Martin family confident Zimmerman will be convicted
- 4 accused of holding mother, child captive in Ohio
- Ariel Castro, alleged Cleveland kidnapper, appears in court
- Police: Boy, 13, killed sister, 5, with wrestling moves
- Okla. inmate executed in the 2000 death of a couple
- Report: College student kept girl, 13, in his room for a month
- "Modern-day slavery" case "all lies," suspect's mom says
- One of US FBI's most wanted nabbed in Mexico
- Calif. widow's home broken into 14 times, says she's leaving
- Cops: Fla. man beaten, robbed, left naked on first date
- Steubenville teen rapist must register as sex offender
- Ind. woman, sentenced to death at 16, to be released
