Justice of the Peace: Priest's death an apparent suicide
Brownsville police are continuing their investigation into the death of Father Ricardo Garcia, who died Monday at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church rectory.
An early investigation indicates Garcia’s death was “an apparent suicide.” His body was found at 7:30 a.m. in the backyard of the rectory at 1910 Barnard Road by a fellow priest, according to a police department press release.
Justice of the Peace Tony Torres, who ordered an autopsy, pronounced him dead at the scene. “To me it was a suicide,” Torres said Tuesday.
It had earlier been reported that Garcia died in his sleep at his residence.
A copy of the police report was not immediately available. The Brownsville Herald has filed an open records request with the police department for a copy of the police report.
The Catholic Diocese of Brownsville released the following statement: “On Monday, we notified the parish community about Father Ricardo Garcia’s death at his residence. Out of respect for the family we do not want to go into the circumstances surrounding his death. The police statement indicates that it is an apparent suicide.
“This is a time of great sorrow. Many people are suffering from the death of Father Ricardo. The entire community is suffering and we are all trying to make sense of this tragedy. We are all left with many unanswered questions,” the statement said.
It continues: “We commend Father Ricardo to the mercy of God and ask for God’s healing. We ask the Catholic faithful and all people of goodwill to pray for his parents and family for they too are suffering excruciating pain.”
A native of Edinburg, Garcia was ordained on May 22, 1992. He had served as a priest at St. Mary’s Church since September 2007 and as judicial vicar of the Diocesan Tribunal.
Garcia previously served the parishes of Sacred Heart Church in Escobares, St. Anthony Church in Harlingen, Our Lady St. John of the Fields Church in Mission, Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Brownsville and St. Anne Mother of Mary Church in Pharr.
A rosary service is scheduled for 7 p.m. today at St. Mary’s Church. Visitation begins at 6 p.m.
Visitation will continue from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday at Memorial Funeral Home in Edinburg.
A funeral Mass is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Friday at Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle-National Shrine.
