4 days ago
Murdered priest alleged to have sexually abused boys (and maybe his killer)
A law firm that represents survivors of sexual abuse sued the Diocese of Orlando on Friday and planned to reveal 'compelling and concrete new information' to back allegations that a Catholic priest murdered in Brevard County last year had sexually molested boys.
The lawsuit seeks 'not less than $25 million' in damages from the diocese for alleged negligence 'arising from the sexual abuse of a child' by Father Robert 'Bob' Hoeffner, 76, who was shot to death Jan. 28, 2024, in his Palm Bay home.
Hoeffner had spent 25 years in Orlando parishes, including a stint as a teacher at Bishop Moore Catholic High School, before taking a post in Brevard. He retired in 2016.
Palm Bay police said Brandon Kapas, 24, killed Hoeffner, the priest's housemate and sister, Sally Joan Hoeffner, 69, and Kapas' grandfather, William Michael Kapas, 78, who was fatally shot at a separate residence. Kapas also wounded two Palm Bay police officers before they shot and killed him. Police said at the time they had not been able to identify any motive or relationship between Kapas and the priest.
But a 76-page investigative police report now shows the priest had bought Kapas a Nissan Sentra, shared a bank account with him and the two had a 'weird' relationship, according to a characterization Palm Bay police attributed to Hoeffner's surviving sister, Lisa.
After the murders, Kapas' aunt, with whom he'd been living, told police she suspected Hoeffner had sexually abused her nephew, though the young man never told her that, the report shows. Another relative described their relationship as 'unhealthy.'
A 25-year-old man now living in New York also called Palm Bay police after the shootings to tell officers Hoeffner had molested him when he was a boy. That man told police he went to Catholic school with Kapas but did not know if Kapas or other children also had been abused.
It's not clear if the man who called police is the same one named in the lawsuit as his named was blacked out in the police documents.
The lawsuit, filed by the Herman Law firm in Boca Raton, alleges 'Father Bob groomed [a former student at St. Joseph Catholic School] and made him feel special, ultimately making him into a compliant victim.' The Orlando Sentinel is not identifying the victim, who is now an adult. The lawsuit also names a B.K. as a victim. It's not clear if those initials refer to Brandon Kapas.
The law firm is to hold a press conference about the lawsuit on Friday afternoon.
Jennifer Drow, a diocese spokesperson, said in an email today the Diocese of Orlando 'was not made aware of any allegations of abuse during Fr. Robert Hoeffner's pastoral leadership, nor after he retired in 2016. We continue to pray for the Palm Bay and St. Joseph communities and all involved.'
The alleged sexual abuse took place from 2012 when the plaintiff was in seventh grade through 2014 and occurred on multiple occasions and in different locations, including in the school counselor's office, at the priest's Palm Bay home and in the priest's car.
Shootings in Brevard take life of retired Catholic priest who worked in Orlando
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff frequently spent time in 2013 and 2014 with a friend 'B.K.' at the priest's home.
'There, Father Bob sexually abused plaintiff in his bedroom on multiple occasions. Often, following these abuse incidents, the priest's sister Sally was waiting outside the bedroom with B.K., who would then enter the bedroom with Father Bob while the plaintiff waited outside with Sally.'
The law firm contends the church and diocese' alleged negligence caused their client to suffer and continue to suffer 'severe and permanent psychological, emotional and physical injuries, shame, humiliation and the inability to lead a normal life.'
Hoeffner, ordained in 1973, had moved from service in Orlando in 1998 to Palm Bay, becoming pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Both the parish and an affiliated Catholic school are named as co-defendants in the 12-page lawsuit.
The diocese said he moved to be closer to his parents, who were in poor health.
According to the investigative report, neighbors recalled seeing a male matching Kapas' description at the Hoeffners' home on a number of occasions, 'but it appeared to always be friendly interactions.'
On the day the Hoeffners' bodies were discovered, police said they found no evidence of forced entry at the home and 'nothing appeared to have been rummaged through.'
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