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Rev. Michael Mack |
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A Case Study of Sexual Abuse and Murder
Steven A. Degraff, thirty-three years old, one of society’s underdogs, had been in prison for burglary and assault in California, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and New York.9Rick A. Maesa, “Priest Lovingly Remembered, But Suspect Remains a Mystery,” Albuquerque Tribune, January 4, 2002. He moved into the Jemez Springs area at the beginning of 2001 and worked as a short order cook in nearby La Cueva. A police deputy frequently saw him sitting on a guard rail on New Mexico Route 4, less than a mile from Mack’s house. On December 7, 2001, Mack returned home from dinner and discovered Degraff burglarizing his house. Degraff hit Mack with a hammer and a lead crystal glass and stabbed him in the neck with a kitchen knife. Chris Vogel, “Jurors Hear Police Tape of Suspect,” Albuquerque Journal, March 20, 2003.10 He then stole Mack’s wallet, keys, and car.
Degraff continued his criminal career. Soon after, he was picked up by the Pojoaque Tribal Police on drug and auto theft charges. On December 28, he was transferred to the Sandoval County Jail on yet another stolen car charge. There he confessed to police that he killed Mack and told them how to find the ravine where he had abandoned Mack’s car.11 Katie Burford, “Police Arrest Drifter in Priest’s Death,” Albuquerque Journal, January 4, 2002. Degraff, knowing about the reputation of the Jemez Springs center, claimed that fifty-nine-year-old Mack “tried to rape him”12Mary Perea, “Priest’s Death Brings Up Memories of Prior Scandal,” Marysville Journal-Tribune, March 7, 2002, p. 7. when Degraff broke into the house and pled innocent to murder charges. The prosecutor pointed out the improbability of this story.13Chris Vogel, “Prosecutor Dismisses Claim of Abuse,” Albuquerque Journal, March 18, 2003. In March 2003 Degraff was convicted of first-degree murder14Chris Vogel. “Man Guilty of Murder in Priest’s Slaying,” Albuquerque Journal, March 22, 2003. and in August 2003 sentenced to 46 ½ years in prison.15Carolyn Carlson, “Priest Killer Gets 46 ½ Years,” Albuquerque Journal, August 19, 2003. His conviction was appealed and affirmed.16State of New Mexico v. Steven DeGraff, Supreme Court of the State of New Mexico, 2006-NMSC-011.
Cindy Sherrett, Mack’s niece, came to New Mexico for the trial. After Degraff was convicted, she said,
In the last year I’ve been through so much sorrow and grief. At the anniversary in December, I was feeling so much anger, I didn’t know what to do with the anger. Now I fell like well, I don’t hate. The fact that (Degraff) wasn’t able to show any remorse or sorrow during the trial shows something about him is so broken. This now gives us a chance to start healing.Chris Vogel, “Suspect Guilty in Priest Slaying,” Albuquerque Journal, March 22, 2003.17
In 1972, when he was a Newman Chaplain, Mack participated in a seminar on death and dying. He conveyed his experience in comforting the dying: he would tell them,
Footnotes
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9 Rick A. Maesa, “Priest Lovingly Remembered, But Suspect Remains a Mystery,” Albuquerque Tribune, January 4, 2002.
10 Chris Vogel, “Jurors Hear Police Tape of Suspect,” Albuquerque Journal, March 20, 2003.
11 Katie Burford, “Police Arrest Drifter in Priest’s Death,” Albuquerque Journal, January 4, 2002.
12 Mary Perea, “Priest’s Death Brings Up Memories of Prior Scandal,” Marysville Journal-Tribune, March 7, 2002, p. 7.
13 Chris Vogel, “Prosecutor Dismisses Claim of Abuse,” Albuquerque Journal, March 18, 2003.
14 Chris Vogel. “Man Guilty of Murder in Priest’s Slaying,” Albuquerque Journal, March 22, 2003.
15 Carolyn Carlson, “Priest Killer Gets 46 ½ Years,” Albuquerque Journal, August 19, 2003.
16 State of New Mexico v. Steven DeGraff, Supreme Court of the State of New Mexico, 2006-NMSC-011.
17 Chris Vogel, “Suspect Guilty in Priest Slaying,” Albuquerque Journal, March 22, 2003.
18 Margaret Kuehlthau, “‘Death a Forbidden Subject, But Face It,’ Workshop Told,” Tucson Daily Citizen, February 11, 1972, p. 45.
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