Spain has become the focus of a Massachusetts community's grief following the arrest of a 27-year-old suspect in the homicide of Father Richard K. Gross, a Jesuit priest with deep ties to the Boston area. Spanish authorities apprehended the man on January 31, in connection with the January 20 assault and death of Gross in Málaga, as reported by NBC Boston and Boston.com. The identity of the suspect has not been disclosed.
Fr. Gross, aged 80, was reportedly assaulted when he was entering his apartment, an incident that led to a robbery, per Spanish publication SUR cited by Boston.com. A neighbor described to Spanish publication EFE hearing a man's screams the night of the attack, claiming the cries persisted for about ten minutes "as if he was being killed." The following afternoon, Gross' body was discovered.
The incident has triggered a broad investigation, with the High Court of Justice of Andalucía ordering the suspect to be held without bail amid ongoing inquiries into Gross's death. The arrest has shed light on the esteemed life and service of Fr. Gross, who was not just a religious figure but also an educator at several institutions, including Boston College and Phillips Academy, as acknowledged by the USA East Province of the Society of Jesus and reported by NBC Boston.
Sources explain that Gross returned to Boston College High in 2023, where he continued his pastoral services. This sentiment was echoed with a statement from BC High obtained by NBC Boston: "Our thoughts and prayers are with Father Gross’s family, his brother Jesuits, and all those blessed by his ministry and friendship. We pray for his eternal peace and comfort for those mourning his loss."
The details surrounding Gross's death—that he sustained a traumatic brain injury during the assault—are still subject to investigation. Spanish police theorize that there could have been more than one person involved in the attack. The questions that linger around both the motive and execution of this crime continue to haunt those who knew Fr. Gross, as the community awaits a full account of what transpired on the night of his passing.
