Disgraced Alabama priest who ran off to Italy with teenage girl he 'groomed' after meeting her at school is BACK in the US - but will NOT face charges despite sending her creepy love letter when she was just 17
A disgraced Alabama priest who ran off to Italy with a teenage girl he allegedly groomed is back in the US, but will not face charges.
Alex Crow disappeared to Rome with the 18-year-old in July sparking a massive manhunt.
The defrocked Catholic priest allegedly met the girl while she was a 17-year-old student at McGill-Toolen High School in Mobile. Cops uncovered love notes and other letters which indicated Crow, who claims to have been exorcised as a child, had told his lover that Jesus had instructed him to leave with her.
Now the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office has confirmed both have returned to the US but said that it will not be pursuing charges after the girl 'declined to answer any questions' about the disappearance. A statement from the office explained how prosecutors interviewed 30 witnesses and revied 'thousands of pages of documents' provided by the Archdiocese but would not seek charges over the 'private relationship between two now-adults'.
The statement reported by WKRG said: 'When the young lady and Priest returned, we subpoenaed the young lady to meet with our office to determine what had occurred, and whether there was any criminal action.
'She appeared in seemingly good health and said that she is safe.
'However, she brought an attorney with her to the meeting, and together they declined to answer any questions about the circumstances surrounding her July disappearance, or indeed any other questions.
'Without being able to speak with the young lady about these events, we do not have sufficient admissible evidence to charge a crime at this time. Therefore, this investigation is currently closed.'
Meanwhile the Archdiocese of Mobile said it is 'relieved' to learn that the couple have returned, after Crow 'abandoned' his parish.
Church bosses said they found out he was back through the media as shamed priest had not been in contact with them since his suspension.
'While Crow’s behavior has been scandalous, the Archdiocese does not have any information to indicate that Crow has committed any crime,' a statement said. A statement from the office explained how prosecutors interviewed 30 witnesses and revied 'thousands of pages of documents' provided by the Archdiocese but would not seek charges over the 'private relationship between two now-adults'.
The statement reported by WKRG said: 'When the young lady and Priest returned, we subpoenaed the young lady to meet with our office to determine what had occurred, and whether there was any criminal action.
'She appeared in seemingly good health and said that she is safe.
'However, she brought an attorney with her to the meeting, and together they declined to answer any questions about the circumstances surrounding her July disappearance, or indeed any other questions.
'Without being able to speak with the young lady about these events, we do not have sufficient admissible evidence to charge a crime at this time. Therefore, this investigation is currently closed.'
Meanwhile the Archdiocese of Mobile said it is 'relieved' to learn that the couple have returned, after Crow 'abandoned' his parish.
Church bosses said they found out he was back through the media as shamed priest had not been in contact with them since his suspension.
'While Crow’s behavior has been scandalous, the Archdiocese does not have any information to indicate that Crow has committed any crime,' a statement said. Source
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