TEXAS (KRON/CNN) — 83-year-old John Feit, the former priest and alleged killer of Irene Garza was arraigned Monday, according to officials.
Feit has long been suspected in the murder of Irene Garza, the 25-year-old school teacher who had gone to confession with Fr. Feit at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in McAllen the night before Easter 1960, when she never returned home.
With a walker assisting him, Feit entered the court room on Monday to plead not guilty to his 1960 murder case.
According to his attorney, Feit has stage 3 kidney disease and has bladder cancer.
Although his physical state is deteriorating, Feit told judge Luis Singleterry that he has never been declared mentally incompetent.
An attorney who has no connection to the case tells CBS News, “If that issue is brought up by the defense, it is something that will require a full hearing before the court.” If there is a possibility that the defense calls Feit’s mental state into question it could delay the trial.
While the case plays out in court, remaining members of Irene Garza’s family will be watching.
Lynda De La Vina, cousin to Irene Garza said, “Finally in this lifetime, there’s been this miracle that this has happened…This man in my opinion murdered my cousin…too old to see justice? I don’t believe that at all.”
Feit’s bond was set at one million dollars.