The Priest Who Knew Too Much
Bishop Howard Hubbard of the diocese of Albany, New York passed away on Aug. 19, 2023, taking his secrets with him to the grave.
During his 37-year tenure over Albany, from 1977–2014, critics accuse him of turning his diocese into a predator's playground, sheltering abusers, and even accused of abusing boys himself.
While he denied the allegations, by the time of his death he was the subject of numerous lawsuits alleging abuse, or cover-up of abuse.
To this day questions swirl around the abrupt death of Fr. John Minkler, found face down on his kitchen floor in his home in Watervliet, New York on Feb. 15, 2004.
It was two days after a tense meeting with Bp. Hubbard, where they discussed a damning report authored by Minkler exposing corruption in the Albany diocese. While the coroner claimed suicide, his own family questions the narrative, and too many inconsistencies remain about his sudden passing.
In this Spotlight investigation first aired in 2023, I explore the life and death of Fr. John Minkler, and try to answer the question: Was it suicide — or was it murder of a priest who knew too much?
Watch SPOTLIGHT: What Happened to Fr. Minkler?
