American Greed: Scams, Scoundrels and Scandals Season 8 Episode 12 A Wolf in Priest's Clothing

In the episode "A Wolf in Priest's Clothing" of American Greed: Scams, Scoundrels and Scandals season 8, viewers are introduced to a man named John Feit. Feit is a former Catholic priest who is on trial for the murder of a young woman named Irene Garza. Garza disappeared in April of 1960 after visiting Sacred Heart Church in McAllen, Texas to make a confession. Her body was found five days later in a nearby canal. She had been raped and suffocated.

In the years following Garza's murder, suspicion fell on Feit. He had been at the church on the night of Garza's disappearance and had a history of attacking young women. In fact, he had been accused of attacking another young woman in a nearby town just weeks before Garza's murder. However, due to the influence of the Catholic Church and local law enforcement, Feit was never charged with Garza's murder.

It wasn't until 2016, over 50 years after Garza's murder, that Feit was finally indicted for the crime. The case was brought to trial and prosecutors presented evidence that they believed would prove Feit's guilt. This evidence included testimony from witnesses who claimed to have seen Feit with Garza on the night of her murder, as well as evidence of Feit's history of attacking young women.

The trial was a long and emotional one, with both sides presenting passionate arguments about Feit's guilt or innocence. Ultimately, the jury was unable to come to a unanimous decision and the judge declared a mistrial.

Despite the mistrial, Feit remained in jail as he awaited a new trial. However, in 2019, he passed away at the age of 87 before he could face justice for Garza's murder.

The episode "A Wolf in Priest's Clothing" explores the shocking and tragic story of Irene Garza's murder and the decades-long fight for justice that followed. It sheds light on the way that power and influence can be used to protect those who commit heinous crimes, and on the importance of perseverance in the quest for truth and justice.