N.J. priest among victims nurse says he killed over 20-year period

Published: 2003-12-17

SOMERVILLE, N.J. (CNS) -- As family, friends and parishioners of Father Florian J. Gall witnessed his battle with heart disease, there was always hope that he would enjoy a full recovery and return to his busy ministry as pastor to a flourishing New Jersey faith community. But Father Gall died of heart failure June 28 in Somerset Medical Center in Somerville, and now it appears he died at the hands of a nurse who has admitted to killing a number of patients over a 20-year period. On Dec. 15, members of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Whitehouse Station, who have been grieving over their pastor's death and trying to cope with it, were faced with news that was even more difficult to accept. Charles Cullen, a 43-year-old nurse and resident of Bethlehem, Pa., claimed responsibility for the death of Father Gall, and as many as 40 other hospital patients over nearly two decades. The priest, who was pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish just short of 20 years, also had served as episcopal vicar for Hunterdon County since 2001.

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