Detroit Archdiocese: Paroled Kevorkian not a celebrity but a killer

Published: 2007-06-01

DETROIT (CNS) -- An official of the Detroit Archdiocese denounced the media "hype" surrounding the parole of Jack Kevorkian, saying the assisted suicide proponent was being "treated as a celebrity parolee instead of the convicted murder he is." Kevorkian, a former pathologist whose medical license was suspended in 1991, left the Lakeland Correctional Facility in Coldwater June 1, accompanied his attorney, Mayer Morganroth, and "60 Minutes" correspondent Mike Wallace. His only comment was to describe the release as "a high point of life." He was expected to hold a news conference June 5. "For 10 years, Jack Kevorkian's actions resembled those of a pathological serial killer," said Ned McGrath, director of communications for the Detroit Archdiocese, in a May 31 statement. "It will be truly regrettable if he's now treated as a celebrity parolee instead of the convicted murderer he is." The 79-year-old Kevorkian served eight years in prison after being convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 10 to 25 years. He had videotaped himself helping Thomas Youk, who had Lou Gehrig's disease, to die, and the videotape was broadcast nationally on "60 Minutes," a CBS television program. Using a machine he called the "Mercitron," he was believed to have been present for at least 130 deaths.

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