Netflix Some cases become so mystifying that they become lost in the shuffle. Others tend to be dusted off with even a morsel of new evidence presented. The case you’re about to read about became so bizarre that it’s the subject of a new documentary. The subject of this case had big dreams as a high schooler…
The Brightest In The Room
Netflix Born in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania, Sister Catherine “Cathy” Cesnik was one of the smartest kids in St. Augustine High School. She graduated in 1960 as valedictorian.
A Glamorous Résumé
Netflix Aside from being valedictorian, Cesnik spent time focusing on other aspects of school life. She was also the president of the student council and the May Queen. With all that knowledge, her next step wasn’t surprising…
Building The Future
Archbishop Keough High School yearbook Cesnik decided to spend her time as a teacher. She began her journey as a teacher at the Archbishop Keough High School in Baltimore, Maryland. During her time there, she taught English and did work with the drama club.
Same Town, Different Building
Netflix When her time at Archbishop Keough High School ended, Cesnik taught English a few miles away at Western High School. One night, her life changed forever…
Grabbing Some Things
Netflix On Friday, November 7 in 1969, she left her apartment in order to grab some things at the local bakery. According to her roommate Sister Russell, she was getting an engagement gift for her sister.
The Phone Call
Netflix The following day, Cesnik’s roommate was concerned when she didn’t come home. With the help of Reverend Peter McKeow and Reverend Gerard J. Koob, Russell decided to file a police report about the disappearance. One key item furthered the investigation…
The Abandoned Car
Netflix Cesnik’s unlocked green 1970 Maverick was seen parked outside of the apartment early in the morning. Her purchased gift was still in place in the front seat.
Going For A Walk
Netflix After getting several calls about the vehicle, the police stepped in to possess it. While it stayed in the crime lab, the cops concluded that Cesnik took a walk in the woods nearby. They searched the region and found nothing. Almost two months later, a shocking discovery was made…
A Tragic Finding
Netflix On January 3, 1970, two hunters found Cesnik’s body underneath some snow in Lansdowne. Since the distance from the town to her apartment was long, police assumed she was forced to walk there by someone.
A Violent End
The Baltimore Sun During the autopsy, it was discovered that she had suffered a skull fracture. Doctors stated that it was from a strike to the head with an object. Seven years later, the case was forgotten about. Until police found some new clues to help solve the mystery…
Allegations In The Air
Netflix In 1992, Reverend A. Joseph Maskell was accused of sexually abusing former students from Archbishop Keough High School. He was removed from his position from Holy Cross Church after these allegations came to light.
A Second Chance
Netflix Maskell was forced to stay in a psychiatric hospital for six months. After his release, Maskell was named the new pastor at Elkridge’s St. Augustine’s in the spring of 1993. Another allegation brought more trouble…
Lead The Way
Netflix One year later, another student told the cops that Maskell had sexually abused her. They also revealed that he led her to Cesnik’s dead body…
Hiding The Truth
Netflix The student explained that Cesnik was murdered by Maskell. The reasoning behind it was Maskell trying to hide molestation allegations against him. Since Cesnik knew about it, he chose to end her life. What the police did next was truly baffling…
Not Buying It
Archdiocese of Baltimore The police didn’t believe one word from the student. While she gave detailed information on Cesnik’s body, they felt her story was inconsistent.
Deja Vu All Over Again
Facebook Because of these new allegations, Maskell was forced to step down from his position. The old saying goes, “When it rains, it pours.” For Maskell, it was a complete thunderstorm.
Standing Up For What’s Right
Facebook After hearing about the student coming forward, a plethora of girls came decided to do the same. 14 ladies in total gave the police details on his sexual harassment.
Taking It To Court
Netflix Two girls decided to sue Maskell and retired gynecologist Christian Richter for $40 million. The lawsuit was thrown out because the statue of limitations already passed. Fortunately, there was a silver lining in this chaos…
Out Of The Question
The Baltimore Sun The police didn’t consider Maskell a major suspect in Cesnik’s death. They did interview him several times, though. A $6,000 reward was also set for those with crucial information leading to the killer.
Six Year Plan
Netflix From 1994 to 2000, they searched a ton of suspects that could’ve been the killer. After negative DNA tests across the board, they were back to square one. A familiar face had his final breath.
A New Life
Netflix After all of the questioning, Maskell ran off to live a quiet life in Ireland. During his time there, he found work as a psychologist.
One Last Goodbye
Netflix He returned to America after finishing his time in Wexford. In 2001, he passed away. This wouldn’t be the last time he was involved with the case…
All Names Present
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Instagram In May 2016, the names of priests accused of sexual abuse were delivered by the Archdiocese of Baltimore. 71 names in total, including Maskell’s, were released to the public.
Dirty Money
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Instagram During this release, they acknowledged that Maskell’s accusations came with a price. They paid $472,000 to those who claimed the deceased priest abused them. The sum of money was split between 16 people. This revelation triggered something important…
Fresh New Eyes
Netflix The police decided to reassign the case to a slew of new detectives. The old ones who originally worked on the case had since retired years before.
No Time For Napping
Netflix The new detectives wasted no time in interviewing people that could lead to some new evidence. They also decided to dig up the remains of a certain priest for another look…
Rise From Your Grave
Kim Hairston/The Baltimore Sun In February 2017, Maskell’s body was exhumed to gain some additional evidence for the case. It was a quick run; his body was buried again on the same day.
Out Of The Shadows
Justice For Catherine Cesnik And Joyce Malecki Facebook Group Three months later, an anonymous woman stepped forward with claims of sexual abuse. She stated that an officer associated with Maskell was the perpetrator. She refused to be interviewed by the police.
A Larger Connection
The Baltimore Sun During Cesnik’s death, a handful of women were killed around the same time in different districts. The police decided to see if these murders were connected by one killer. In the end, the cops made their final decision on Maskell’s involvement.
The Final Verdict
Netflix With the help of a forensics lab in Virginia, they decided that he was innocent. His DNA didn’t match with anything in the scene of the crime. Several other theories about Cesnik’s death can be found in the new Netflix series The Keepers.