A KVOA TV station report from Tucson, Arizona, has re-examined the case of a former monk at Saint Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery in Florence who killed himself outside the facility last year.
Reporter Kristi Tedesco, who also did two other pieces on the monastery, back in 2006, did another show, this one on Scott Nevins, 25, from Modesto, California, who was in her report seven years ago.
When Nevins joined the monastery, he changed according to his parents, the new show stated. He pushed his family away and started talking about conspiracies. Nevins tried calling his Mom the day he ran from the monastery. He hitchhiked out of there and immediately cut his hair.
"He was scared to death," said his mother, Diane Nevins, who added he was paranoid and panicked and got two guns. "He was obsessed about the fact that he'd left his retainer at the monastery," she said, and packed his guns.
According to a report from the Pinal County Sheriff's Department, a monk working security the same night that Nevins drove from Oregon to Arizona told responding officers that Nevins Scott drove to the monastery entrance and, "when approached, turned around fast and drove away."
The monk followed him, in another car and a mile from the monastery entrance, Nevins stopped, he said, and shot himself in the head.
Billionaire Michael Jaharis, Vice Chairman of the Archdiocesan Council, was critical of the way the investigation into the killing was handled in a statement four months ago. Jaharis said, "We expect to take severe and appropriate action as required to remedy this existing issue – since not doing so could have long term consequences."
Nevins father called for some monastery officials to be forced out. "Those people need to go, especially those who were in positions of authority, who knew better." Nevins' family, through an attorney, reportedly sent the church and monastery a letter warning they will file a lawsuit if changes aren't made.
