An elderly priest who died by suicide had made payments of around $40,000 to people in Bolivia and America in the year leading up to his death.
Geoffrey John Gray, known as Father Geoff, was found dead at home in Akaroa, Banks Peninsula on November 29 last year.
A coroner’s inquiry into the circumstances of his death found that the deterioration of the 82-year-old’s mental health largely arose due to the “exploitation of his generous and trusting nature”.
‘Family-like relationships’ with Bolivian locals
Father Geoff had served as parish priest in Akaroa since 2019, while he eased into retirement.
Earlier in his career, between 1982 and 1992, and again from 1997 to 2001, he had served as a priest in the Society of St James Apostle in Bolivia.
Part of his work there was to establish facilities and enhance health services, specifically to reduce the number of children dying.
The findings said Father Geoff developed a strong connection to the area and established “family-like” relationships with local people.
Witnesses spoke of Father Geoff’s “adoption” of a Bolivian young adult, who he stayed in contact with and provided financial support to.
Coroner Ian Telford, who conducted the inquiry, said the precise details of the relationship were unclear, but it was most likely an “informal and supportive arrangement”, rather than a legal adoption.
Telford wrote Father Geoff sent money to various people, including the young adult, for education and other expenses.
But around the time of his death, the requests for money became “increasingly regular”, which the coroner said caused Father Geoff “significant stress”.
‘More and more’ money
On 2 September, Father Geoff had told his doctor he was stressed and suffering from increased panic and low mood.
He said he had been sending “a lot” of money to people in Bolivia, including his “adoptive son”.
The doctor said the Bolivian young adult had been asking for “more and more” money, saying he needed it for educational expenses and then later for car repairs.
The doctor told Father Geoff he thought that was “suspicious” and referred Father Geoff to counselling.
At a later visit to his doctor, he said he was expecting a “substantial sum” of money to be returned to him when the car in Bolivia was sold.
Retirement concerns
After a family member raised concerns about Father Geoff being “not himself” with his diocesan bishop, the bishop met with Father Geoff and encouraged him to retire immediately.
The priest had “strongly rejected” that, saying he was involved in a “complicated financial situation with a friend in Bolivia”.
He assured the bishop he was not being taken advantage of.
Arrangements were made for Father Geoff to retire in Christchurch, close to his family.
Catholic Diocese of Christchurch
The coroner said Father Geoff had a history of mental health issues since experiencing depression in 2008.
He had spent time in and out of a mental health hospital, but after being discharged in 2009 he had no further involvement with mental health services.
Father Geoff had told his doctor in the past that he had considered suicide, but it was “not an option” for him due to his Catholic faith.
His last days
On 27 November, Father Geoff left a clergy retreat suddenly. While leaving, Father Geoff told another priest he was overwhelmed, had forgotten his medication and needed to go and sort out a “bank issue”.
While driving out of the car park, Father Geoff had minor collisions with a parked car and then the building. Still, he “remained adamant” he could drive.
Later that day Father Geoff went to the supermarket in Akaroa, but when he got to the checkout, his card declined.
His neighbour visited him with dinner and Father Geoff asked her to help him pay an online bill, but he appeared to have been locked out of his bank account. He told her his bank thought he was being scammed and had frozen his account.
He showed her a long handwritten list of payments he had made to people overseas and explained why he thought the requests for money were legitimate.
Two days later, on November 29, he was found dead.
A ‘deep loss for the Diocese’
Ultimately, Coroner Telford found Father Geoff had been “deeply committed to his vocation and community”.
But, he said, Father Geoff’s mental health had deteriorated “markedly” towards the end of his life, worsened by mounting financial pressures and other uncertainties.
“The evidence indicates that this largely arose due to the exploitation of his generous and trusting nature.”
A post announcing Father Geoff’s death on the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch Facebook was met with an outpouring of sadness, with those that knew him remembering him as a “constant friend” and a “faithful servant”.
His death was described as a “deep loss for the Diocese.”