New Orleans priest accused of abusing children in deaf community dies at 87

<p>Gerard Joseph 'Jerry' Howell, a Catholic priest in New Orleans, has died at the age of 87 following an apparent fall in his Texas apartment. The Archdiocese of New Orleans had been aware of allegations against Howell for approximately 40 years but continued to support him despite the accusations.</p><p>Howell was found deceased at around 5 PM on September 8 by officers from the Austin Police Department, who were responding to a welfare check at the senior living community where he resided. The police statement did not name Howell but confirmed that first responders were dispatched to investigate a report of a fall involving an 87-year-old individual.</p>