Carlo Barlassina, 43, was an Italian-born Barnabite priest serving as head preacher at the Our Lady of Fatima Shrine in the Niagara Falls area. In late June 1971 he was traveling to San Diego for a church assignment and stopped overnight in Chicago. On June 29, 1971, he was found strangled in a Chicago hotel room; investigators reported cash, several checks and about $1,000 taken from him, a theft that gave the killing the blunt signature of robbery.

The case was linked to drifter Bruce Alan Davis after his February 1972 arrest in Washington, D.C., on unrelated charges. Chicago authorities extradited Davis to Illinois on November 28, 1972; within weeks he pleaded guilty in Barlassina’s killing and on December 17, 1972, received a 25 to 45 year sentence reported as running consecutive to other time he owed. With that plea, the investigation narrowed to a single convicted perpetrator.

If anyone knew Father Barlassina, saw him during that trip, or has information about his final movements in Chicago, please share what is known with the authorities.