Tampa priest who committed suicide was under investigation

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A popular priest killed himself Monday, days after the Diocese of St. Petersburg launched an investigation into his church’s finances, authorities said.

A maintenance worker found the Rev. Vladimir Dziadek, 57, at the bottom of a staircase in the living quarters at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Monday, police said. A few days earlier, representatives from the diocese had met with Dziadek after an auditor discovered irregularities in the church’s quarterly financial report.The representatives were scheduled to meet again with Dziadek, said Frank Murphy, spokesman for the diocese.

“People are concerned, and we want to get out all the facts before we say anything,” he said.

The Associated Press, referring to a report obtained from the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner, reported Saturday that Dziadek embezzled about $200,000 from the church and gambled away the money.

The diocese will not complete its investigation until Monday, Murphy said.

“The parish deserves an answer,” he said. “We need to come up with that, but we don’t have all the facts yet.”

The diocese is aware Dziadek had struggled with depression, Murphy said.

Once the review is complete, a report will be given to Bishop Robert Lynch, who then will meet with the St. Joseph parish council.

A small but steady crowd of churchgoers filed into the church for Mass early Saturday evening. Dziadek’s death shocked his parishioners, who remember him for his thoughtfulness and compassion.

“I know it will be a struggle for the parish because they loved him,” Murphy said about the investigation.

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