WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Friends, Churchgoers Remember Murdered Minister (Hartford-WTNH) _ Thomas Otte helped his community, and Sunday his family and friends are remembering his work as a minister. Otte was stabbed to death on Thursday in an upscale Hartford neighborhood. Police have arrested one of Otte's "associates" for the murder. News Channel 8's Verna Collins reports from the memorial service. Reverend Otte was ordained in 1975, and since then friends say he made it his life work to minister to anyone. During today's service I heard some truly touching stories about Otte from people who knew him best. Family and friends gathered at Center Church to mourn a man described as a wonder father, husband, and friend. Elaine Tilton, Friend: "He loved everybody and his love drew people to him." On Thursday morning Reverend Otte was stabbed to death inside his apartment on Charter Oak Place. Saturday police arrested a man named Felix Pagan for the murder. Investigators say he knew Otte. They say the two had a fight, and that escalated into murder. Friends of Otte are still trying to cope with his loss. Dick Tilton, Friend "Everybody felt shock, and then anger, and then love for a live that ended but for a very full life. The life of a man who made such an impact." Elaine Tilton: "I was very grief stricken, because he extended so much love to people." Elaine and Dick Tilton say that love was their lifeline when they were dealing with the loss of their son. Dick Tilton: "Tom was very active in our process of grief therapy - our son having died of AIDS. We later joined Tom in a committee on ministry to gays and lesbians in the Presbyterian church" Reverend Otte pushed for acceptance of gays and lesbians by the Presbyterian church. Police say Otte was openly gay, and that he and his attacker were associates, but they are not being specific about their relationship. Pagan is being held on $1 million bond, and he is to make his first trip to court Monday when he'll formally hear his charges. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Friends, Churchgoers Remember Murdered Minister
(Hartford-WTNH) _ Thomas Otte helped his community, and Sunday his family and friends are remembering his work as a minister. Otte was stabbed to death on Thursday in an upscale Hartford neighborhood. Police have arrested one of Otte's "associates" for the murder.
News Channel 8's Verna Collins reports from the memorial service.

Reverend Otte was ordained in 1975, and since then friends say he made it his life work to minister to anyone. During today's service I heard some truly touching stories about Otte from people who knew him best.

Family and friends gathered at Center Church to mourn a man described as a wonder father, husband, and friend.

Elaine Tilton, Friend: "He loved everybody and his love drew people to him."

On Thursday morning Reverend Otte was stabbed to death inside his apartment on Charter Oak Place. Saturday police arrested a man named Felix Pagan for the murder. Investigators say he knew Otte. They say the two had a fight, and that escalated into murder. Friends of Otte are still trying to cope with his loss.

Dick Tilton, Friend "Everybody felt shock, and then anger, and then love for a live that ended but for a very full life. The life of a man who made such an impact."

Elaine Tilton: "I was very grief stricken, because he extended so much love to people."

Elaine and Dick Tilton say that love was their lifeline when they were dealing with the loss of their son.

Dick Tilton: "Tom was very active in our process of grief therapy - our son having died of AIDS. We later joined Tom in a committee on ministry to gays and lesbians in the Presbyterian church"

Reverend Otte pushed for acceptance of gays and lesbians by the Presbyterian church. Police say Otte was openly gay, and that he and his attacker were associates, but they are not being specific about their relationship.

Pagan is being held on $1 million bond, and he is to make his first trip to court Monday when he'll formally hear his charges.

Today's News Page.

WTNH Home Page.