SHIRLEY, Mass. -- One of the central figures in the Catholic Church's sex abuse scandal, convicted child molester and former priest John Geoghan, has been killed in prison.

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NewsCenter 5's Lynn Jolicouer reported that just a year and a half into his nine to 10 year prison term for child molestation, Geoghan's sentence turned to death, allegedly strangled by a fellow prisoner.

Worcester District Attorney John J. Conte said Joseph L. Druce, 37, a fellow inmate at the Souza-Baranowski facility at the state prison in Shirley, attacked Geoghan shortly before noon on Saturday.

Geoghan died at 1:17 p.m., shortly after he was taken to a Leominster hospital, Conte said.

Preliminary indications are that Geoghan, 68, was strangled, Conte said. An autopsy will be conducted Monday.

Druce is currently serving a life sentence and will face murder charges in Geoghan's death.

According to the state Department of Correction, he was serving time for first-degree murder, armed robbery, theft of a vehicle and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. He was sentenced Dec. 18, 1989.

"It's an eerie feeling because of the activities of John. J. Geoghan and the facts and circumstances surrounding his activities for 40 to 50 years. It's an eerie feeling. It is unsettling for a lot of my clients and to myself," said alleged sex abuse victims' lawyer Mitchell Garabedian.

Garabedian represents many of Geoghan's alleged victims, and, over a year after the church settled abuse claims from 86 alleged victims, Garabedian said some of his clients still planned to take Geoghan to court.

"They would have rather liked to see Father Geoghan complete his sentence in jail, would have rather seen justice served, would have rather seen him involved as a defendant in further criminal trials," said Garabedian.

Officials have not released any details of the events that led up to the deadly assault, but the other inmate involved has been identified as Joseph Druce, 37. Druce, who was serving a life term, was reportedly placed into isolation immediately after the incident and the crime scene was closed off. Officials have not released any information on a possible murder weapon.

Upon learning the news of Geoghan's death, the Boston Archdiocese released a statement that said, "Upon learning of the news of the tragic death of John Geoghan, the Archdiocese of Boston offers prayers for the repose of John's soul and extends prayers and consolation to his beloved sister, Kathy, at the time of personal loss."

On Saturday evening, the Worcester County district attorney's office said they will pursue murder charges against Druce before a grand jury.