Lots of abusive, prank messages left on O’Brien’s hotline

Among the voice mails was a vulgarity-laced threat to punch the former leader of the Phoenix Diocese. Another suggested that the best community service O’Brien could perform would be to commit suicide. Of 340 calls, more than 60 were pranks, and many of them were abusive or threatening, said Mary Jo West, diocese public information officer.

Although she expected negative responses, “I had no idea we would get as many as we received,” West said. “When I heard some of them, I had a feeling of terrible, terrible sadness.”

Among the prank calls were three from radio station KUPD-FM, one asking for help with a “dinged windshield.” Several asked for assistance at 19th and Glendale avenues, site of the bishop’s June 2003 hit-and-run accident that left Jim L. Reed, 43, dead.