A Catholic priest in Nebraska was tragically stabbed to death in the rectory of his church, and authorities have arrested a suspect in connection with the crime. The incident occurred early Sunday morning at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, located about 20 minutes north of Omaha. The victim, identified as Rev. Stephen Gutgsell, called 911 to report an attempted break-in at the church. When the first responding deputy arrived, Gutgsell was still alive and calling for help as he struggled with the suspect on the floor.
The deputy entered the church rectory’s foyer with his gun drawn and found the suspect, 43-year-old Kierre Williams, in the kitchen on top of the bleeding victim. The deputy ordered Williams to raise his hands and instructed Gutgsell to crawl away. Additional deputies arrived to provide medical assistance, and Gutgsell was transported to a hospital in Omaha. Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead a few hours later. The cause of death was determined to be internal bleeding from stab wounds.
Kierre Williams, who has a long criminal record and multiple open warrants in different states, was taken into custody at the scene. During his interrogation, Williams allegedly became aggressive and attempted to approach the deputy, leading to his restraint and further charges. He has been charged with first-degree murder, burglary, possession of a deadly weapon by a felon, and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony.
Authorities have stated that there is no known connection between Williams and Gutgsell, suggesting that the motive for the attack remains unclear. Gutgsell had suffered stab wounds to his face and back, and defensive wounds were also observed. The small community in Nebraska where the church is located has been left in shock by the tragic incident.
Williams is currently being held without bond, and his next court hearing is scheduled for January 3rd. The investigation into the case is ongoing, and authorities are working to determine the full circumstances surrounding the attack.
The loss of Rev. Stephen Gutgsell has deeply impacted both the local Catholic community and the wider community in Nebraska. The church and rectory are now cordoned off as a crime scene, and the investigation is expected to bring more clarity to this devastating incident.
