The man accused of stabbing to death a small-town Nebraska pastor was found lying in front of him in the shape of a human cross, court documents show.
The Reverend Stephen Gutgsell, a priest at St. John the Baptist in Fort Calhoun, was found critically injured in his rectory early Sunday after calling 911 to report an intruder with a knife, an affidavit shows.
Dispatchers heard a struggle, and when an officer arrived, a man yelled, “I’m here” — and then “Help me!,” the document said.
The 65-year-old priest was found lying near the kitchen in a bleeding state with multiple wounds on his face, hands and back.
The suspect – identified as Kierre Williams, 43 – was lying perpendicular to the bloodied Gutgsell, with his back on the priest’s chest, the charging documents said.
A bloody knife was later found next to a large pool of blood in a bedroom in the rectory, which adjoins the Catholic church.
The Reverend Stephen Gutgsell, a priest at St. John the Baptist in Fort Calhoun, called 911 at 5 a.m. Sunday to report the intruder. Archdiocese of Omaha Chancery
The priest later died in an Omaha hospital.
The document did not detail any motive for the attack except to say the killing took place during a burglary.
There was no previous connection between Williams and the 65-year-old priest, and responding officers said Gutgsell had yelled that there was an “intruder” with him.
Kierre Williams is suspected of stabbing Gutgsell to death after breaking into his home early Sunday morning. AP
Williams faces first-degree murder, burglary and weapons charges.
He has been convicted of crimes in several states, including a drug possession case in Texas and more than a dozen cases in Florida.
Most recently, he was charged with misdemeanor assault for a soup kitchen brawl in Sioux City, Iowa in July.
Gutgsell also has a criminal history.
Kierre L. Williams faces first-degree murder, burglary and weapons charges. AP
In 2007, the pastor pleaded guilty to theft by deception for embezzling $127,000 from an area church.
He was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay restitution before being reassigned to another church.
Church leaders forgave Gutsell, saying he learned his lesson, admitted his wrongdoing and asked for forgiveness.
Earlier this year, his brother Rev. Michael Gutgsell also pleaded guilty to theft.
Gutgsell’s stabbing was the second homicide in the usually quiet city this year. Stephen J. Gutgsell / Facebook
His brother told WOWT-TV that authorities do not believe his brother’s death is related to his criminal history.
Gutgsell’s stabbing was the second homicide at Fort Calhoun this year, both during break-ins, authorities said.
With Postal wire
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
