Nebraska priest dies after attack in rectory

[Michie]

OMAHA, Neb. (OSV News) — A Nebraska priest has died after being attacked in the rectory of his parish in the early morning before he was to celebrate Mass for the Second Sunday of Advent.

Father Stephen Gutgsell was found “suffering from injuries sustained during an assault” Dec. 10 at the rectory of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Fort Calhoun, Nebraska, where he served as pastoral administrator.

According to a Dec. 10 press release from the Washington County Sheriff Mike Robinson, the county’s 911 emergency dispatch received an emergency call Dec. 10 at approximately 5:05 a.m. reporting an attempted break-in at the rectory. According to the statement, deputies arrived within six minutes and found a Black male inside the residence with the injured priest.


Father Gutgsell was transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, where he succumbed to his injuries.

The suspect was taken into custody and transferred to the Washington County correctional facility, according to Robinson.

“This is an ongoing investigation, and the name of the suspect or the manner of death will not be released,” Robinson said. “No further information will be released at this time. There may be an updated press release later today.”

Prior charges​

Continued below.

Nebraska priest dies after attack in rectory

Father Stephen Gutgsell was found "suffering from injuries sustained during an assault" Dec. 10 at the rectory of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Fort Calhoun, Nebraska, where he served as pastoral administrator.

www.oursundayvisitor.com

 

[joymercy]

Catholic priest in Nebraska dies after attack in church

Father In 2007, Gutgsell pleaded guilty to theft by deception for embezzling $127,000 from an area church. He was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay restitution. He was later reassigned to another church. At the time, church leaders said Gutgsell learned his lesson, admitted wrongdoing and sought forgiveness.

Earlier this year, his brother, the Rev. Michael Gutgsell, also pled guilty to theft charges. He served as chancellor of the Omaha archdiocese from 1994 until 2003.

Both brothers, are priests, who stole from the church?

 

[joymercy]

Washington County Sheriff Mike Robinson told WOWT-TV that authorities did not believe Stephen Gutgsell’s death was related to his criminal history.

 

[joymercy]

I wonder why there are two brothers who both became priests, then became thieves too?

Priests are sinners too, yes, but don't we hold them to a higher standard?

Such a tough life apparently, with so many expectations.

Pray for priests, and tell them you appreciate them.....

There are so many under extreme duress it seems, and lost in their sins...

May God have mercy on their souls

 

[chevyontheriver]

I wonder why there are two brothers who both became priests, then became thieves too?

That's it.

Priests are sinners too, yes, but don't we hold them to a higher standard?

Such a tough life apparently, with so many expectations.

Pray for priests, and tell them you appreciate them.....

There are so many under extreme duress it seems, and lost in their sins...

May God have mercy on their souls

We need to pray hard for priests. They are not yet saints and many fail badly, usually in secret. Sometimes found out, sometimes not. A good priest is worth his weight in gold.

 

[Michie]

Slain Omaha priest had troubled past

Police have not identified a motive in the stabbing death of Fr. Stephen Gutgsell

www.pillarcatholic.com

 

[js0174]

Catholic priest in Nebraska dies after attack in church

Father In 2007, Gutgsell pleaded guilty to theft by deception for embezzling $127,000 from an area church. He was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay restitution. He was later reassigned to another church. At the time, church leaders said Gutgsell learned his lesson, admitted wrongdoing and sought forgiveness.

Earlier this year, his brother, the Rev. Michael Gutgsell, also pled guilty to theft charges. He served as chancellor of the Omaha archdiocese from 1994 until 2003.

Both brothers, are priests, who stole from the church?

 

[js0174]

I am very disappointed and saddened that these circumstances are repeatedly mentioned. They are irrelevant to this subject. What may or may not have happened nearly 20 years ago should not stain a man's memory forever. What he did or did not do is for God Almighty to judge.

I knew Father Gutgsell, volunteered beside him, worshiped Our Lord when Father Gutgsell celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. He worked tirelessly for his parishioners and he served Our Lord faithfully. Can we please keep the focus on the wonderful fruits of his ministry and the heinous and despicable way that he died?

 

[RileyG]

This is so close to home

May God grant him eternal rest and peace.

 

[Michie]

FORT CALHOUN, Neb. (AP) — The fatal stabbingof a Catholic priest inside the church rectory where he lived has rocked the eastern Nebraska community of Fort Calhoun, a one-stoplight town where people tend not to worry if they forget to lock their doors at night.

Continued below.

As few details are released, fatal stabbing of Catholic priest rocks small Nebraska community

The Rev. Stephen Gutgsell, who served at St. John the Baptist church, was attacked during what authorities called a break-in early Sunday.

apnews.com

 

[WarriorAngel]

 

[Michie]

The suspect in the murder of a Nebraska priest was discovered lying on top of the victim forming the shape of a cross as the pastor was bleeding to death, according to an affidavit filed in the Washington County Court.

The responding officer said in the court filing that he saw the suspect, 43-year-old Kierre Williams, lying perpendicularly across 65-year-old Father Stephen Gutgsell’s chest after the stabbing. Father Gutgsell, who served as the pastor of St. John the Baptist parish in Fort Calhoun, Nebraska, died from his injuries later that morning.

Continued below.

Accused Killer Laid on Priest in Form of a Cross After Nebraska Stabbing, Court Filings Say

Washington County Court filing describes situation in parish rectory after the priest called 911 to report a home intruder with a knife.

www.ncregister.com

 

[RileyG]

Lord have mercy! This is beyond terrifying.

 

[joymercy]

@Michie , thank you for posting this really interesting and strange story. I am interested in the whole story, including the back stories of the two brothers.

There is not enough information about why the person who killed the priest was laying on top of his body. Was he trying to keep the priest from moving or getting any help? or was it a diabolic symbol he was intentionally creating? Was the man mentally ill, on drugs or even possessed?

He was from out of town, yet was there some sort of connection, some where, due to financial problems he and his brother had?

Were the brothers cursed from diabolic bonds to money? There is such a thing, according to a priest I worked with.

Its a news story, and is under thorough investigation as such.

Yes, we should all be sorry for such horrors in the church, as a priest being murdered. Let us not silence ourselves or be shamed into silence when asking intelligent questions about how and why all of this happened.

We can pray for his soul as Catholics.

 

[WarriorAngel]

@Michie , thank you for posting this really interesting and strange story. I am interested in the whole story, including the back stories of the two brothers.

There is not enough information about why the person who killed the priest was laying on top of his body. Was he trying to keep the priest from moving or getting any help? or was it a diabolic symbol he was intentionally creating? Was the man mentally ill, on drugs or even possessed?

He was from out of town, yet was there some sort of connection, some where, due to financial problems he and his brother had?

Were the brothers cursed from diabolic bonds to money? There is such a thing, according to a priest I worked with.

Its a news story, and is under thorough investigation as such.

Yes, we should all be sorry for such horrors in the church, as a priest being murdered. Let us not silence ourselves or be shamed into silence when asking intelligent questions about how and why all of this happened.

We can pray for his soul as Catholics.

If someone kills another, one would think they're not acting alone.

Although Williams complied with the officer at the scene, the affidavit claims he became “aggressive” in the interrogation room. It states he “aggressively stood up, pushing the table away from himself” and approached the officer “in an aggressive and hurried manner.” With the assistance of two corrections officers, the affidavit states Williams was secured in a restraining chair.​