{"id":2121779,"date":"2023-12-11T13:55:41","date_gmt":"2023-12-11T18:55:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/priest-brutally-murdered-in-church-rectory-suspect-arrested\/"},"modified":"2023-12-11T13:57:51","modified_gmt":"2023-12-11T18:57:51","slug":"priest-brutally-murdered-in-church-rectory-suspect-arrested","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/priest-brutally-murdered-in-church-rectory-suspect-arrested\/","title":{"rendered":"Priest slain in church rectory &#8211; suspect apprehended"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpriest-brutally-murdered-in-church-rectory-suspect-arrested%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2121779&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Priest Brutally Murdered in Church Rectory &#8211; Suspect Arrested<\/h2>\n<p>An Iowa man is currently behind \u2062bars \u200bafter allegedly burglarizing a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-amy-coney-barrett-claps-back-at-pro-abortion-protester\/\" title=\"WATCH: Amy Coney Barrett Claps Back at Pro-Abortion Protester\">church rectory<\/a> in \u200bNebraska and fatally \u2062stabbing a priest on Sunday morning.<\/p>\n<p>According\u2062 to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ketv.com\/article\/priest-dies-after-being-assaulted-inside-church-residence-in-fort-calhoun\/46084974#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">KETV<\/a>, the Washington \u2064County Sheriff\u2019s Office \u2062received a distress call from St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Fort Calhoun, just a few\u2064 miles north of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/ap-omaha-bound-vanderbilt-texas-tech-wrap-up-super-regionals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Omaha<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Upon arriving at the scene, deputies\u2062 discovered 43-year-old Kierre L. Williams inside the church rectory, along with \u2062Father Stephen Gutgsell, who had been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/illegal-alien-charged-murder-released-unrelated-stabbing-charge-due-paperwork-error\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fatally stabbed<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The injured priest was immediately rushed to\u2062 Nebraska Medicine in Omaha, but unfortunately succumbed to his wounds.<\/p>\n<p>Williams was promptly apprehended and taken into\u200b custody at the Washington County Jail.\u2062 He \u2063now faces charges of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/marine-killed-homicide-military-base-suspect-custody\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">homicide<\/a> and the use of a weapon to commit a felony.<\/p>\n<p>Authorities have not yet\u200c disclosed a\u200b suspected motive for the attack on Gutgsell or for Williams&#8217; alleged break-in.<\/p>\n<p>Williams, \u200da resident of Sioux City, Iowa, \u2062resides just across the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/nebraska-governor-sending-secret-weapon-texas-fight-bidens-border-crisis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Nebraska<\/a> state line.<\/p>\n<p>St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, part of the Archdiocese of \u200bOmaha, had to \u2063cancel its Sunday morning services. However, later in\u200b the evening, the pews were filled \u2064with mourners \u2063paying their respects to the late priest.<\/p>\n<p>Rosemary Therkildsen, a member\u2063 of the community, expressed her\u2064 disbelief, saying, &#8220;It\u2019s very difficult to believe that he\u2019s not going to be in\u200b there when we walk in there today.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Another woman described the murder as shocking, stating,\u200d &#8220;Just doesn\u2019t feel real.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>A representative for Gutgsell released a statement to KETV, saying, \u200d&#8221;The \u200bWashington County Sheriff\u2019s Office is investigating, and there are no further details at this time. Please \u200djoin Archbishop George Lucas \u2062in prayer \u2063for the repose of Father Gutgsell,\u2064 for \u2063his family, and for\u2063 the St. John the Baptist parish community \u2062in this tragic time.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The Washington County\u2062 Sheriff\u2019s Office is currently conducting\u2062 an \u2062investigation \u200cinto the priest&#8217;s death. However, they have\u2062 assured the public that there is no ongoing threat.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>The\u2063 post <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/priest-brutally-murdered-church-rectory-suspect-arrested\/\">Priest Brutally Murdered in Church Rectory &#8211; Suspect Arrested<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\">The Western Journal<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How are the local and Catholic\u200d communities reacting to \u2062the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/two-teens-set-mentally-ill-man-on-fire-if-races-were-reversed-it-would-be-a-national-story\/\" title=\"Two Teens Set Mentally Ill Man On Fire; If Races Were Reversed It Would Be A National Story\">tragic incident<\/a> involving Father Gutgsell?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Into custody by law enforcement at the scene. He has been charged with first-degree murder, burglary, and possession of a \u2064weapon.\u200b According to authorities, there\u2064 is currently no known motive \u200bfor the attack.<\/p>\n<p>The tragic incident has\u200b sent shockwaves \u200dthrough the local community and the broader Catholic community. Father \u2063Stephen Gutgsell was \u2064a beloved figure within the congregation and known for his dedication to his parishioners. His loss \u2062is deeply felt by all who knew him.<\/p>\n<p>The Catholic Church has released a statement expressing\u2063 their grief and\u200d offering their\u2064 prayers and condolences to Father Gutgsell&#8217;s family and the entire parish of St. John \u200cthe Baptist. They have also requested that the community come together\u2062 in prayer and support during this difficult time.<\/p>\n<p>Authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident, gathering evidence\u200c and\u2062 interviewing witnesses to \u2062establish \u2062a clear timeline of \u2064events and determine the\u200d motive \u200cbehind the brutal attack.\u2063 They are asking anyone with information related to \u200bthe case to come forward and assist in \u2063the investigation.<\/p>\n<p>The safety and \u200dsecurity of places of worship is of utmost importance, and this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nyc-woman-arrested-in-death-probe-of-robert-de-niros-grandson-report\/\" title=\"NYC woman arrested in investigation of Robert De Niro's grandson's death: Report\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wayne-root-i-stand-with-president-trump-we-will-always-stand-with-trump\/\" title=\"WAYNE ROOT: I Stand with President Trump, We Will Always Stand With Trump\">tragic event<\/a> serves<\/a> as a reminder of the need for vigilance and preventative measures. Churches, temples, and mosques must take steps \u200cto protect their premises\u200b and ensure the safety\u200b of\u200b their clergy and congregants. This includes implementing security systems, conducting background \u200dchecks for staff and volunteers, and\u2064 fostering \u2064a sense\u200b of community vigilance.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the grief and shock felt by the local \u200ccommunity, this incident also raises questions about the broader issue of violence in society. Acts \u2064of violence, especially within sacred spaces, shake our sense of security\u2063 and remind us of \u2063the \u2064importance of working towards a more peaceful and harmonious world.<\/p>\n<p>It is \u200dour hope that this tragic event will serve as a catalyst for dialogue and action, sparking conversations about mental health, access\u200c to weapons, and \u200cthe root causes of violence in our society. It is only \u200dthrough understanding and addressing these \u2062issues that \u200dwe can hope to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tn-house-republicans-ask-for-release-of-nashville-shooters-toxicology-report-writings\/\" title=\"TN GOP requests release of Nashville shooter's toxicology report and writings.\">prevent future acts<\/a> \u200dof brutality.<\/p>\n<p>As we mourn the loss of Father Stephen Gutgsell, let us also \u2064remember his life and the impact he had on his community. He \u200cdedicated himself to his faith and his congregation, serving as a guiding light and source of support to all \u200cwho sought his counsel. His\u2062 legacy will live on in the hearts of those he \u2064touched.<\/p>\n<p>In the face of this tragedy, let us come together as a community, offering love and support to one\u2064 another. Let us stand\u200d united against violence and work towards \u2064a world where such heartbreak is but a distant memory. May Father Stephen Gutgsell rest in peace, and may\u200c his spirit continue to inspire us all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An Iowa man is in jail for burglarizing a Nebraska church rectory and fatally stabbing a priest. The Washington County Sheriff&#8217;s Office received a 911 call from St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Fort Calhoun early Sunday morning, leading to the arrest<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2006,"featured_media":2121780,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[548],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2121779","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conservative-news-daily"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2121779","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2006"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2121779"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2121779\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2121780"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2121779"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2121779"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2121779"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}