The suspect in the brutal murder of a Nebraska priest laid his victim down to form a “human cross” after the fatal stabbing, according to court documents.
Kierre L. Williams, 43, is charged with the murder of Fr. Stephen Gutgsell in his parsonage at St. John the Baptist in Fort Calhoun on Sunday.
When police arrived at the bloody scene, officers found Williams, of Sioux County, Iowa, standing perpendicular to the preacher in a cross-shape, court records allege.
Williams has since been charged murder and use of a weapon to commit a crime.
Police have not released a motive for the killing, but both Gutgsell and Williams have had previous brushes with the law.
Kierre L. Williams, 43, is charged with the murder of Fr. Stephen Gutgsell in Nebraska. Prosecutors say they found Williams in a cross shape on his alleged victim's body at the priest's parsonage in Nebraska
Gutgsell, 65, was taken to a hospital in Omaha on Sunday, where he died from his stab wounds, church officials said
Williams, of Sioux County, Iowa, has a criminal history, including for cocaine possession and eluding police in Florida in 2008
Gutgsell was discovered with “a severe laceration to his face and bleeding profusely,” according to the affidavit filed Tuesday in Washington County District Court.
Williams was discovered lying on top of the priest with his back against his chest, the report said.
As police approached the two men, Williams was ordered to crawl away from Gutgsell so paramedics could provide assistance. The filing states that he complied, but gave a “disjointed statement” when asked if he was armed.
No weapon was immediately discovered, although Williams was covered in blood. Gutgsell was rushed to hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Police later found a knife in the priest's bedroom “next to a large pool of blood.”
Officers took Williams into custody, where they zip-tied his wrists and placed a bag over his hands to preserve the DNA evidence.
Before joining St. John the Baptist (pictured) at Fort Calhoun, Gutgsell oversaw a church in Omaha, where he stole from the congregation. Police have ruled out a link between his embezzlement conviction and the murder
The pastor racked up massive credit card debt, which he resorted to theft to pay for before parishioners became aware of the scheme and he was forced to resign from his position. Years later, he joined the church at Fort Calhoun (pictured), where he was stabbed to death
At one point, the suspect became aggressive and had to be placed in a restraint chair, according to the documents.
Police have not yet released a motive for the killing and it is not known whether the men knew each other.
Documents obtained by WOWT show that William has previous convictions for cocaine possession and evading the law in Florida in 2008.
Gutgsell also had legal trouble when he was arrested in 2007 for embezzling $125,000 from his Omaha congregation. Police ruled out that the case was related to his murder.
He reached an agreement in the case in which he was sentenced to probation instead of 20 years in prison. He was also forced to pay $40,000 in restitution.
Gutgsell said through his lawyer at the time that he was “deeply ashamed” of his behavior.
Years later, his brother Fr. Michael Gutgsell, also a priest, would also be accused of stealing from his parish.
Michael reached a plea deal with prosecutors earlier this year after he was accused of stealing nearly $200,000 from an elderly priest.
Earlier this year, Gutgsell's brother, Father Fr. Michael Gutgsell reached a plea deal with prosecutors after he was accused of stealing nearly $200,000 from an elderly priest.
Gutgsell avoided a 20-year prison sentence for stealing from his congregation and a $25,000 fine, and instead received a warrant. He was also ordered to perform 500 hours of community service, pay $40,000 in restitution to the Archdiocese of Omaha and was placed on probation for five years.
Court documents state that Fr. Michael managed to steal the money after obtaining power of attorney for the 'vulnerable' Father. Ted Richling, whom he was accused of exploiting.
He was also accused of stealing at least $94,000 from St. Joseph Church in Springfield, Nebraska, where he served as a priest.
This charge was later dropped in March 2022 after he repaid the money.
In another bizarre twist, Fr. Michael then gave the money he stole to homeless man Michael Barrett, whom he met while he was a priest at Omaha Cathedral in 2013.
The pastor reportedly believed Barrett would pay him back, court documents show.