Fort Calhoun priest dies after stabbed in small-town Catholic church’s residence

Sioux City man facing homicide charges
A Fort Calhoun parish community is in mourning after its leader was brutally stabbed to death Sunday morning.
Published: Dec. 10, 2023 at 10:59 AM CST

FORT CALHOUN, Neb. (WOWT) - A priest was killed early Sunday in a home invasion at the rectory of a small-town Catholic church north of Omaha.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office reported later in the day that an arrest had been in the murder of Father Stephen Gutgsell, who had been found stabbed in the rectory of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Fort Calhoun, located about 17 miles northwest of Omaha.

Kierre Williams, 43, of Sioux City, was booked on charges of homicide and use of a weapon to commit a felony.

Kierre Williams, 43
Kierre Williams, 43(Washington Co., NE Sheriff's Office)

WCSO said in a social media post that it received a call of an attempted break-in at the rectory of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Fort Calhoun around 5:05 a.m. Deputies arrived to find a Black male inside and Father Gutgsell suffering from apparent stab wounds after being assaulted.

Fort Calhoun medics transported Gutgsell to Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, where he died.

Gutgsell served as an associate pastor with the Archdiocese of Omaha, most recently splitting his time between the Fort Calhoun parish and St. Francis Borgia in Blair.

The Archdiocese of Omaha is praying for Father Stephen Gutgsell, who was assaulted during an invasion at the rectory of St. John the Baptist parish in Fort Calhoun early Sunday morning. Father Gutgsell was transported to Nebraska Medicine in Omaha, where he died of his injuries. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is investigating, and there are no further details at this time. Please join Archbishop George Lucas in prayer for the repose of Father Gutgsell, for his family and for the St. John the Baptist parish community in this tragic time.

Statement from the Archdiocese of Omaha

Deacon Tim McNeil told 6 News that St. John the Baptist had briefly been closed Sunday before reopening for a prayer service that evening. Members of that parish were at St. Francis Borgia, where Archbishop George Lucas said Mass and addressed congregants Sunday morning.

Pastoral care for the parish is still being finalized, according to the Archdiocese. A release said details on that will be shared later in the week. Funeral arrangements for Father Gutgsell are pending.

Fr. Stephen Gutgsell had been in the news in 2007 after being sentenced to probation and was ordered to pay restitution; he’d pled guilty to stealing over $100,000 from his former parish. Washington County Sheriff Mike Robinson told 6 News his team does not believe his death is related to his past crimes.

Fr. Stephen’s brother, Michael, was arrested in 2021 for stealing thousands of dollars from an incapacitated retired priest who had willed his estate to the Archdiocese, saying he was giving the money to a homeless man.

Digital producer Zane Culjat, Reporter Mike McKnight, Managing Editor Kevin Westhues, and Digital Director Gina Dvorak contributed to this report.

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