Priest 'killer' was found 'lying across the victim to form a human cross'
The alleged priest killer was found lying across the victim to form a bizarre human cross after the fatal stabbing, court documents have said.
Suspect Kierre L. Williams, from Sioux County, Iowa, is accused of stabbing to death Stephen Gutgsell, 65, in his rectory at St. John the Baptist in Fort Calhoun on Sunday. When officers arrived at the scene they found Williams lying perpendicularly across the clergyman in a cross shape, court filings claim.
The priest was discovered with "a severe laceration to his face and was bleeding profusely," according to the affidavit filed on Tuesday in Washington County court. He was found lying on top of the priest with his back against his chest.
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Suspect Kierre L. Williams was arrested for allegedly killing the priest (Washington county sheriff office)As cops approached the two men, Williams was ordered to crawl away from the priest to allow emergency workers to provide treatment. He complied but gave an "incoherent statement" when asked if he had a weapon on him, the record states.
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Despite no weapon being immediately discovered, Williams was covered in blood. 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. He also became aggressive, according to the documents, and had to be placed in a restraint chair. Police have not revealed a motive behind the attack, and it is not known whether the men knew each other before the stabbing.
Reverend Stephen Gutgsell was found stabbed to death (ARCHDIOCESE OF OMAHA)"He is not from the area. He is not from Fort Calhoun or even Nebraska as far as we know about," sheriff's officials said of Williams.
The 43-year-old has been charged with homicide and use of a weapon to commit a felony. William has previous convictions for cocaine possession and evading the law in Florida in 2008.
Meanwhile, the priest was arrested for stealing from his Omaha congregation in 2007. He reached a deal in the case that saw him sentenced to probation instead of 20 years in prison. He was also forced to pay $40,000 in restitution after stealing more than $125,000 over three years from his Omaha parish.
The priest had built huge credit card debts before turning to theft, according to court documents. Little information is provided by police but at the time he was placed on administrative leave during the investigation after he turned himself in to police in February 2007.
He eventually reached a deal with prosecutors which saw him placed on probation for five years instead of being jailed for 20 years. Gutgsell was also ordered to carry out 500 hours of community service and dispatched to Canada for a residential treatment program for religious offenders.
His lawyer Jim Schaeffer said the priest was 'ashamed of his conduct.' "He knows he was wrong and he's asking forgiveness from his parishioners and the church," Schaeffer said. He was also ordered to pay the Archdiocese of Omaha around $40,000 in restitution. At the end of his probation in 2012, he had almost $13,000 left to pay but remained friendly with the church.
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