Omaha, Nebraska — The accused man Fatal stabbing A Catholic priest who broke into his home next to the church he served in a small Nebraska town pleaded guilty to murder and other charges Tuesday in the December 2023 killing.
Kerry Williams changed his plea to guilty to murder, robbery and weapons charges during a routine pretrial hearing. He will be sentenced Nov. 12 to life in prison for killing the Rev. Stephen Gutgesell, 65, in the rectory next to St. John the Baptist Church in Fort Calhoun. The murder occurred just hours before Mass was scheduled to be celebrated.
Washington County Prosecutors I decided early If the death penalty is not pursued in this case. Investigators struggled to find any connection between Williams and the priest. The death of the priest Another unjustified killing Four months ago it was I was shaken violently almost 1,100 residents of the town About eight miles (13 kilometers) north of Omaha near the Missouri River.
Williams pleaded guilty to a charge of first-degree murder in calling for a life sentence without parole when prosecutors did not pursue the death penalty.
Williams’ attorney did not immediately respond to a message from The Associated Press on Tuesday.
On the day of the attack, Gutgesell called 911 before dawn to report that a man had broken into the rectory and was in his kitchen holding a knife. A deputy who arrived at the home minutes later said he found Gutgessel lying near the kitchen, bleeding profusely from stab wounds. Gutgesell was taken to a hospital in Omaha, where he died.
Williams did not have a weapon at the time, but investigators later found a broken knife with a serrated blade lying on the floor of Gutgesell’s bedroom.
Williams has several felony convictions in other states, authorities said. At the time of the killing, he was working at a meatpacking plant in Sioux City, Iowa.