Father Stephen Gutgsell was transported to hospital where he died from his injuries.

Father Gutgsell was serving as a pastoral administrator at the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Forth Calhoun, Nebraska. He was found suffering from injuries during an assault on December 10 in his rectory. On December 10, at about 5.05 am, the county’s 911 emergency dispatch received a call about the break-in at the rectory. The deputies of the sheriff’s department arrived minutes after the call and found a black male and the injured priest in the residence.

The suspect was taken into custody, and Father Gutgsell was transported to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, where he passed away later that day. As the investigation is still ongoing, the name of the suspect, the manner of the victim’s death and other details cannot yet be released.

Father Gutgsell was found guilty of embezzlement in 2007. He was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay back the funds. Washington County Sheriff Mike Robinson said that he does not believe Father Gutgsell’s death is connected to his prior offence.

Source: UCAnews

Photo: Nikos Frazier photos, The World-Herald