Iowa man receives life in prison for 2023 stabbing of Nebraska priest

CNA Staff, Nov 14, 2025 / 11:04 am (CNA).

An Iowa man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after he pleaded guilty in October to stabbing a Nebraska priest to death in 2023.

Kierre Williams last month pleaded guilty to the assault that claimed the life of Father Stephen Gutgsell. Williams broke into the rectory of St. John the Baptist Parish in Fort Calhoun on Dec. 10, 2023, and stabbed Gutgsell, who later died of his injuries at a hospital.

Williams himself was arrested shortly thereafter. He originally argued that he was not guilty of the murder by reason of insanity before changing his plea to guilty last month.

Washington County Chief Deputy Attorney Erik Petersen said in court this week that the murder “shattered the innocence” of the small town of Fort Calhoun.

“I’m hoping this court’s sentence will bring some peace to the citizens” of the town, he said, according to local media reports.

Gutgsell’s sister Therese Hupf, meanwhile, said in court that his family “cannot, even today, fully grasp his absence.”

“He was stolen from his family and his parish family, who are hurting beyond words,” she said.

Gutgsell’s funeral was held at St. Cecilia Cathedral in Omaha followed by his burial at nearby Calvary Cemetery. He was 65 years old at the time of his death.

The priest grew up in Omaha and attended the College of St. Thomas — now the University of St. Thomas — and St. Paul Seminary in Minnesota. He was ordained in 1984. In addition to his priestly ministries he taught adult education including Bible study, sacramental preparation, and Church history.