A man allegedly kidnapped his estranged wife, killed her boyfriend and then died by suicide, all just days after he was released on bond.
The Nebraska State Patrol said that Wesley Absher died from self-inflicted injuries at Bryan Health West Campus in Lincoln, Nebraska, on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 8, according to KOLN.
His death came hours after the NSP identified Absher, 40, as the suspect in a murder and kidnapping that involved his estranged wife and her new boyfriend.
Investigators believe Absher traveled to a hog farm to shoot and kill 44-year-old Brian Gabel, who owned the property.
Absher’s wife was at the hog farm at the time of the killing. Following Gabel’s murder, Absher allegedly kidnapped his wife and took her to a farm three miles away, where he proceeded to assault her.
After the alleged assault, authorities said they believe Absher tried dying by suicide while at the second location.
The woman left the second location and drove herself to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, where she reported the shooting and assault just after 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7.
Deputies responded to the scenes and requested assistance from the Nebraska State Patrol, ensuring both scenes were secured.
After Absher was found, he was taken to Bryan Health West Campus to treat the life-threatening injuries he had sustained. Meanwhile, the wife was taken from the Sheriff’s Office to Columbus Community Hospital after she suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Amid the investigation, authorities confirmed that Absher and the woman were in the process of an ongoing divorce at the time of the incident.
Court records viewed by the outlet indicate that Absher was previously found guilty of second-degree assault and terroristic threats in a separate case, which involved the same female victim.
He was accused of threatening his wife and assaulting her with a weapon on February 8, while the woman also told police that he threatened suicide.
The woman managed to take the gun away, and the estranged couple went to the hospital so that she could receive treatment for a laceration to the back of her head. Court documents state that Absher was arrested at the hospital.
Absher accepted a plea deal and pleaded no contest to the charges on April 1. In exchange for the plea, prosecutors dropped two counts of use of a firearm to commit a felony.
Documents also state that Absher paid the 10 percent bond of $250,000 and was released from jail on April 3.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Luxury Handbag Shopping’s request for comment regarding the case.
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or considering suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
