A Nebraska man accused of killing a hog farmer and kidnapping his estranged wife has died at a nearby hospital, authorities said.
Wesley Absher, 40, was initially arrested after a shooting on Tuesday in which he allegedly killed 44-year-old Brian Gabel at the victim’s farm.
After the incident, Absher reportedly kidnapped his estranged wife, who was present at the farm, drove her about three miles away, and allegedly assaulted her.
Authorities believe he then shot himself, according to Nebraska State Police.
Absher’s wife managed to drive to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in Osceola and reported both the shooting and the assault shortly after 1:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Deputies secured both locations, and Absher was transported to Bryan Health West Campus in Lincoln with life-threatening injuries, where he later died.
State police confirmed that Absher had posted bond just days before the shooting and was in the process of divorcing his wife at the time of the incident.
The woman was taken to Columbus Community Hospital for treatment of injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Court records show that Absher had previously been convicted of second-degree assault and making terroristic threats in a separate case involving the same woman on February 8.
In that earlier case, he was accused of threatening his wife, assaulting her with a weapon, and making threats to take his own life, according to documents.
He was arrested at the hospital following that incident, accepted a plea deal on April 1, was released on bond on April 3, and was scheduled to be sentenced on June 10.
Authorities were contacted for additional comment.
Gabel’s funeral was held on Friday.
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