In a tragic sequence of events in Polk County, Nebraska, a man implicated in the assault of his estranged wife and the murder of another man has succumbed to his injuries. The Nebraska State Patrol confirmed that Wesley Absher, aged 40, passed away on Wednesday afternoon at the Bryan West Campus in Lincoln.
State Patrol investigations revealed that Absher was allegedly responsible for the death of 44-year-old Brian Gabel and the assault of his wife in the early hours of Tuesday morning near Shelby. The incident unfolded when Absher’s wife, who had recently filed for divorce, sought refuge at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in Osceola, reporting a shooting and assault shortly after 1:30 a.m. She guided deputies to a business south of Shelby, owned by Gabel, where the incident occurred.
Upon arrival, authorities found Gabel deceased at his business premises. Absher’s wife, who was present at the time of the shooting, was reportedly abducted by Absher following the murder. She was subsequently taken to a separate location and assaulted before Absher turned the gun on himself, according to the State Patrol.
The woman involved in the incident was hospitalized, but her injuries are not considered life-threatening.
Court documents indicate that Absher was previously arrested on February 8 and faced charges including felony domestic assault, terroristic threats, and two counts of using a firearm to commit a felony. His wife reported that Absher had threatened her by holding a gun to her head and physically assaulted her. She required medical attention for a head laceration.
Absher was held on a $250,000 bond, only requiring 10% payment for release, and was prohibited from contacting his wife or possessing firearms. Despite these restrictions, Absher was released after paying $25,000 on April 3, just days before the tragic events. He had pleaded no contest to felony assault and terroristic threats, with the firearms charges dismissed. Sentencing was set for June, with a potential maximum sentence of 23 years.
The incident has left the community mourning the loss of Brian Gabel, a resident of Osceola and father of three. His funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at the Evangelical Free Church in Stromsburg, as detailed in his online obituary.
