South Omaha Catholic church rectory break-in deemed ‘random act of violence’
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - New details have emerged following a break-in at a south Omaha Catholic church’s rectory on Sunday morning.
A spokesperson for the church says it was a random act of violence.
Some windows remained boarded up and the church was quiet Monday.
Omaha Police say a woman broke into the rectory of St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church shortly after 6 a.m. after allegedly stabbing a man inside his house and attempting to set him and his home on fire.
Sr. Mary Ann Meagher has known the church’s pastor, Fr. Damian Zuerlein, for more than 20 years.
“To get this news was just crushing,” she said. “He’s such a good person.”
Police say Fr. Zuerlein, who lives at the rectory, was home when the break-in happened. He barricaded himself inside a room before escaping through a window.
Police say the woman busted inside the room, armed with a knife, just as firefighters were removing Fr. Zuerlein on a ladder.
“It’s so scary to hear this, not just for him but for all the people that this kind of thing is going on,” Meagher said.
A spokesperson for St. Frances Cabrini tells 6 News they’ve learned the break-in was not targeted at the church or at Fr. Zuerlein.
Pictures show the damage inside the rectory: furniture torn apart, books dumped, and most of Fr. Zuerlein’s personal belongings destroyed.
“I say thank God he wasn’t, quote, physically hurt, but nobody, none of us have seen him or been with him since then,” Meagher said. “I think he’s just withdrawn to figure this out and heal from it.”
The break in at St. Frances Cabrini comes less than three months after Fr. Stephen Gutgsell was stabbed to death in the rectory of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Fort Calhoun.
Meagher says it’s too much and understands it may take Fr. Zuerlein a while to fully recover.
“It’s pretty damaging to be broken into,” Meagher said. “I want to say ‘Damian, hang in there and thank you for everything you’ve done, and you have an enormous amount of people that are thinking about you and praying for you and supporting you through this.’”
Omaha Police say the alleged suspect was taken to a hospital. Charges are pending.
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