Man accused of killing hog farmer, kidnapping and assaulting wife was released on bond days earlier

SHELBY, Neb. (KOLN/Gray News) - A man accused of killing a hog farmer, kidnapping his wife and assaulting her has died, according to authorities.

The Nebraska State Patrol said 40-year-old Wesley Absher died from his self-inflicted injuries at a hospital in Lincoln Wednesday afternoon.

Earlier Wednesday, the Nebraska State Patrol identified Absher as the suspect in the murder of 44-year-old Brian Gabel.

According to a preliminary investigation, Nebraska State Patrol investigators believe Absher went to the hog farm Gabel owned and shot and killed Gabel.

Investigators said Absher’s wife was at the hog farm when Gabel was killed. According to the Nebraska State Patrol, Absher kidnapped his wife and took her to a farm three miles away, where he reportedly assaulted her.

Nebraska State Patrol said Absher shot himself while at the second location.

The woman was able to drive herself to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and report the shooting and assault just after 1:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Absher was taken to the hospital where he later died from his injuries. The woman was taken from the sheriff’s office to a hospital to treat non-life-threatening injuries.

Investigators confirmed Absher and his wife were going through a divorce.

Records show that Absher had been found guilty of second-degree assault and terroristic threats in a separate case that involved her.

Court documents also show Absher had posted bond days before the shooting and kidnapping occurred.

According to the court documents, Absher was accused of threatening his wife and assaulting her with a weapon on Feb. 8. She told deputies that he also threatened to kill himself.

The woman was able to take the gun away, and the two went to the hospital where she received treatment for a laceration to the back of her head, deputies wrote. Absher was arrested at the hospital.

On April 1, Absher accepted a plea agreement and pleaded no contest to the charges. In exchange, prosecutors dropped two counts of use of a firearm to commit a felony.

Documents show Absher paid 10% of a $250,000 bond and was released from jail on April 3.

Gabel’s friends and family are now left to grieve his loss. He was considered a fierce friend and his friends referred to him as “the glue” and “the solution.”

“He was just a genuine patient, feeling man that loved Jesus. And that just was who he was. It wasn’t like, it wasn’t an act. He didn’t have to get his act together. It was who he was,” Ted Pearson, Gabel’s friend, said.

Gabel was part of a Bible study along with some of his closest friends, who say the father of three was a funny and talented man who never shied away from a chance to help someone.

“Brian was literally just following Jesus, and that’s why he was murdered,” his friend Myles Wheeler said.

Gabel’s two teenage sons said their father was their champion and was a hard worker who pushed them to be better.