A Nebraska man accused of fatally shooting a hog farmer and kidnapping his estranged wife has died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities said.
Wesley Absher, 40, killed 44-year-old Brian Gabel at the victim's farm on Tuesday before abducting his ex-wife, who was present at the scene. He drove her three miles away and allegedly assaulted her before shooting himself.
The woman managed to escape and drove to the Polk County Sheriff's Office in Osceola to report the incidents just after 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. Absher was taken to Bryan Health West Campus in Lincoln with life-threatening injuries and later died.
Court documents reveal Absher had been released on bond just days before the shooting, after being convicted of second-degree assault and terroristic threats involving the same woman in February. He was due to be sentenced on June 10.
The victim's ex-wife was treated at Columbus Community Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The Nebraska State Police confirmed the couple was in the process of divorce at the time of the incident.
