A Nebraska man accused of killing a hog farmer and kidnapping his estranged wife was subsequently pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, according to authorities.
Wesley Absher, 40, was initially arrested following the shooting on Tuesday, in which he killed 44-year-old Brian Gabel at the farm the victim owned.
After carrying out the attack, Absher kidnapped his own ex-wife, who had been at the farm at the time, before driving her three miles away and allegedly assaulting her.
He is then believed to have shot himself, Nebraska State Police said.
Absher’s wife was able to drive to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in Osceola and report both the shooting and assault just after 1:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Deputies secured both scenes and Absher was taken to Bryan Health West Campus in Lincoln with life-threatening injuries, where he later died from his injuries.
NSP confirmed that Absher, who had bonded out of jail just days before the shooting occurred, was in the process of divorcing his wife when the incident occurred.
The woman was taken to Columbus Community Hospital for treatment for her injuries, which were non-life-threatening.
According to court documents, Absher had previously been found guilty of second-degree assault and terroristic threats in a separate case that involved the same woman on February 8.
In that incident, Absher was accused of threatening his wife and assaulting her with a weapon. He also threatened to kill himself, the documents showed.
He was arrested at the hospital and on April 1 he accepted a plea deal. He was released on bond on April 3 and was due to be sentenced on June 10.
The Independent has contacted the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and Nebraska State Police for comment.
Gabel’s funeral was held on Friday.
