NEMAHA COUNTY, KS—The Oklahoma man charged with the murder of a priest in Seneca this past April will undergo a mental evaluation to determine his competency to stand trial.
Following a hearing on Friday in Nemaha County District Court, District Judge John Weingart issued an order granting a motion filed by the defense attorney for 66-year-old Gary Hermesch. The evaluation will be conducted by the KANZA Mental Health and Guidance Center in Hiawatha.
Hermesch is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Father Arul Carasala.
Authorities allege that Father Carasala was shot outside the Sts. Peter and Paul Church rectory in Seneca on April 3rd. He was transported to a local hospital but later died from his injuries.
Should the initial assessment by KANZA Mental Health request further evaluation, Hermesch is to be transported to the Larned State Hospital for a period not exceeding 60 days.
The court has placed the case on hold pending the outcome of this competency evaluation.
Hermesch is currently being held in the Jackson County Jail as a courtesy to Nemaha County and remains detained on a $1 million bond.
