(KMZA)--A man accused of killing a Kansas priest last year is scheduled for a competency hearing this fall.
According to a press release from Nemaha County Attorney Brad Lippert, Gary L. Hermesch of Tulsa, Oklahoma, is set to appear for a competency hearing on the morning of September 3rd at 11:00 at the Nemaha County Courthouse in Seneca.
Hermesch was arrested last year after he allegedly shot and killed Father Arul Carasala near Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca in April 2025. Prosecutors later charged Hermesch with first-degree murder.
A judge ordered Hermesch to be evaluated by Kanza Mental Health and Guidance Center on November 7, 2025, to determine his competency to stand trial. He was later sent to Larned State Hospital in southwest Kansas for further evaluation.
