Gary Hermesch/Credit: Nemaha County Sheriff's Office 

 

(KMZA)--A man accused of killing a Seneca priest has been found incompetent to stand trial.

The Kansas Attorney General’s Office says a Nemaha County judge ruled Thursday that Gary Hermesch is not competent to stand trial and ordered involuntary commitment proceedings to be initiated.

Hermesch is charged with first-degree murder in the April 3rd, 2025, killing of Father Arul Carasala outside the Sts. Peter and Paul rectory in Seneca.

A judge ordered Hermesch to undergo a competency evaluation in November 2025. He was later transported to Larned State Security Hospital for further evaluation.

An evaluation report was issued to the court in late July, and that report was the basis for Thursday’s decision.

The Kansas Attorney General’s Office took over prosecution of the case in early August.