ST PAUL, Minn. — A St. Paul man is charged with murder after allegedly choking another man to death in his car on I-94 Thursday, a case police called "unusual."
According to the criminal complaint, Nathan Thomas Wondra, 32, was being driven to Regions Hospital by the victim, who was a member of the clergy. Wondra said he heard voices in his head saying to kill the victim, and that it was the only way to save humanity. That's when he asked the victim to pull to the side of the interstate and Wondra strangled him.
Wondra is charged with second-degree murder, with intent but not premeditated. Wondra called the police after the killing, according to police.
In court Friday Wondra had a cash bond set at $2 million.
Saint Paul Police identified the victim on Friday as 76-year-old Lawrence Johnson. According to the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Johnson retired from full-time ministry in 2009. He was cleared of an abuse allegation -- which was deemed "not substantiated" -- in 2019 and was authorized to return to limited ministry.
In a message to clergy this week, Archbishop Bernard Hebda issued the following statement:
“I ask you to join me in praying for the repose of the soul of our brother, Father Larry Johnson. I write to let you know that, based on the information available at this time, our understanding is that law enforcement is investigating his death as a homicide. Please know that you, and the soul of Father Johnson, are in my prayers as we learn more about what happened in the coming days and work through this very tragic and difficult situation together.”