A man accused of killing his father, a deacon at a Catholic church in Nebraska, allegedly tried to flee police to avoid being caught, authorities said.
Martin Zak was arrested on Thursday, March 12, on charges of criminal homicide, felony flight to avoid arrest and felony theft in connection with the death of John Zak, whose body was found in Omaha on Wednesday, March 11, according to the Omaha Police Department.
“The Omaha Police Department extends its condolences to the family and friends of John Zak,” the department said in a Friday, March 13, news release.
John, 69, was a deacon at St. Peter Church in Omaha, according to a Facebook post shared by the Archdiocese of Omaha.
Martin, 36, became a person of interest in his father’s death after police said officers were called to a report of a missing person on Cass Street around 11:30 p.m. on March 11.
While investigating, John’s body was discovered, according to authorities, who did not specify the exact location of his remains.
Officers immediately found the circumstances of John’s death to be “suspicious” and identified a “vehicle of interest” in connection with the homicide, police said.
When officers saw the car driving the next morning, on March 12, they tried to pull the driver over, according to police.
The driver, later identified as Martin, “refused to pull over and led officers on a pursuit,” police said.
Martin was ultimately apprehended as a “person of interest” and arrested on criminal charges, according to authorities.
It was not immediately clear whether Martin, who was detained at the Douglas County Correction Center, had retained an attorney who could speak on his behalf. It was also unclear whether he had entered a plea as of Monday, March 16.
A potential motive for the alleged homicide was not specified by law enforcement.
Over the last several years, John and his wife had cared for several foster children and had adopted children themselves, according to court filings viewed by Nebraska Public Media.
“I am saddened to learn of the tragic death of Deacon John Zak,” wrote Archbishop Michael G. McGovern of the Archdiocese of Omaha in a statement shared to Facebook.
“Deacon Zak was ordained to the permanent diaconate in 1998, and he has served at St. Peter Church in Omaha,” McGovern added. “Deacon Zak also directed the parish’s youth group and served as a teacher in the parish catechism program. As law enforcement continues investigating, please join me in praying for the repose of the soul of Deacon Zak, for his family and for the St. Peter parish community in this difficult time.”
