Judge Finds St. Paul Man Not Guilty of Priest’s Murder Due to Mental Illness

Judge Finds St. Paul Man Not Guilty of Priest’s Murder Due to Mental Illness

By MinneapoliMedia Staff

RAMSEY COUNTY, MN — A Ramsey County judge has found Nathan Thomas Wondra not guilty of second-degree intentional murder in the 2024 killing of retired Catholic priest Rev. Lawrence “Larry” Johnson, ruling that Wondra met Minnesota’s legal standard for not guilty by reason of mental illness.

Judge Stephen Smith delivered the bench ruling last week after reviewing police reports, psychological evaluations, the criminal complaint, and a 911 call transcript. The court determined that while Wondra committed the act, he was experiencing a severe mental health crisis that rendered him unable to understand the nature or wrongfulness of his actions under state law.

The case stems from an August 1, 2024, incident on Interstate 94 near Prior Avenue in St. Paul. According to charging documents, Wondra called 911 from the roadside and told dispatchers he was having a psychotic break and had “choked out” an elderly man in the driver’s seat. Responding state troopers found Johnson unresponsive; he was later pronounced dead at Regions Hospital.

Investigators say Wondra told officers he heard “voices in his head” instructing him to kill Johnson “to save humanity” while Johnson was driving him to a mental health evaluation.

Court records indicate Wondra had no documented history of mental illness, criminal convictions, or prior civil commitments before the killing. His father also told investigators he had never witnessed signs of mental instability or violence in his son.

Following the not guilty verdict, Wondra will be held in a secure state facility as civil commitment proceedings move forward, in accordance with Minnesota law for individuals found not guilty by reason of mental illness.

About the Victim

Rev. Johnson, 76, was ordained in 1975 and served at multiple parishes across the Twin Cities and southern Minnesota before retiring in 2009. Known for his pastoral care and community outreach, Johnson had befriended Wondra and was taking him to a hospital for help at the time of the fatal incident.

Key Facts

• Defendant: Nathan Thomas Wondra, St. Paul
• Charge: Second-degree intentional murder (2024)
• Verdict: Not guilty by reason of mental illness (2025)
• Location: I-94 near Prior Avenue, St. Paul
• Next Step: Civil commitment proceedings; continued detention in a state hospital

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