A St. Paul man who told police he had heard voices in his head telling him to kill a retired priest and then strangled the 76-year-old in a car on the shoulder of Interstate 94 last year has been acquitted of murder by reason of mental illness.

Nathan Thomas Wondra, 33, was charged with second-degree intentional murder charge in the Aug. 1, 2024, killing of Lawrence Johnson of St. Paul. Ramsey County District Judge Stephen Smith delivered his verdict in a Wednesday court document, following a stipulated evidence trial.

The trial, which was agreed upon by the prosecution and defense, included police reports, a transcript of the 911 call made by Wondra after the killing, a transcript of his interview with police and subsequent mental health evaluation reports.

Prosecutors are required by

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