Church Shooter Marked 'Death Day' in Planner

Authorities baffled on motive; Lyme 'doesn't cause' shooting: expert
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 10, 2009 12:23 PM CDT
Church Shooter Marked 'Death Day' in Planner
A display is shown outside the First Baptist Church as the church prepares for prayer and grief counseling in Maryville, Ill., Monday, March 9, 2009.    (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

The man charged with killing an Illinois pastor during a Sunday service appears to have planned the attack, having marked the date “Death Day” in his planner, the AP reports. But authorities are still stymied over a motive behind the attack. Terry Sedlacek was a quiet kid working in his family’s restaurant before he was hospitalized; afterward, he behaved strangely, sometimes barking and jerking his body.

He had never been threatening, said an acquaintance. His lawyer said Lyme disease had mentally crippled his client, but an expert on the disease said it “doesn't cause people to shoot people.” “The only thing I can really comment on is he came armed with many rounds of ammunition and a knife, and I think we can surmise that more bloodshed may have occurred,” said a state attorney.

(More pastor stories.)

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