Beloved Omaha Deacon Brutally Murdered by Adopted Son He Raised From Infancy

Omaha Catholic Deacon John Zak Found Murdered by His Own Adopted Son Martin Zak

Deacon John Zak, 69, a beloved servant of St. Peter Catholic Church in Omaha, Nebraska, was found murdered in his home on the night of March 11, 2026. His adopted son, 36 year old Martin Zak, has been charged with first degree murder and denied bond in Douglas County Court.

Zak, who served as a deacon at St. Peter for over 25 years after his ordination in 1998, was also a respiratory therapy supervisor at CHI Health for 38 years. Together with his wife, Mary, he raised 13 children, several of whom were adopted. Martin was adopted at just three months old.

According to court records, police were called around 11:30 p.m. on March 11 after John failed to appear at work and a youth group gathering that evening. Mary Zak reported that the back door of their home had been damaged, and she found her husband's phone in Martin's pocket.

Investigators discovered stab wounds to John's chest, back, and head. Knives were found in the dishwasher and a blood trail led to Martin's basement room. In a horrifying development, a dismembered torso was found in a tote under the porch, and additional body parts were recovered in and around the home.

The tragedy is not only in the violence of what happened, but also in the loss of a man whose life was so deeply given over to God.

Those were the words of St. Peter Church pastor John P. Broheimer. Family friend Cindy Engelkamp revealed that the family had set boundaries with Martin while still trying to show him love, adding that "the kids were concerned for the parents' safety before this happened."

Court records show Martin had a prior criminal history, including domestic assault in the third degree in Lancaster County in 2016 and an assault by mutual consent charge in Platte County in 2013. Records also note that Mary had dropped Martin at "mental health programming" on the morning of the murder.

Deacon John Zak Mourned After Being Killed by Adopted Son in Omaha, Nebraska

Martin was arrested the following day after a police chase. He was driving his father's vehicle, and John's wallet was found in his possession. He was formally charged on Monday.

CHI Health released a statement calling Zak's death a "heartbreaking" loss. A vigil was scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at St. Peter, with a Funeral Mass set for 10 a.m. on March 21 at the church.

The Crusader's Opinion

A man who gave his entire life to the service of God and to the children the world threw away was repaid with unspeakable brutality by one of the very souls he chose to love. Deacon John Zak opened his home to 13 children. He served his parish for 40 years. He spent nearly four decades healing the sick at CHI Health. And he was butchered in his own house. There were warning signs. The family knew there was danger. The system knew Martin had a violent past. And still, a righteous man is dead. Evil is real. It does not respect good intentions. It does not care how many chances you give it. We cannot sugarcoat this: a faithful servant of Christ was murdered, and the world will barely whisper his name.

Take Action

• Pray: Lift up the Zak family, especially Mary, as they grieve this devastating loss. Pray for the 12 remaining children who lost their father to unthinkable violence.
• Share: Post this story and ask why mainstream media gives minimal coverage to crimes against faithful servants of Christ.
• Donate: Support families who adopt and foster vulnerable children through The Shepherd's Shield, an organization defending Christian families in crisis.
• Advocate: Contact your local representatives and push for stronger mental health intervention laws that protect families dealing with violent or unstable relatives. Nebraska Legislature: (402) 471 2271.
• Attend: If you are in the Omaha area, attend the Funeral Mass for Deacon Zak at 10 a.m. on March 21 at St. Peter Catholic Church to show the community that Christians support one another.