A 64-year-old former pastor from Pennsylvania has been sentence to life in prison, without parole, for the murder of his second wife, Betty Schirmer, in 2008.
According to an Associated Press report, Arthur Schirmer was convicted of first-degree murder for the death of his second wife, Betty. Schirmer was found to have killed Betty with a crowbar, then staged a car accident to explain her injuries.
Police reported that they believed his story as told, but upon a thorough investigation, found Betty's blood on the floor his garage and got further evidence from her autopsy.
Details are even more gruesome:
Prosecutors said he clubbed his wife on the head with a crowbar, then loaded her into their car and staged a low-speed accident in an effort to conceal the crime.
As ABC News reported, the former Methodist clergyman took the stand in his own defense and testified that he was driving her to the emergency room for treatment of jaw pain when he swerved to avoid a deer and hit a guard rail.
"My mom is finally able to rest in peace," Betty Schirmer's son, Nate Novack, said after the sentencing. "We do have some closure and it's a great day overall, even though the life conviction isn't going to bring my mom back," reported ABC News.
Schirmer has also been charged with the murder of his first wife, Jewel. In that case, according to Associated Press, Schirmer claims he was out running and found Jewel dead when he returned home. The trial for Jewel's murder has yet to begin.
Schirmer's girlfriend and his two daughters with Jewel Schirmer said outside court Monday that they continued to believe in his innocence.
"I just didn't hear evidence that led me to believe that he committed a crime," said Julie Campbell, one of the daughters, according to ABC News.
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