Former Pastor Sentenced To Life In Prison For The Murder Of His Second Wife

A former pastor was sentenced to life in prison Monday without parole in the murder of his wife in Stroudsburg Pa.

Arthur Schirmer, 64, was sentenced in Monroe County Court nearly two months after a jury convicted him of first-degree murder in the death of Betty Schirmer. The conviction brought an automatic life sentence, the Associated Press reported Monday.

"Today, she can finally rest in peace," Betty Schimer's son Nate Novack said, who thanked prosecutors for "bringing my mom's killer to justice."

Schirmer is awaiting a separate trial for the killing of his first wife, Jewel Schirmer, in 1999.

Prosecutors alleged that Schirmer clubbed Betty Schirmer on the head with a crowbar, then loaded her into their car and staged a low-speed accident in an effort to cover up for the crime.

When on trial, Schirmer took the stand on 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.

Local police initially believed Betty Schirmer's July 2008 death was the result of a car crash.

Months later, a man committed suicide in the former methodologist clergyman's office. He reportedly learned the pastor was in a relationship with his wife, the church secretary.

State police then began to investigate the death of Betty again.

Authorities reportedly concluded the car accident didn't lead to her death. Police also found her blood on the garage floor, along with evidence that someone had tried to clean it up. Schirmer was also convicted of tampering.

Defense attorney Brandon Reish had insisted in his closing argument that while his client cheated on Betty Schirmer, 56, he had no motive to kill her.

"Accidents happen," Reish told jurors. "Sometimes there are no explanations. Car accidents, falling down stairs, falling off ladders. People die in accidents every day."

The investigation into Betty Schirmer's death prompted police and prosecutors to take another look at Jewel Schirmer's case.

In 1999, Authur Schirmer alleged he went out for a run, to only come home and find his wife in a pool of blood at the bottom of the steps in the basement.

Shirmer was charged last September with killing his first wife.