A  Former Pastor in  Pennsylvania, Arthur “A.B.” Schirmer   was sentenced  Monday to life in prison without parole in the killing of his wife, who was clubbed on the head, then loaded into her car for the staging of a slow-speed accident,ABC reports

Arthur “A.B.” Schirmer, 64 committed the  crime in 2008. He 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.

Arthur “A.B.” Schirmer sentenced to life

Local police initially believed Betty Schirmer’s death in July 2008 was the result of a car crash. State police began a more thorough investigation months later, when a man committed suicide in Schirmer’s office after learning the pastor was in a romantic relationship with his wife, the church secretary.

Authorities ultimately concluded the car crash could not have caused Betty Schirmer’s extensive head and brain injuries. Police also found her blood on the garage floor, along with evidence that someone had tried to clean it up.

Schirmer  maintained his innocence.

By UP