Former Monroe County Pastor Found Guilty of Murder (6pm Live)
By: Laurie Monteforte
Updated: January 23, 2013
Stroudsburg, Monroe County - After less than two hours of deliberations, a Monroe County jury found Arthur Schirmer guilty of all charges.
The former pastor at Reeders United Methodist Church was found guilty of killing his second wife Betty Jean in 2008.
Schirmer has been on trial for more than two weeks in a case that has grabbed national attention.
According to prosecutors, Schirmer killed his wife with some sort of metal object like a crowbar in their home and then he staged a car crash to cover up the crime.
Prosecutors used forensic evidence and blood experts to highlight blood stains found in the garage of the church parsonage.
Schirmer's defense lawyer called the allegations nothing more than church gossip and bad science.
After the verdict was returned Tuesday afternoon, Schirmer's attorney said that he would appeal the verdict. He feels the jury was influenced by the fact that testimony was allowed in from another pending criminal case.
Schirmer is also accused of killing his first wife Jewel in Lebanon County in 1999. He is still awaiting trial on those charges but testimony on the death investigation was allowed to be entered into the Monroe County case.
As the verdict was read, Schirmer showed no visible reaction. His family members, including his current fiance, openly sobbed in the courtroom.
The family of victim Betty Jean Schirmer were also in the courtroom. They gave cries of joy as the verdict was read.
The former pastor at Reeders United Methodist Church was found guilty of killing his second wife Betty Jean in 2008.
Schirmer has been on trial for more than two weeks in a case that has grabbed national attention.
According to prosecutors, Schirmer killed his wife with some sort of metal object like a crowbar in their home and then he staged a car crash to cover up the crime.
Prosecutors used forensic evidence and blood experts to highlight blood stains found in the garage of the church parsonage.
Schirmer's defense lawyer called the allegations nothing more than church gossip and bad science.
After the verdict was returned Tuesday afternoon, Schirmer's attorney said that he would appeal the verdict. He feels the jury was influenced by the fact that testimony was allowed in from another pending criminal case.
Schirmer is also accused of killing his first wife Jewel in Lebanon County in 1999. He is still awaiting trial on those charges but testimony on the death investigation was allowed to be entered into the Monroe County case.
As the verdict was read, Schirmer showed no visible reaction. His family members, including his current fiance, openly sobbed in the courtroom.
The family of victim Betty Jean Schirmer were also in the courtroom. They gave cries of joy as the verdict was read.
