GUILTY PA - Jewell, 50, & Betty Schirmer, 56, murdered by their husband, 1999 & 2008

DNA Solves
DNA Solves
DNA Solves

New Posts

http://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...6f77d2-0980-11e2-9eea-333857f6a7bd_story.html

LEBANON, Pa. — A retired Pennsylvania pastor insists both of his wives died accidentally. Prosecutors call him a liar - and a killer.

Already facing trial in the death of his second wife, Arthur Burton “A.B.” Schirmer is now charged with killing his first wife, too, after a grand jury concluded her injuries weren’t consistent with a fall down the stairs, prosecutors announced Friday.

Lebanon County District Attorney David Arnold declined to discuss a motive, but a grand jury report said that Schirmer, 64, had been unfaithful to his first wife, Jewel Schirmer, throughout their 31-year marriage. Court documents also said the couple had financial difficulties...............

Jewel Schirmer, 50, died at Hershey Medical Center of a traumatic brain injury from a supposed fall. Police and prosecutors reopened the probe after her husband came under investigation in the 2008 death of his second wife, Betty, in the Pocono Mountains. Prosecutors in that case say Schirmer killed his second wife, then staged a car accident to cover it up. He faces trial in January............

Taking a fresh look at the case, investigators hired a biomechanical engineering firm to recreate Jewel Schirmer’s supposed fall down the stairs. The firm used a test dummy fitted with various instruments to collect data on the forces to which her tumbling body would have been subjected............

“We found the ‘crash dummy’ evidence to be particularly compelling, as it indicated to us that Jewel could not have suffered all of her injuries by accidentally falling down a flight of stairs,” the grand jury wrote.

Another cardiologist, meanwhile, reviewed Jewel’s medical records and concluded she had not suffered a heart attack, after all.

The grand jury cited medical testimony that revealed Schirmer likely used blunt objects to kill both his wives.


More at link......
 
Former pastor's homicide trial continues in NE Pa.

http://www.centurylink.net/news/read.php?id=19258472&ps=931&cat=&cps=0&lang=en&page=1

STROUDSBURG, Pa. (AP) — Arthur Schirmer bowed his head, put his hands over his ears and squeezed his eyes shut Tuesday as a forensic pathologist described how he says the former pastor bludgeoned and killed both of his wives.

Dr. Wayne Ross, who performed an autopsy on Jewel Schirmer in 1999 and then investigated the death of Betty Schirmer nine years later, said the evidence clearly shows that both women were savagely beaten with a crowbar or some other heavy cylindrical object. He said Schirmer staged both crime scenes to make it appear as if they'd died in accidents.

Schirmer, 64, a longtime Methodist pastor, asserts that Jewel Schirmer — his wife of more than 30 years — fell down the basement stairs while vacuuming, and that Betty Schirmer was fatally injured in a 2008 car crash in the Poconos.............

Another prosecution witness, Anne Marie Thorsen-Moe, hinted at a possible motive when she testified Monday that Schirmer told her that Betty had discovered he was having an affair with his secretary, and gave him an ultimatum: End the relationship or they would get divorced, the Pocono Record reported.

"He said he didn't want a divorce because he didn't want to lose half of everything," Thorsen-Moe said.

More at link.....
 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/18/arthur-schirmer-pastor-wife-murder-testifies_n_2504737.html

STROUDSBURG, Pa. — A former Pennsylvania pastor accused of killing his second wife testified in his own defense Friday, describing her death as the result of a car accident that left him feeling alone, lost and scared.

Arthur Schirmer admitted he cheated on her and lied about it. But he said the jury should believe his account about how she died.................

Prosecutor Michael Mancuso was sarcastic and scornful as he peppered Schirmer with questions about his wife's death and tried to get him to admit that he beat her in the garage of the parsonage, loaded her into the car and deliberately ran into the guardrail at low speed. Police found Betty Schirmer's blood on the garage floor, along with evidence that someone had tried to clean it up.

"Betty didn't die in that simple crash, isn't that right?" Mancuso said.

"No sir," Schirmer replied.............

More at link.....
 
Convicted Pa. pastor faces trial in 1st wife death

http://www.centurylink.net/news/read.php?id=19273962&ps=1011&cat=&cps=0&lang=en

STROUDSBURG, Pa. (AP) — A former Methodist clergyman convicted of bludgeoning his second wife to death in 2008 now faces trial on whether he killed his first wife, too.

Arthur Schirmer was convicted Tuesday of first-degree murder and evidence tampering after a jury in the Poconos concluded he clubbed Betty Schirmer on the head with a crowbar, then loaded her into their PT Cruiser and staged a low-speed accident in an effort to conceal the crime.

The former preacher, 64, was motionless as the jury returned its verdict 90 minutes after getting the case, and said nothing while being led from the courtroom in handcuffs.

The conviction of a man whom prosecutor Michael Mancuso had dubbed the "sinister minister" brought cries and tears of joy from the family of Betty Schirmer, 56, who suffered mortal brain injuries after prosecutors say he attacked her on July 15, 2008.............

Schirmer is charged separately in the 1999 death of his first wife, Jewel Schirmer, and awaits trial in Lebanon County...........

More at link.....
 
http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130116/NEWS/130119840

Moyer said she was struggling with her feelings in September 2008 because she thought she was in love with Schirmer while she was still married.

Moyer's husband, Joseph Musante, committed suicide in Schirmer's office in the church in 2009 when he found about the relationship. His suicide spurred police to look into Betty Jean's death.

Moyer said today that when Joseph found out about the relationship, “he hold him (Schirmer) to stay away from me.”

Moyer said she became engaged to Schirmer in August 2010.
Click to expand...

Sounds like those two deserve each other.
 
Court denies former Reeders pastor’s appeal for new trial

http://www.poconorecord.com/news/20170701/court-denies-former-reeders-pastors-appeal-for-new-trial

Monroe County President Judge Margherita Patti Worthington denied convicted murderer and former pastor Arthur Schirmer’s attempt to get a new trial.

Schirmer filed a Post-Conviction Relief Act petition for the 2008 murder of his wife, Betty Jean Schirmer. Arthur Schirmer, convicted and sentenced in 2013, petitioned the court, alleging ineffective assistance at trial, prosecutorial misconduct, double jeopardy, and that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case.

After review of the testimony and hearing, and the briefs filed by council, the court denied Schirmer’s seven claims that included ineffective council, prosecutorial misconduct and the other claims previously mentioned.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

DNASolves

Who is DeKalb County John Doe (2022)?

Members online

... and 69 more.
Total: 2,276 (members: 70, guests: 2,206)

Online statistics

Members online
70
Guests online
2,206
Total visitors
2,276
Totals may include hidden visitors.

Forum statistics

Threads
601,662
Messages
18,128,031
Members
231,120
Latest member
GibsonGirl
Back
Top