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Friday, Sep 28, 2012 4:30 PM UTC

Ex-pastor in Pa. accused of killing 2 wives

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Topics: From the Wires,

LEBANON, Pa. (AP) — A retired Pennsylvania pastor already facing trial in the death of his second wife was charged with killing his first wife in 1999 after a grand jury concluded that he killed both women with blunt objects.

Arthur Burton “A.B.” Schirmer was charged with homicide in the death of Jewel Schirmer, his wife of more than 30 years, Lebanon County District Attorney David Arnold announced Friday.

Schirmer’s attorney said his client denies involvement in either of his wives’ deaths.

Jewel Schirmer, 50, died at Hershey Medical Center of a traumatic brain injury from an alleged fall down a flight of stairs. 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. A.B. Schirmer was charged two years ago with killing Betty and staging a car accident to cover it up. He’s scheduled to stand trial in that case in January.

A Lebanon County grand jury cited medical testimony that revealed Schirmer used blunt objects to kill both his wives.

“We find it particularly disturbing and difficult to believe that both of A.B. Schirmer’s wives could have suffered such horrific injuries by accident. To the contrary, we believe probable cause exists to believe that neither woman died from an accident,” said the grand jury’s report, released Friday.

Schirmer’s attorney, James Swetz, said his client will be vindicated.

“Our belief, and what we intend to show in both of these incidents, is that the initial reports were correct, that the Monroe County death was an accident and in Lebanon County, there was evidence of heart attack” preceding her fall.

More Michael Rubinkam.

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