Ala. evangelist gets life for dead wife in freezer

The revival preacher kept his wife's body frozen at home for four years

Published May 21, 2010 2:55PM (EDT)

A south Alabama evangelist who authorities say terrorized his family while preaching at revivals has been sentenced to life plus 51 years in prison after being convicted of killing his wife and storing her body in a home freezer.

Circuit Judge John Lockett imposed the sentence Thursday on Anthony Hopkins in Mobile.

Assistant District Attorney Ashley Rich called Hopkins "evil of the worst kind." Defense attorney Jeff Deen said his client admits putting his wife's body in the freezer, but he doesn't know how she died.

Prosecutors say Hopkins killed his wife in 2004 after she caught him molesting a girl. The wife's body was discovered in 2008.

Besides the murder conviction, Hopkins was sentenced on convictions including sodomy and sexual abuse.


By Associated Press

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