A 64-year-old Pennsylvania pastor has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his wife in 2008.

According to an Associated Press report, Arthur Schirmer was convicted of first-degree murder for the death of his second wife, Betty. Schirmer was found to have killed Betty with a crowbar, then staged a car accident to explain her injuries.

The report states that police originally accepted the murder as a car accident. A thorough investigation began, however, when Schirmer’s affair with his church secretary led to the woman’s husband committing suicide in Schirmer’s office. Along with evidence from Betty’s autopsy, police found her blood on the floor of Schirmer’s garage.

Schirmer has also been charged with the murder of his first wife, Jewel. In that case, according to the AP, Schirmer claims he was out running and found Jewel dead when he returned home. The trial for Jewel’s murder has yet to begin.

Schirmer has a girlfriend and two daughters, who all told the AP that they believe the man is innocent.