REAL CRIME NETWORK

A Murder Hidden Behind the Pulpit
It started with a suicide in a pastor’s office and ended with a murder charge that stunned an entire Pennsylvania congregation. When Joseph Mustante, the distraught husband of the church secretary, walked into Rev. Arthur Burton Schirmer’s office and shot himself at the pastor’s desk, police expected a tragic love triangle—nothing more. But in uncovering the affair that pushed Mustante over the edge, investigators stumbled into something far darker: the suspicious deaths of both of Schirmer’s wives.

Timeline of the Case

April 2008: Schirmer claims his wife, Betty, was killed in a car accident on Route 715 in Monroe County. He says he lost control of their Chrysler Sebring, striking guardrails. Betty, 56, later dies from head injuries.
July 2008: Betty’s body is cremated only days after her death—limiting forensic testing.
October 2008: Joseph Mustante enters Reeders United Methodist Church and fatally shoots himself at Schirmer’s desk after discovering his wife’s alleged affair with the pastor.
November 2008: While investigating the suicide, police reexamine Betty’s “accident.” The vehicle damage and skid marks don’t match Schirmer’s account.
January 2010: Forensic experts determine that Betty’s head injuries were consistent with blunt-force trauma—not a crash.
September 2010: Authorities reopen the 1999 death of Schirmer’s first wife, Jewel, who supposedly fell down stairs in their Lebanon home.
November 2010: Schirmer is arrested and charged with the murder of Betty Schirmer and with tampering with evidence.

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The Evidence

When investigators reconstructed the “accident,” they found no signs of high-speed impact. Tire marks showed the car barely struck the guardrail, and blood spatter inside the Schirmer garage revealed Betty may have been injured before ever leaving home. Her head wounds were deep and localized, suggesting she’d been struck with a blunt object.

The reopened case of Schirmer’s first wife, Jewel, only deepened suspicion. Her death—initially ruled accidental—bore similar hallmarks: trauma inconsistent with a fall and a husband who moved on quickly. Detectives began to suspect a serial domestic predator hiding behind the pulpit.

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Rumor vs. Fact

Rumor: Both deaths were tragic accidents.
Fact: Forensic analysis contradicted accident claims in both cases. Betty’s wounds matched blunt-force impact, not a crash.
Rumor: The investigation started because of church gossip.
Fact: It began after Mustante’s suicide, which uncovered an affair and prompted police to question Schirmer’s credibility.
Speculation: Schirmer targeted his wives for insurance money or emotional control. While unproven, investigators confirmed he received multiple life insurance payouts.

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The Human Impact

For Reeders United Methodist Church, the fallout was devastating. Parishioners who once trusted their pastor as a spiritual father now described feeling betrayed and manipulated. Families grieved not just for Betty and Jewel, but for Joseph Mustante, a man whose pain exposed the hidden darkness behind the church doors.

The scandal also sparked broader questions: How could such evil hide behind a collar for so long? And how many more “accidents” go unquestioned in communities that never suspect their pastors of sin, let alone murder?

Where the Case Stands

Arthur Schirmer’s arrest for Betty’s murder drew national attention, and the investigation into Jewel’s death continues. His name has become synonymous with betrayal and premeditated deceit within a sacred trust. The case remains a sobering reminder that appearances—especially in positions of authority—can conceal monstrous truth.

Your Turn

What do you think? Was this a man consumed by guilt and lies—or a predator who used faith as camouflage? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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