Were the deaths of a Pennsylvania pastor's two wives coincidence or murder?
An apparent suicide at a small-town church exposes secrets, betrayal and questions about two more deaths
Updated on: July 23, 2026 / 2:44 PM EDT / CBS News
When "48 Hours" first told you about Pastor A.B. Schirmer, the story ended in a cliffhanger. Schirmer stood accused of killing his second wife -- but there was no question about the death of his first wife. Could he have killed her, too? A lot has happened since we first aired this story. Now, we have the answers no one expected.
It was October 2008 when Rose Cobb learned of her brother's death.
"It was a horrible, shocking, traumatic thing to have somebody not only shoot themselves, but shoot themselves in a church," Rose Cobb said in tears. "I couldn't believe it."
Joe Musante died in the church office -- sitting at the pastor's desk--a single gunshot wound to the head. He left behind his wife of 18 years and two children.
"My brother was dead and I didn't know what happened to him," said Cobb.