Alabama authorities have accused a
Baptist pastor of murdering his wife to marry his boyfriend.
Richard Shahan of First Baptist Church
in Birmingham was arrested on New Year's Day at Nashville
International Airport trying to board a flight bound for Germany. He
is accused of fatally stabbing his wife, Karen Shahan, in July.
Prosecutors claim Shahan was headed to Europe to marry another man.
The 53-year-old Shahan has denied the
charges, saying he was out of town when his wife was found dead in
the couple's rented home. His lawyers told a judge that Shahan was
traveling on a mission trip.
Shahan resigned from his post in
December. Alabama authorities issued an arrest warrant on December
31. Shahan was taken into custody by Homeland Security after his
passport was flagged.
At
a January 16 bond hearing, prosecutors accused Shahan of
attempting to flee the country to begin a new life with his boyfriend
in Britain.
Shahan is currently on house arrest
after posting a $100,000 bond.