by Oge Okonkwo

A pastor in Alabama has been accused of killing his wife by stabbing her to death and trying to escape to Europe.

According to the police, the accused, Richard Lee Shahan was caught trying to leave the country in order to marry his boyfriend.

Rev. Shahan was caught by  Homeland Security as he was trying to board a flight to Frankfurt, Germany after his wife,  Karen Louise Shahan was found dead by the police.

All Christian News reports:

 He was leaving Nashville and eventually headed to Kazakhstan, the home of his love interest.  The two were going to then get married and build a life together in the UK.

“He planned to become a citizen there and begin a new life with his boyfriend… who he intended to marry,” prosecutor Leigh Gwathney told AL.com. “He had no intention of ever returning to the United States. He had no home to return to and he had said his goodbyes to his family.”

When Shahan was arrested, he had $27,000 in his possession.   His attorneys say that he wasn’t running from the law.  Instead, he was headed there for a three year mission.

The pastor was charged with the murder of his wife, Karen Louise Shahan, who was found dead in July of 2013.  The defendant says that he was out of town visiting relatives at the time of his wife’s death.   He also claims that he was going to Europe because his wife wanted him to continue his ministry.

Rev. Shahan is currently being held at the Jefferson County jail on $100,000 bond.