Kayaker Body Found Identified as Missing Fiance

Details

Category: Crime

Published on Tuesday, 26 May 2015 09:03

Written by Janet Walker

Murdered kayaker Vincent Viafore, reported missing by Angelika Graswald, his fiancee, has been found in the murky waters of the Hudson River where he was last seen in early April as the two enjoyed a recreational boating trip.

Graswald, 35, has been in custody charged with second degree murder of Vincent Viafore, 46, whose remains have been identified by the medical examiner.

After prosecutors determined she made damaging and conflicting statements surrounding the accident and death and gave a chilling confession indicating she relished “watching” her future husband die.

The long term couple, who lived together in Poughkeepsie, New York, a small commuter town 50 miles north of New York City had become engaged when Viafore made significant changes to his estate planning to include his Latvia born fiancée.

Prosecutors alleged when Graswald, a former bar tender, become aware she would be the sole beneficiary of two separate insurance policies totaling in excess of $250,000.00 she hatched a plan to murder the unsuspecting Viafore.

Viafore disappeared on April 19 as the two were Kayaking near Bannerman Island in upstate New York. The accused recounted seeing him attempt to hold onto the kayak for nearly ten minutes in what she described as “choppy water” but did nothing to intervene and only called emergency nearly 20 minutes after he slipped beneath the water.

Seen around town within a week after Viafore was reported missing and presumably dead, she was the life of the party and talked with friends about what she would do with “all that money.”  

Both seasoned kayakers, Graswald also allegedly made statements indicting she tampered with his kayak. Witnesses said after watching Viafore, who was not wearing a life preserver vest, struggle to hold on to the boat and finally lose his grip, Graswald capsized her own kayak to lend authenticity to her “choppy waters” theory. She was rescued by passing boaters.

Graswald set bail at 3 Million dollars cash. She remains in custody.

This is a developing story.