A man bulldozed his wife's house without her knowing about it. Neighbors say the man rented an excavator and reduced the ranch house to a pile of rubble while his wife was away. It's not clear why he knocked it down.

Diane Andryshak believed that her husband, James Rhein, 48, would be renovating their Middletown, New York, home on Monday.

But instead of returning home to a house under repair, she returned home to, well, nothing.

Rhein had bulldozed the 900-square-foot home, which was registered in her name only, demolishing it completely.

He did so without consulting her — although he claimed he tried to call her, but she didn’t pick up — or even removing her things. He didn’t even bother to turn off the gas, electricity or water before flattening their marital home.

“He bulldozed all her clothes in there. Washer, dryer, furnace, hot water heater, everything was still in there. In fact, her medication was still in there,” neighbour Steve Belfiglio told CBS New York.

Andryshak wasn’t the only one shocked to see her home gone. Local officials were also surprised. Despite not being able to get a permit for the demolition — government offices were closed on Monday because of a federal holiday — Rhein rented an excavator and went ahead and did it anyway.

Fortunately, no one was harmed in the bulldozing of the home.

(After being notified of the demolition, officers made emergency calls to Orange and Rockland Utilities to cut the gas and electricity to prevent the risk of an explosion.)

Rhein has been charged with second-degree criminal mischief, and will likely face other charges. He is due in court at the end of the month.

He claims his marriage is fine and that the home, which he claimed had a crumbling foundation and has long been in need of a tear-down, was “a community asset,” and not his wife’s alone.

"We’re good," he told WNBC-TV, insisting that his wife is no longer mad about the destroyed house. “I’m a good husband. What can I tell you?”

Andryshak might have to be the judge of that.

"None of my belongings were taken out. Everything was in the house. I’m in shock, still I’m in shock," Andryshak told ABC7News.com on Tuesday.



"I have family and friends, right now I’m staying with a friend," she added. “I don’t have any answers for you, I don’t have any answers for you whatsoever.”