A former finance executive has pleaded guilty to killing his prominent pediatrician wife in a frenzied attack inside their $2.8million suburban New York home.

Jules Reich, 64, was in the process of divorcing Dr Robin Goldman, 58, when he stabbed her 20 times while she was showering in an attack likened to the movie 'Psycho' by prosecutors.

The father-of-three pleaded guilty to first degree manslaughter on Tuesday as part of a deal that will see him receive up to 25 years in prison. His adult children, who are all in their 20s, agreed to the settlement to avoid the trauma of a trial.

Jules Reich, 64, (left) was in the process of divorcing Dr Robin Goldman, 58, (right) when he stabbed her 20 times. Images are undated

Reich, from Scarsdale, was initially charged with second-degree murder, which carries a maximum sentence of life with parole or 40 years behind bars.

Shortly after the attack on January 20, 2016, Reich phoned police to report his wife's death and told them he was 'grieving, but in a joking mood'.

Reich, a partner at a midtown Manhattan firm dealing in accounting, tax and advisory services, told the officers who responded to his 911 call that his wife's death was probably a homicide.

Police found a bloody knife hidden in newspaper in the house, CBS reported. The body of Dr Goldman, an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, was found in the shower.

Reich later told them: 'I would like to take some of my prescription medicine for anxiety.'

Reich, from Scarsdale, was initially charged with second-degree murder, which carries a maximum sentence of life with parole or 40 years behind bars. Undated mug shot

Other bizarre behavior included asking whether he would be able to join the mourners at his wife's funeral and asking a cop at the police HQ, 'What do you think of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton?'

He also joked with another officer, saying 'You’re not my boyfriend, you know,' although the context for that remark was not clear.

The prosecution alleged in January that Reich had smoked a cigarette in-between stabbing his wife and calling 911.

The prosecutor said she was stabbed 22 times with an 8-inch kitchen knife, suffering a punctured lung, heart, diaphragm, liver and kidney.

Though Goldman had recently changed the locks of the 6,400 sq ft house, prosecutors said Reich managed to get inside and 'ambushed' her in the shower in a knife attack reminiscent of the 1960 Hitchcock film 'Psycho,' according to the New York Daily News.

'He grabbed her from behind in the shower and stabbed her,' said Assistant District Attorney John O'Rourke.

When first responders arrived at the sprawling residence, they found Reich with bruises on his face and injuries to both hands.

Shortly after the attack on January 20, 2016, Reich (center, at a court in January 2016) phoned police to report his wife's death and told them he was 'grieving, but in a joking mood'

Dr Goldman worked as a pediatrician at the Comprehensive Family Care Center in The Bronx and was also affiliated with Montefiore Medical Center.

'Robin was a dedicated physician cherished by her colleagues as a positive and compassionate presence,' Montefiore hospital said.

'Her passion for medicine was an inspiration to those who worked with her. Her passing is a great loss for all of us, and we extend our heartfelt sympathy to her family, friends, patients, colleagues and students.'

Reich allegedly walked into the kitchen, 'leaving a trail of blood,' and smoked a cigarette before dialing 911. Pictured right: Mourners at Dr Goldman's funeral in January 2016

Mourners gather around a hearse carrying the body of Dr Goldman during her funeral in January 2016

The couple's five-bedroom, four-bath home, on Lincoln Road, was built in 1947 and includes a bath house, swimming pool and greenhouse on 1.3 acres of land.

According to Reich's biography on WeiserMazars' website, he worked in 'advising corporations, startups, venture capital and private-equity firms in a broad range of industries on critical topics including mergers and acquisitions'.

Reich received his law degree from Benjamin N. Cordozo School and Law and his Master of Law degree from New York University Law School.

Over the course of his 20-year career in the financial industry, he has been involved in transactions totaling more than $45million, according to his biography.