Missing kayaker's fiancée charged with murder

CORNWALL-ON-HUDSON- They seemed like the perfect couple, friends said.

But 10 days after Vincent Viafore's disappearance — his kayak had supposedly capsized near Bannerman Island in the Hudson River — his fiancee Angelika Graswald was arrested and charged with murder.

Graswald, a 35-year-old Poughkeepsie resident, was charged with second-degree murder in connection with 46-year-old Viafore's disappearance, state police said at a press conference Thursday.

The Poughkeepsie man has been missing since April 19. He and Graswald left in separate kayaks from Plum Point, near the shore of Cornwall-On-Hudson around 4 p.m. and went to Bannerman Island, police said.

They were near Bannerman, which is located on the river, between Cold Spring and Beacon, when Viafore "entered the water" around 7 p.m., police said. He's presumed dead, but his body has not been found.

"Initially, we believed her to be a survivor of a tragic accident," said state police Maj. Patrick Regan. But as police pieced together the situation, there were "some inconsistencies" in Graswald's story which made them suspicious.

Statements she made to police Wednesday were catalysts for her arrest, Regan said, but he wouldn't elaborate on what those statements were, a possible motive or the manner in which she allegedly killed Viafore.

Graswald called 911 around 7:40 p.m. on April 19, and reported that Viafore's kayak capsized in choppy water and she couldn't find him in the river, Regan said.

"We believe we know what happened ... we believe she indicated how this occurred," Regan added, though he stopped short of saying Graswald had confessed. Police said they believe Viafore was killed "on the river," not land.

The search for Viafore's body is ongoing, and state police said they're "seeking assistance from local boaters, hikers and fisherman." Anyone with information is asked to contact state police at 845-457-1388.

Meghan Avezzano was a friend of Viafore's, she said. They met at a Pickwick Pub in Poughkeepsie about four years ago and he was "just the nicest guy."

Viafore was going through a divorce at that time, Avezzano said. So she was happy for him when he and Graswald got together. She saw the two of them out together frequently, and they always seemed like "the perfect couple. I never saw any fighting ... he always had his arm around her, they were lovey-dovey.

"I just can't believe it," Avezzano added. "She's (Graswald) a tiny little thing," and it's hard to imagine how this could have happened. "I always like to give people the benefit of a doubt. ... I think (Viafore) would want everyone to give her the benefit of a doubt. He really did love her."

Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler said "it's not unheard" of to prosecute a murder charge without a body, and it's been done in the county before, though it can be more "complex."

"We believe, based on the evidence brought to us, there's a case at this point," Hoovler said.

Regan said they believe Viafore and Graswald were experienced kayakers, and that Viafore was not wearing a life jacket. Graswald was.

She was also involved in a group dedicated to preserving Bannerman Castle, located on the island, Regan added.

The Journal reached out to Graswald on April 20 via Facebook message.

"No comments until we find him," Graswald wrote in response.

Graswald, who is originally from Latvia, confirmed to the Poughkeepsie Journal earlier this month that she was previously married, and that her maiden name is Lipska, the name she goes by on her Facebook page.

On April 20, in a public Facebook post, she thanked "everyone for reaching out. Please, keep your prayers for Vince," she wrote. "Miracles ARE possible. The authorities are doing everything they can."

Viafore's Facebook page has numerous pictures of him engaged in water activities, and on Jan. 26, Viafore described his wedding plans to a friend.

"The weddings (sic) going to be in Europe on the Baltic Sea, but we plan to do a Hudson River Cruise party" with friends, Viafore wrote.

Viafore was a 1986 graduate of Wappingers' Roy C. Ketcham High School, according to a yearbook on Classmates.com.

Graswald posted a number of public Facebook photos of herself and Viafore since April 19. One is captioned, "I miss you, my love..."

The area where Viafore allegedly went missing in the water is prone to "strong current and choppy waters," said Trooper Steven Nevel on Wednesday. There were also reports of strong winds the day Viafore's kayak overturned.

Police initially said Graswald tried to help Viafore when he fell out of his kayak. She also fell out of her kayak, police said initially, but was rescued by a boater and treated for hypothermia at a nearby hospital.

Graswald is in Orange County Jail on no bail and is due back in court on May 5.

Nina Schutzman: nschutzman@poughkeepsiejournal.com

Twitter: @pojonschutzman