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Woman allegedly pulled fiancé’s paddle away as he drowned

Posted at 2:55 PM, May 27, 2015
and last updated 2015-05-27 17:14:08-04

NEW YORK -- A woman was indicted Tuesday on charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter after her fiancé drowned on the Hudson River last month.

The indictment alleges that Angelika Graswald, 35, intentionally killed her fiancé, Vincent Viafore, 46, by removing a plug from his kayak so that it would fill with water, and tampering with his paddle.

It is also alleged that she moved the paddle away from him as he was struggling to stay afloat in the 40-degree water.

Orange County 911 Center received a call that a kayak had capsized on the Hudson River on April 19.

First responders eventually found the two kayaks but couldn't find Viafore's body. Graswald had already been taken aboard another boat.

Officials were not able to find Viafore's body immediately.

The day after he went missing, Graswald posted several photos of herself and Viafore.

She also posted some photos captioned, "Good morning! Happy Saturday" and "I love you."

Then, on April 23 she posted a photo captioned, "If only I could have paddled harder, dammit..."

Viafore's body was recovered from the river and sent to the Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office on May 23.

Graswald was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in Viafore's death on April 30.

She is being held in the Orange County Jail.

Graswald's bail was set at $3 million cash or a $9 million bond.