Angelika Graswald, right, stands in court with Michael Archer, a forensic scientist, as her attorneys ask for bail and to unseal the indictment against her during a hearing Wednesday, May 13, 2015, in Goshen, N.Y. (AP) (The Associated Press)
A body found in the Hudson River Saturday has been identified as a missing kayaker who cops say was killed by his fiancée.
A boater spotted the body floating in water near where Vincent Viafore disappeared April 19 while on an evening trip with his bride-to-be, 35-year-old Angelika Graswald. A lawyer for Viafore's accused fiancée, Richard Portale, told the New York Post that the body was wearing clothes similar to those worn by the missing man when he disappeared.
"That’s what we thought," Portale, said. "It’s not surprising and we’ll move forward."
Graswald, 35, reported Viafore missing and claimed his kayak capsized in choppy waters. She has been charged with second-degree murder after prosecutors accused her of tampering with his kayak and making incriminating statements.
New York State Police said the body was recovered near a yacht club in Cornwall not far from West Point.
Assistant District Attorney Julie Mohl said Graswald knew she was the beneficiary in two life insurance policies belonging to Viafore. She stood to gain $250,000 and “talked about what she could do with the money” after the death of Viafore, Mohl said.
"She stated that she tampered with the victim's kayak," Mohl said in recounting the alleged confession. "She knew it would contribute to his death."
Graswald told authorities she "felt happiness and relief" as she watched him go into the water, and that "it felt good knowing he was going to die," Mohl said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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