GUILTY NY - Vincent Viafore, 46, Newburgh, 19 April 2015 - #1

[BunnyHop]

Angelika Graswald, center, stands in court with Michael Archer, second from left, a forensic scientist, as her attorneys Jeffrey Chartier and Richard Portale, right, ask for bail and to unseal the indictment against her, during a hearing Wednesday, May 13, 2015, in Goshen, N.Y. Graswald has been charged with second-degree murder in the disappearance of her fiance, Vincent Viafore while kayaking on the Hudson River.

more pics at link:
http://www.timesunion.com/news/slideshow/Nation-World-photos-967/photo-7974589.php

 

[BunnyHop]

double post

 

[Aynia]

Everyone said this before me and i was like, nope, but after watching that picture she surely does looks like Jodi glasses and all. I just hope they have her "confession " taped.

 

[eucalyptuz]

Well, I have to say I'm kind of flabbergasted by today's events.

I just don't understand how the LE officer and the ADA (in the initial presser on the day of arrest) could have been so evasive if they had these kinds of confessional statements up their sleeves! Plus now, evidence of tampering and equipment?!?
It makes me think a lot of this must have come out after arrest and are not the accidental inconsistencies mentioned in the presser.

If ever there was a suspect who should have retained a lawyer on day 1 it's this girl! Sheesh! And if it did play out the way LE is alleging - what a terrible way for VV to go! A drowning caused by and watched on by your lover of many years...so tragic.

 

[silly1]

Not sure if this is related, but only time will tell.

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/2015/05/13/body-found-hudson-river/27254859/

 

[gitana1]

When the couple was about two-thirds of the way back, "the victim's kayak filled with water, causing it to capsize," Mohl said. "The victim was holding onto the kayak...he went under water and drowned," around 7:15 p.m.

Graswald did not call for help until 7:40 p.m., Mohl said. Graswald said she could see Viafore while on the phone, and the call was cut off when she herself capsized.

Witnesses say they saw Graswald "intentionally" capsize, and when she was questioned about inconsistencies in her statements, "she said she capsized her kayak on purposely," because she wanted authorities to believe she tried to save Viafore, Mohl said. "She stated that she tampered with the victim's kayak...she knew it would contribute to his death."

She told authorities she "felt happiness and relief" as she watched him go into the water, Mohl said. Graswald said "it felt good knowing he was going to die," and that she felt trapped in the relationship with him.

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/2015/05/13/graswald-bail-set-hearing/27248067/

Fiancee arraigned in missing kayaker's death, was beneficiary of insurance policy
http://7online.com/news/fiancee-arr...h-was-beneficiary-of-insurance-policy/697265/

Graswald detailed where the equipment could be found, but not Viafore's body.

She was also aware that she was the primary beneficiary on two of Viafore's life insurance policies, and "talked about what she could do with the money" after his death.

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/2015/05/13/graswald-bail-set-hearing/27248067/

Horrible case. This illustrates that behavior matters. Does everyone grieve differently? IMO, not too differently. Yes, some are more stoic, some wail with abandon. But no one can convince me that cartwheels and selfies and dancing on a table top (hey there casey anthony), are just a different way of grieving.

Behavior matters in these cases.

We're just wondering if at some point she may have drugged him via food or drink, since it seems he went down a little too easily.

Right? I mean he's known as a strong swimmer. How did she survive but not him?

Holy cats! I've got catching up to do here.... but wow. Never in a million. Years would I have guessed that her 'inconsistent statements' would have been a full on confession. My questions, which may already be answered are 1) how does one tamper with the kayak of a known water fanatic so that he doesn't catch on immediately and 2) why 2nd degree and not first?

Looks like she never got around to regretting her decision, eh?

I am dumbfounded.

I remember someone here pointing us to a comment a few days back on faceboook or somewhere which stated "The B!+ch confessed." I didn't think that could be accurate. Guess they were right.

Graswald's lawyer said he was skeptical about the statements prosecutors said she made to investigators.

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/455a56a6a03c4f3bb03eab0538db4115/US--Missing-Kayaker

Those attorneys are real gasbags. Wow.

Yes, they're right. The hearing was a success. They got the DA to divulge facts it otherwise could've kept private for while longer, which is what I thought they were trying to do with this bail hearing.

Everything else they said is wind. Yeah, they want us to believe that she was grieving, she had hypothermia, she can't understand English well and oh, she was also coerced. So she just sort of accidentally confessed. Also, first LE said it was "inconsistencies" and then it was a confession, so if you don't believe the accidental confession theory, maybe you'll believe the theory that the cops just made up a confession. (Instead of understanding that LE were trying to hold back evidence as long as they could and merely explained why she perked their interest. Her inconsistencies and her confession are not mutually exclusive, knuckleheads!!).

Whatever. This is a case of throwing absolutely everything at the wall and seeing what sticks. I just don't understand why they think people are so stupid as to buy this nonsense. Oh well, I guess they only need to convince one and they're working on that one already!

 

[eucalyptuz]

Interesting read about how hard it is to sink a kayak:
http://kayakdave.com/2012/09/30/can-you-sink-a-kayak

There’s no doubt that sinking a kayak is an unlikely event that may occur in extreme or otherwise preventable situations. However, as this article proves, it is possible for a kayak to sink so make sure to check those bulkheads, install float bags if needed, and always wear your PFD!

And then of course if it is sunk...how did it become unsunk?

 

[gitana1]

Not sure if this is related, but only time will tell.

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/2015/05/13/body-found-hudson-river/27254859/

Oh no. How far away?

 

[Kadoober]

Oh no. How far away?

Looks like about 22 miles.

 

[gitana1]

This should be a lesson to everybody in here why when you are read your Miranda rights, you'd better keep your mouth shut.

What you say, can AND WILL be used against you in a court of law.

She just babbled on and on........and the cops loved every second of it.

Whether they took what she said and twisted it out of context is left to be seen.

With respect, I think it should be a lesson not to murder people. How about that?

So first it's overreach and no evidence and now it's twisted out of context? I don't understand.

 

[silly1]

Oh no. How far away?

Roughly 20 miles. But there is another person who is suspected of falling into the water and drowning in early April right off of the Poughkeepsie waterfront.

 

[DayLea]

DA: Graswald confessed to tampering with fiance's kayak
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/crime/2015/05/13/graswald-confessed-kayak-tampering/27271207/

I don't doubt that LE gained her trust in order to get a confession, but IMO she's offered far too many details for this to simply be a case of twisted words. The words "happy" and "relieved" are pretty telling. Again, JMO.

 

[gitana1]

Well, I have to say I'm kind of flabbergasted by today's events.

I just don't understand how the LE officer and the ADA (in the initial presser on the day of arrest) could have been so evasive if they had these kinds of confessional statements up their sleeves! Plus now, evidence of tampering and equipment?!?
It makes me think a lot of this must have come out after arrest and are not the accidental inconsistencies mentioned in the presser.

If ever there was a suspect who should have retained a lawyer on day 1 it's this girl! Sheesh! And if it did play out the way LE is alleging - what a terrible way for VV to go! A drowning caused by and watched on by your lover of many years...so tragic.

Gee, I sense this attitude in some posts that it's a bad thing she talked and incriminated herself. Me? I want the bad guys caught and put away. I want justice for the innocent not protection for the evil.

As as to their evasiveness, as I have said, LE and the state try to keep their evidence under wraps typically for as long as they can. That is smart strategy. I don't hold press conferences and give away all my evidence before trial. Or before the discovery phase. It would be insane to do so.

Finally, I think it's quite clear that the inconsistencies led to questioning that resulted in the confession and ultimately an arrest. There is zero evidence that the police did something wrong here and I'm baffled by what seems to be attempts to paint them as the bad guys.

There's only one bad guy here
and it's not the cops.

 

[Lilibet]

Everyone said this before me and i was like, nope, but after watching that picture she surely does looks like Jodi glasses and all. I just hope they have her "confession " taped.

BBM

I really hope they taped her confession too. I simply can't wrap my mind around what would possess her to say such incriminating things on tape though...other than hubris.

If it's not on tape, I suppose she could claim she was just being sarcastic...as in "Oh that's right officer, I was soooo happy to watch him die"....NOT (implied). Or she could claim that she didn't understand and was just being hypothetical (Amanda Knox) (Not implying guilt, just recalling what Amanda said. I realize she has been found not guilty).

But on tape, it will be obvious what she meant and that she was not misunderstood. Jodi's interview tapes were gold. Let's hope LE has Angelika's.

 

[gitana1]

Interesting read about how hard it is to sink a kayak:
http://kayakdave.com/2012/09/30/can-you-sink-a-kayak

And then of course if it is sunk...how did it become unsunk?

Good question. I imagine maybe it couldn't hold the weight of a large man and sunk with him in it, making him sink into the water, but when his body disengaged from the kayak it had enough bouyancy to resurface? Anyone know anything about physics? Not my strong suit!!!

 

[Kadoober]

DA: Graswald confessed to tampering with fiance's kayak
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/crime/2015/05/13/graswald-confessed-kayak-tampering/27271207/

I don't doubt that LE gained her trust in order to get a confession, but IMO she's offered far too many details for this to simply be a case of twisted words. The words "happy" and "relieved" are pretty telling. Again, JMO.

This article states that she told authorities how to retrieve the equipment they were using. Does this strike anyone else as strange? How would she be able to pinpoint where the kayaks were if they were in the water, and presumably they didn't question her until she was at the hospital being treated for hypothermia?

 

[wfgodot]

Roughly 20 miles. But there is another person who is suspected of falling into the water and drowning in early April right off of the Poughkeepsie waterfront.

Could be this one from 03 April? (hudsonvalleynewsnetwork.com)

Police Search Hudson River for Missing Wappingers Man

 

[gitana1]

BBM

I really hope they taped her confession too. I simply can't wrap my mind around what would possess her to say such incriminating things on tape though...other than hubris.

If it's not on tape, I suppose she could claim she was just being sarcastic...as in "Oh that's right officer, I was soooo happy to watch him die"....NOT (implied). Or she could claim that she didn't understand and was just being hypothetical (Amanda Knox) (Not implying guilt, just recalling what Amanda said. I realize she has been found not guilty).

But on tape, it will be obvious what she meant and that she was not misunderstood. Jodi's interview tapes were gold. Let's hope LE has Angelika's.

The cops can ride a person prett effectively by throwing their own words back at them and convincing them that everyone will know they're guilty. Confessions are actually super common. Most murder cases with a known suspect are solved quickly. We analyze the notorious ones that aren't so easy to prove.

But it's crazy how in most cases criminals readily incriminate themselves.

Nevetheless, what a confession. She seems crazy to me.

 

[epiphany]

According to Mohl's statements, Viafore was holding onto the kayak and a flotation device at around 7:15 p.m. but Graswald didn't call 911 until 7:40 p.m. and at that time told the operator she could see Viafore. Graswald told investigators that her kayak capsized during the call, Mohl said, but "others say she intentionally capsized her kayak."

Graswald was rescued two minutes after her 911 call, Mohl said, but she could not tell rescuers "where he capsized or the last place where she saw him floating."

http://www.people.com/article/angelika-graswald-bail-hearing-missing-kayaker-murder

 

[wfgodot]

Here's this link again -- 't. d.a. Borek assisting in the current matter too:

Two men guilty in Pendino "no body" murder case in Orange County