Westchester Man Killed Wife Half His Age: DA

A 54-year-old man is accused of murdering his 25-year-old wife and then trying to kill himself. Joseph Abraham of Yonkers was arraigned before Judge Anne Minihan on a grand jury indictment Wednesday

charging him with

• one count of Murder in the Second Degree, a class “A” Felony
• two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree, class “A” Misdemeanors

During the court proceeding, Abraham pleaded not guilty, Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. said in the announcement.

Prosecutors say an argument broke out between Abraham and the victim, Amanda Trenck, in their apartment at 59 Van Cortlandt Park Ave. at about 1:30 a.m. May 21.

Almost nine hours later, Abraham was found unconscious in the bathtub, prosecutors said. It was filled with blood and water. Cuts were visible on both of his wrists and the right side of his neck.

Trenck's body was in their bedroom. She was slumped over the bed with a large amount of blood visible around her.

Yonkers police received a report of an attempted suicide with possibly multiple victims at the scene at 9:12 a.m. on May 21. Emergency services responded to the location. Abraham was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Yonkers for treatment. Trenck was declared dead.

Family members living in the same apartment called 911 and cooperated with authorities, according to a police press release published by the Yonkers Tribune.

Yonkers detectives went to the hospital to interview Abraham. He was read his Miranda warnings, arrested and charged with his young wife's death.

Police found two knives at the scene.

The Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the cause of her death was sharp force injuries of the neck, chest and upper extremities involving ribs, jugular veins and lungs.

The couple had a child together, according to Trenck's obituary from the Lillis Funeral Home. She had graduated from Brookfield (Connecticut) High School in 2010. She had been working as a juice mixer at Juice Press in Armonk.

He was sent back to jail after the arraignment. His next court date is Sept. 21. He faces 25 years to life in state prison.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Strongin of the Superior Court Trial Division.