Police: Lake Grove Man Murdered His Wife

UPDATE 7 p.m.: Leitgeb has been charged with second degree murder. He was transported to Suffolk County and is currently at an area hospital for treatment, Suffolk Police said.

Original story:

The husband of Tricia Odierna, the Lake Grove woman who was found dead inside her home last week, was taken into police custody upstate Tuesday following a prolonged standoff with troopers in which he threatened to harm himself and officers, State Police said.

Paul Leitgeb, 49, was identified as a ”homicide suspect” in a State Police press release issued Wednesday.

The body of 42-year-old Tricia Odierna, a local attorney and mother of five, was found inside her home at 8 Win Place around 1:50 p.m. on Oct. 1. Police had been looking for Leitgeb, a retired NYPD officer, since then.

The Suffolk County Police Department contacted the New York State Police from Troop K on Tuesday evening and requested “assistance with locating a homicide suspect who maybe in the area of the Appalachian Trail in the Town of Pawling,” State Police said.

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Following a search by multiple law enforcement units, Leitgeb was located in a densely wooded area near the Appalachian Trail by a State Police dog, police said.

Leitgeb, who was armed with a box cutter and threatening to harm himself and police, was taken into custody after a lengthy standoff, police said.

Leitgeb was then turned over to the custody of Suffolk County Police detectives who were on scene, police said.

Leitgeb was transported to a nearby hospital with self-inflicted lacerations to his wrist and throat, police said.

As of Wednesday evening, Suffolk Police have not released any details on Leitgeb’s arrest or announced if any criminal charges have been filed.