Angelika Graswald has been charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter in the death of her fiance Vincent Viafore. In April, the engaged couple from Poughkeepsie — both experienced kayakers — took to the Hudson River. But kayak experts say Graswald and Viafore made a number of rookie mistakes. For starters, they were dressed improperly. The water temperature was 46-degrees that day. Whenever the water is under 60 degrees, kayakers always wear dry suits or wet suits. They didn’t.
[Kayak Death on Hudson River: Medical Examiner Playing Detective?]
And then there’s the troubling fact that Viafore didn’t wear a life preserver. (Graswald did.) Brian Grahn, owner of Hudson River Expeditions, told the New York Times, “Any experienced paddler wears a P.F.D. all the time, every time, period.” He added, “You would never see a professional paddler without it, whether you’re on a pond or in the Mediterranean. It’s a big deal.” The investigative TV show 48 Hours promises to deliver new evidence in the Graswald/Viafore murder case on September 12 at 10pm (CBS).
