STUYVESANT — A woman employed by Coarc is scheduled to appear in Stuyvesant Town Court on Wednesday to answer to a charge of second-degree murder for allegedly stabbing an Austerlitz man who later died, said Aaron Hicks, public information officer for state police Troop K.
Diana L. Huyck, 52, of Stuyvesant was charged at the Livingston state police barracks Friday with the class A-1 felony, Hicks said.
The victim, John K. Ford, 50, was pronounced dead at the scene by Columbia County Coroner Michael Blasl, Hicks said.
“When troopers arrived on the scene that night, they located Ford with a severe injury to his upper body, and attempted life-saving-techniques, along with members of Valatie Rescue Squad,” Hicks said. “Ford unfortunately succumbed to his wounds and was pronounced deceased by Coroner Blasl.”
Huyck is the Coarc transportation manager, Coarc CEO Ken Stall said Monday. Huyck has been suspended pending the outcome of her arraignment
Stall said he learned of Huyck’s arrest over the weekend and is deeply saddened by the news.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who has been affected by this tragic event,” Stall said.
The stabbing occurred around 5:45 p.m. on Dolly Drive in the Summerset Landing Mobile Home Park, at 155 Summerset Road.
After being stabbed, Ford staggered to another home in the park looking for help. A neighbor who asked not to be identified said she performed CPR on Ford as another neighbor called 911.
Another neighbor, Mary Rogers, said she heard the man had staggered down the street and a neighbor performed CPR on him.
Four other residents of Dolly Drive said they did not want to discuss what they may have seen or heard Friday night.
A preliminary investigation indicates that Huyck stabbed Ford during a domestic dispute, Hicks said.
Police closed Dolly Drive on Friday night for several hours while the investigation was taking place, with police tape surrounding the scene. Police gathered evidence and spoke with possible witnesses to the crime. The street was reopened Saturday morning.
The investigation is ongoing but no new information on the case was offered by state police Monday, Hicks said.
Huyck was arraigned in Stuyvesant Town Court before Justice Carrie A. O’Hare and was taken to the Columbia County Jail, where she was held without bail.
Her next appearance in Stuyvesant Town Court is scheduled for Wednesday at 4 p.m.
Huyck is being represented by Alternate Columbia County Public Defender John M. Leonardson, Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czajka said Monday.
Assisting at the scene on Friday were: The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, Columbia County District Attorney’s Office, Columbia County Coroner’s Office, Troop K Forensic Investigation Unit and Troop K Major Crimes Unit.
Second-degree murder is one of several forms of homicide, or conduct which causes the death of a person under circumstances demonstrating a “depraved indifference to human life,” the defendant “recklessly engages in conduct which creates a grave risk of death to another person, and thereby causes the death of another person,” according to New York state penal law.
If convicted, Huyck could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.