Bloodhound helps police locate murder suspect in Pawling

PAWLING — A man wanted by police in connection with a homicide investigation in Long Island was captured near the Appalachian Trail in Dutchess County, state police announced Wednesday.

Police said Paul Leitgeb, 49, of Lake Grove, Suffolk County, was apprehended Tuesday after a prolonged standoff near the trail in the Town of Pawling.

He was located in a densely wooded area by a state police bloodhound named "Darby."

Leitgeb, police said, was armed with a box cutter and had threatened to harm himself.

He was turned over to detectives from Suffolk County police and taken to MidHudson Regional Hospital of Westchester Medical Center with self-inflicted lacerations.

Late Wednesday, Suffolk police announced the arrest of Leitgeb in connection with the death of his wife, Tricia Odierna, 42, at her home in Lake Grove.

He was charged with second-degree murder and transported to a hospital in Suffolk County, where he is recovering from self-inflicted wounds to his wrists and throat, police said.

State police said they were contacted on Tuesday by Suffolk police, who were requesting assistance with locating a homicide suspect believed to be in the area of the Appalachian Trail in Pawling.

A search of the area was conducted by state police, including the bloodhound and aviation units.

Suffolk police said that during the standoff, Leitgeb threatened to harm himself further and also threatened officers before state troopers took him into custody.

Additional assistance was provided at scene by the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office and Metropolitan Transportation Authority police.

John Ferro: 845-437-4816; jferro@poughkeepsiejournal.com; Twitter: @PoJoEnviro