Husband charged with wife’s murder 37 years after she was found with ax embedded in her skull

Cathleen was found in bed with an ax buried in her skull and the ax's long wooden handle had been wiped clean of fingerprints.

A husband has been charged with murdering his wife 37 years after she was found dead with an ax embedded in her skull, police said.

James Krauseneck, 67, was arrested last week and is now accused of murdering his 29-year-old wife Cathleen in the family’s home in Brighton, New York in 1982.

Cathleen was found in bed with an ax buried in her head, apparently from a single blow. The long wooden handle had been wiped clean of fingerprints and the bedroom window had been broken from the outside.

The couple’s three-year-old daughter was found unharmed in another room. Authorities originally suspected burglars killed Cathleen – but now say her husband carried out the brutal murder.

Krauseneck has since pleaded not guilty to one count of second-degree murder and is out on $100,000 bail.

The day after Cathleen’s death, Krauseneck reportedly did not show up for an interview with police. Instead, he took took his three year old daughter and left for Michigan.

The case was renewed with the FBI’s help in 2016, which is when investigator Mark Leberator told the The News Tribune: ‘(James Krauseneck) gave the appearance of wanting to be cooperative. But then he got a lawyer, and we never talked to him again for 34 years.’

Michael van Gerwen dismisses Peter Wright's record average: 'There was no crowd there'

Authorities tracked Krauseneck down in Gig Harbor, Washington and attempted to talk to him, but they reportedly learned nearly no new information to help the investigation.

Two days after police interviewed Krauseneck in Gig Harbor, he and his wife listed their home for sale.

With the help of new DNA and forensic technology, case materials from Cathleen’s death were digitized and evidence was tested for DNA.

However, Kraseneck’s arrest and murder charge is reportedly not because of DNA evidence – but by the lack of it.

Brighton Police Chief David Catholdi said Tuesday that James Krauseneck’s DNA was found all over the home, as expected, but no DNA was found from any strangers.

Simon Cowell 'putting pressure' on himself to beat Little Mix with X Factor: The Band

‘I think that speaks volumes. There’s no bogeyman out there,’ Catholdi said.

Celebrity medical examiner Michael Baden was also brought in to examine the evidence and concluded that Krauseneck ‘was in the home at the time of the homicide.’

Krauseneck has continued to insist that he is innocent, which he has done for 30 years.

His attorney, Michael Wolford, told the Rochester Democrat and Chronically it was a ‘further tragedy’ that his client was charged, adding: ‘Jim’s innocence was clear 37 years ago. It’s clear today. At the end of the case I have no doubt Jim will be vindicated.’

James Krauseneck’s trial is set to begin in June.