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Police: Staten Island Woman Charged With Murder After Husband Found Dead In Tub

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A Staten Island woman has been arrested after police said the body of her 80-year-old husband was found by firefighters putting out a blaze at their home.

Antionetta Baldassarre, 67, has been charged with second-degree murder, arson and criminal possession of a weapon.  Investigators said she used a crowbar to kill her husband, Frank Baldassarre.

His body was discovered by firefighters responding to a garage fire at their home on Victory Boulevard around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. He was found inside a bathtub with trauma to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Police: Staten Island Woman Charged With Murder After Husband Found Dead In Tub

Firefighters found Antionetta Baldassarre inside the garage. She allegedly duct taped her hands and set the fire in a possible attempt to cover up the alleged crime, CBS 2's Dave Carlin reported.

Police sources told CBS 2 that she told investigators she was "sick and tired of his abuse." Police confirm officers responded to at least one domestic violence call to that address in the past.

Neighbors said they weren't aware of any marital problems between the couple.

"It's sad. They were a very nice couple," neighbor Sultana Kanacevic said. "It boggles the mind, but who knows what happens behind closed doors."

As CBS 2's Dave Carlin reported, neighbors say their garden was Baldassarre's pride and joy and often saw him working on it.

"They were outside every single day planting their flowers and everything," neighbor Kaitlin Connors told WCBS 880's Alex Silverman.

Connors said Antoinetta was always sweet and Frank was always quiet.

"She would always say hello. She would make my mother and I pies and stuff," Connors said.

The wife was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. She is scheduled to be transferred to Bellevue Hospital for a mental evaluation.

The couple's children are grown; one son also lives on Staten Island and two daughters live out of state.

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