Police officers who were checking on a woman who hadn't spoken to her family for days found her husband dismembering her, officials say.
New York State Police were conducting a welfare check at the home of Phillip Farren and his wife in Allen when officers allegedly found him cutting up her body.
The woman has not been officially identified, but a GoFundMe page which has been setup identified her as Amber Farren.
In a press release, Mr Farren, 52, told police his wife had left the area, but later he "then made admissions" after police continued to question him.
“Further investigation reveals that Farren had shot and killed the victim earlier in the week and was in the process of dismembering the victim’s body when troopers arrived on scene,” the release added.
Police said Farren was arrested on second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter charges.
He was arraigned via Skype and is now being held without bail at the Allegany County Jail.
Amber's family have since claimed that she was a victim of domestic abuse.
A message on the GoFundMe page, which was setup by Amber's sister Ashley Ryan, reads: "My sister was murdered due to domestic violence.
"Her husband killed her and left her on the ground to die for a few days."
She added that a detective told her it was “one of the most gruesome murders he has ever seen.”
Amber's aunt, Bonne Mineo, led tributes to her.
She told news outlet WKBW : "She was a sweet girl, a big heart. Would do anything for anybody, and for her life to be ended like this.
"She would give the shirt off her back to anyone, and then this happened. I just can’t believe it."
