Woman accused of killing husband with pitchfork, gun pleads not guilty
WARSAW, N.Y. - An upstate New York woman has pleaded not guilty to killing her farmer husband, who was struck with a pitchfork, shot in the head and buried in manure.
Authorities say Charlene Mess appeared in county court yesterday. She's being held on $1 million bail. Searchers found the body of 52-year-old Douglas Mess on the couple's farm in April after his son reported him missing.
Troopers say they were called to the home of 52-year-old Douglas Mess in the Wyoming County town of Attica on April 20 and told by the son that his father didn't go to work and hadn't been seen since 8 p.m. the night before.
Police launched an air and ground search and found Mess's body concealed in a mound of manure at the rear of his farm.
CBS affiliate WROC reports that Mess was remanded to the Wyoming County Jail after her Thursday hearing. Her bail has been set at $1 million cash or $2 million bond and her next court appearance is scheduled for June 11.