Woman In Shock After Husband Allegedly Bulldozed Middletown Home

MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – It didn't take all that long for a 900-square-foot ranch house in Orange County, New York, to be demolished.

"My whole life is in there," Diane Andryshak said through tears.

Andryshak looked over the rubble where her house stood just a few days ago. The fact that it was demolished with her personal belongings inside is bad enough, but the fact that her husband of nine years is the person accused of doing it makes it even worse.

"I wasn't arguing with my husband. We weren't fighting. I didn't have him arrested," Andryshak said.

When asked if she knew why it happened, Andryshak said, "This is what I saw."

James Rheim was arrested for criminal mischief and released on $300 bail, other charges could follow.

Police said he had no permit for the demolition and didn't even own the home, which was in his wife's name.

When CBS2's Tony Aiello saw him briefly Tuesday evening, he wasn't apologetic.

"We're married. It's a community asset," Rheim said Tuesday when asked about the home being in his wife's name.

"I'm in shock still, that's the only thing...I'm blank because I'm in shock," Andryshak said.

The remains of the living room sofa can be seen in the pile of rubble, all of it placed inside the foundation of where the house stood. The place is dotted with household articles like pots and pants.

Rhein even left the dog standing outside, CBS2's Lou Young reported.

Neighbors don't know what to make of it.

"I don't know what possessed him. I guess he just wanted to get rid of it," Beverly Belfiglio said.

CBS2 was told the house was in need of renovation. The couple had been living elsewhere the past two weeks and have reportedly been behind on mortgage payments as well.

Husband and wife have barely spoken since the incident.

"The only thing he said to me was, 'Everything is replaceable.' I said 'No it's not,'" Andryshak said.

Rheim works as a private construction contractor and reportedly borrowed the excavator used to bulldoze the home from a nearby work site.