Woman released after being held hostage

South Windsor (WTNH) - A man is in custody after holding his estranged wife hostage for several hours and setting his house on fire.

Richard Shenkman, 60, shared contentious divorce proceedings with his estranged wife 57-year-old Nancy Tyler. It is reported that Shenkman kidnapped Tyler at a Hartford parking lot Tuesdsay morning and held her hostage at their home.

Tyler escaped around 8 p.m. from the residence but it took the good majority of the day before she was freed. Shenkman requested several things, from authorities, one of which was a priest to read Tyler her last rites.

"Negotiators [had been] speaking all day long with the people that are inside the house," said South Windsor Police Commander Matthew Reed. "I'm not privy to all the conversation. I can't imagine what the mood was like inside the house."

Tyler was taken to an ambulance to receive fluids but was reported to be in okay condition.

Shortly after Tyler was brought to safety, the house went up in flames.

The Hartford bomb squad was at the scene, but there was no confirmation as to if Shenkman had explosives. He was previously accused of burning down a vacation home hours before he was to hand it over Tyler.

Authorities evacuated 12 homes and turned off the power to the neighborhood to ensure the safety of its residents.

Meanwhile, Shenkman was seen at the rear of the house, firing several shots and refusing to turn himself over to officials.

He eventually surrendered to police at 12:10 a.m. where he was taken away in an ambulance.

He claimed he had a "safe" room or a fortified space in the basement which allowed him to stay within the burning structure. The fire has since been extinguished.

No word yet if residents have been allowed back into their homes.

The condition of Shenkman is unknown at this time.