Reporter talks to hostage, suspect

South Windsor (WTNH) - A reporter at The Day of New London got drawn into a hostage situation when Richard Shenkman, the man accused of kidnapping his wife and torching his South Windsor home, dialed her number.

Shenkman told reporter Karen Florin he trusted her; she had covered another case of his in the past and he was counting on her to tell his side of this story.

Florin has gotten calls from Shenkman before but none like the one Tuesday from his home where police say he was holding his ex-wife Nancy Tyler hostage.

"I was terrified for his wife," Florin said.

Most of Florin's past conversations with Shenkman were about arson charges he faces for a March 2007 fire which destroyed the Niantic beach house he lost in his divorce. The call Tuesday came while police were trying to negotiate his ex-wife's release.

"This would be the ultimate success: I get my 12 demands and Nancy walks out of here. The cops challenge me, they try to shoot me, then 6-8 cops lose their life, plus I die," said Shenkman to Florin.

Shenkman wanted police manuals and a priest to administer last rights to his ex-wife in case police stormed in and killed them both. But he was the one who threatened her life when Florin asked about posting something online.

"He told me, in fact, that he had her handcuffed. Do I think he would have hurt her? I certainly thought so when I was talking to him on the phone yesterday," Florin said.

She was surprised when Shenkman let Tyler talk to her.

"I don't want either of us to be hurt," said Tyler to Shenkman. "I want both of us to come through this and move on."

In all, Florin received four calls from Shenkman.

In one phone call Shenkman said to Florin, "I don't want to take innocent people's lives." Florin then responded, "Then why do you have your wife there; ex wife?"

Shenkman responded to Florin's question, "Because she had her head on my shoulder and I waited three years for that, and it was worth it; on my last day it was worth it to me."

"I stayed [at work] until I had heard she was out of the house," Florin said. "And I was never so relieved as to hear she was out of the house. I was so happy."

Shenkman survived despite the fact police say he set his house on fire and remained inside. Florin said she is relieved Nancy Tyler, police and neighbors are all safe.