Former Saugerties woman slain in murder-suicide, police say

Former Saugerties resident Christina Bach Arvidson died of a gunshot wound to the the head, the victim of a murder-suicide in this Schoharie County town, state police said Saturday.

Autopsies confirmed that Dustin McMahon, 24, fatally shot Arvidson, 31, at her Rossman Valley Road residence before turning the gun on himself. Police said McMahon shot himself in the head.

Authorities did not comment on a motive or discuss the relationship between McMahon and Arvidson.

Arvidson and McMahon were found dead Tuesday and state police initially said both deaths were considered suspicious. Police said Arvidson and McMahon died Monday night.

Arvidson was a photographer whose professional web page included photographs of weddings, couples and children.

Born in Kingston, the daughter of Sharon and Daniel Bach, Arvidson was a 2005 graduate of Saugerties High School who received an associate’s degree from SUNY Cobleskill and a bachelor’s degree from Empire State College.

“She cherished her children and all their activities and was the most amazing aunt,” her obituary said.

Besides her parents, she is survived by her husband, William; three children, Annie Grace, Logan, and Talon Arvidson; her maternal grandmother, Barbara Nilsen; paternal grandparents, Serena and Sam Rosenfeld, Rosemary Bach, and Mary Lou Nilsen; and her siblings, Jesse, Tara, and Niki Bach.

Her funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Seamon-Wilsey Funeral Home Inc., corner of John and Lafayette streets, Saugerties. Friends will be received Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.

The family suggested donations in her memory be made to the Arvidson Children’s Fund, c/o Sawyer Savings Bank, 87 Market St., Saugerties, N.Y. 12477.

Expressions of condolence may be shared on Christina’s Tribute Wall at SeamonWilseyFuneralHome.com.