Norwich — Police arrested a Norwich man for fatally shooting his wife with a shotgun Monday night in a condominium at the Forest View Estates.

James F. Hodgdon Jr., 56, of 6 Forestview Drive, was charged in the murder of his 58-year-old wife, Dianna Hodgdon.

He was arraigned Tuesday afternoon in Superior Court in Norwich, where Judge Susan B. Handy ordered him held in lieu of $1 million and transferred the case to the New London court, where major crimes are heard.

According to a police report, James Hodgdon admitted to shooting his wife in their garage as they wrestled for control of a loaded shotgun after arguing all day.

He told police that he had contemplated suicide and had called his supervisor at the Millstone Nuclear Power Station, where he worked as a security guard, and said that if he didn't show up at work, there were letters in his locker to be sent out.

He also posted a "goodbye" on his Facebook page, according to the report.

Police said at 8:09 p.m. Hodgdon called 911 and said he had just shot his wife.

Officers went to 6 Forestview Drive, where they found the victim with a gunshot wound to the upper torso. She was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:35 p.m. after an emergency medical technician relayed her condition to a physician at The William W. Backus Hospital. 

At the scene, Hodgdon said his wife had intentionally pulled over his motorcycle, causing it to fall on its side in an attempt to damage it, according to the police report.

He said he was holding the shotgun and it went off accidentally as the couple wrestled for its control.

Later, at police headquarters, Hodgdon said he had planned to commit suicide. He said his wife had come into the garage and belittled him by calling him names.

He said he put the shotgun down against the wall and went into another room to get an overnight bag and leave.

He said he heard his wife slamming the shotgun on the ground and went into the garage and told her to stop because the gun was loaded.

He said he grabbed the shotgun and Dianna Hodgdon pulled it from the barrel end with both hands. He said he pulled the gun back, put his finger on the trigger and pulled it.

"Hodgdon stated he pulled the trigger because of the stress and panic Dianna caused him," the report says.

Dianna Hodgdon's Facebook page didn't show any signs of marital trouble. On Aug. 23. she thanked her husband for supporting her goals as an enrolled student at Three Rivers Community College.

On Aug. 3, she posted a scenic view from Hammonasset Beach State Park, where James had proposed to her.

"Enjoyed a BEAUTIFUL day at one of our very special places," part of the post said.

Hodgdon worked as a receptionist at Antenna Salon in Norwich and as a training specialist for disabled people for Community Enterprises.

She is featured on Community Enterprises' website, with a student who graduated from one of their programs. Community Enterprises helps those with disabilities live independently.  

A woman who picked up the phone at Community Enterprises was upset when she learned of Dianna's passing and said the director was not available to comment.

In addition to his job as Millstone, Hodgdon is owner of Hodgdon Scale Models, a Norwich-based business that creates structure kits for railroad model enthusiasts.

Hodgdon's death is the city's second homicide this year. On June 15, 25-year-old Casey Chadwick was stabbed to death in her Spaulding Street apartment allegedly by Jean Jacques, an acquaintance.

Chadwick's death was the city's first homicide since May 2013, when 13-month-old Madison Alexa Reid was killed by her mother's boyfriend, Michael Rios.

State and local police remained at the scene for 12 hours. They could be seen taking photos of the condo's open garage.

They also brought evidence in brown paper bags into a state police Major Crime Squad truck.

An official from the State Chief Medical Examiner's Office arrived at 6:50 a.m.

Ten minutes later, the official, along with an another investigator in a white jumpsuit, loaded Dianna Hodgdon's body into the back of a van and left the area.

Police at the scene declined to comment.

A neighbor said she heard a loud bang Monday night but at first thought it was backfire from an exhaust pipe.

Later, the neighbor said she learned from police that a man had shot his wife.

"All I heard was a single shot," said the neighbor, who did not want to be identified.

She said the couple rented the condo and were friendly, and that she never heard any arguments.

Another neighbor, who also did not want to be indentified, said he saw James Hodgdon sitting in front of his garage waiting for police. He said the man was silent and did not show any emotion.

"I saw police put handcuffs on him," the neighbor said. "... All I heard was a single shot. It's just terrible."

The neighborhood is extremely quiet, said the first neighbor, and added it was "shocking" to learn that someone had been killed.

Hodgdon wore a white plastic jumpsuit during his court appearance and clearly stated his name when asked by the judge.

A bail commissioner said Hodgdon had worked as a security guard at Millstone for 26 years. He is a New Hampshire native and the father of an adult son.

He has no prior criminal record. His next court appearance is on Sept. 28 in New London.

i.larraneta@theday.com

Twitter: @larraneta 

k.florin@thedaycom

Twitter: @KFLORIN

Editor's Note: This story has been edited to reflect that Dianna Hodgdon was pronounced dead at the crime scene after an EMT relayed her condition to a physician at The William W. Backus Hospital.