Who the (Bleep) Did I Marry? on ID explores the attempted murder case against Christopher Chanowitz. The all-new episode “The Hangman” will air on the network this Monday, January 15, 2024, at 9 p.m. ET. A synopsis reads, “Special Ed schoolteacher and devout Catholic Tracy Wygant is sticking out her abusive marriage to Chris Chanowitz through thick and thin until his surprise gift almost ends her life.”
According to Casetext, in September 1998, Christopher Chanowitz attempted to murder his wife Tracy Chanowitz, a mother-of-one. Christopher reportedly blindfolded Tracy and took her to the garage where he was planning to execute his plot, which then fell through. Once the wife got a hint of the happenings, Christopher confessed that he intended to “take her out.” He also admitted that he intended to commit suicide after taking her out.
Christopher faced charges including second-degree attempted murder, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and more. The case eventually resulted in his conviction and a 15-year prison sentence.
What did Christopher Chanowitz do to his wife Tracy Chanowitz & where is he now?
On September 13, 1998, Christopher Chanowitz told his wife Tracy Chanowitz that he had a surprise for her in the garage of their house. He then blindfolded Tracy and escorted her to the garage but maintained that the surprise was not ready yet.
Casetext stated that without Tracy’s knowledge, Christopher had put together a pulley for the roof and tied a rope with a noose. There, he tried to lower the noose over his wife’s head, who then removed the blindfold. Upon removing the blindfold, she saw Christopher wearing gloves and holding the other end of the rope.
The outlet mentioned that Tracy noticed the garage windows were blocked with plywood and confronted Christopher. The latter then told her how he intended to “take her out” because he had “bad things to tell her.” Christopher laid out the entire plan, claiming that afterward, he planned “to take himself out also.”
Following this, Christopher told Tracy that his affair with another woman named Kathy motivated his actions. He claimed that the affair had been going on for six years and that they had a daughter named Megan together. Chris also said that he wanted to pursue his life with Kathy, Megan, and the married couple’s daughter Taylor, as a family.
After learning the troublesome news, Tracy returned to their house and called her sister, Kelly Longinott, who then called the police. At the scene, the mother-of-one told authorities about the happenings. Once questioned by the police, Christopher told them that he “tried to commit a double suicide.” He said he wanted to kill his wife using the rope and then shoot himself with a gun. The police arrested him after he admitted to the crime.
The following February, a grand jury indicted Christopher Chanowitz on multiple charges for attempting to kill Tracy Chanowitz. These were second-degree attempted murder, second-degree menacing, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
Casetext reported that on March 14, 2000, a jury found Christopher guilty in his wife’s 1998 attempted murder case. The conviction was based on charges of second-degree attempted murder, second-degree menacing, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Then, on April 20, the court sentenced him to prison. He received 15 years for attempted murder and concurrent one-year terms for the remaining counts.
According to the New York Department of Corrections, Christopher Chanowitz was released from prison on July 20, 2011, on parole.
