ORCHARD PARK, New York: The founder of a Muslim television station in the United Stated has been charged with murder after allegedly decapitating his wife, the channel’s website and local media reported Tuesday.

Muzzammil Hassan, 44, was arrested Thursday after informing police that his wife’s body was located at the Bridges TV office outside Buffalo in Orchard Park, New York. Police arrived to find Aasiya Zubair Hassan, 37, had been decapitated, the Buffalo News reported.

Muzzammil, who founded Bridges TV in 2004 to counter images of Muslim violence and extremism, faces second-degree murder charges.

“Bridges TV is deeply shocked and saddened by the murder of Aasiya (Zubair) Hassan and subsequent arrest of Muzzammil Hassan,” the TV station said in a statement.

“Our deepest condolences and prayers go out to the families of the victim. We request that their right to privacy be respected.” Hassan founded the station with his wife but the two had reportedly become estranged and were seeking a divorce.

Authorities have not discussed the role religion or culture might have played, but the slaying gave rise to speculation that it was the sort of “honor killing” more common in countries half a world away, including the couple’s native Pakistan.

The Hassans lived in Orchard Park — a well-off Buffalo suburb that hadn’t seen a homicide since 1986 — and started Bridges TV there in 2004 with the message of developing understanding between North America and the Middle East and South Asia.

The network, available across the US and Canada, was believed to be the first English-language cable station aimed at the rapidly growing Muslim demographic.

Police chief Andrew Benz said his officers had responded to domestic incidents involving the couple, most recently Feb. 6, the day Hassan was served with the divorce papers and an order of protection.

“I’ve never heard him raise his voice,” said Paul Moskal, who became friendly with the couple while he was chief counsel for the FBI in Buffalo. Moskal would answer questions in forums aired on Bridges TV that were intended to improve understanding between Muslim-Americans and law enforcement.

“His personal life kind of betrayed what he tried to portray publicly,” Moskal said. On Feb. 12, Hassan went to a police station and told officers his wife was dead at the TV studio.

“We found her laying in the hallway the offices were off of,” Benz said. Aasiya Hassan’s head was near her body. “I don’t know if (the method of death) does mean anything,” said the chief, who would not discuss what weapon may have been used.

“We certainly want to investigate anything that has any kind of merit. It’s not a normal thing you would see.”

Hassan was not represented by an attorney at an initial appearance on a charge of second-degree murder. Neither police nor the Erie County district attorney’s office knew if he had hired a lawyer. The New York president of the National Organization for Women, Marcia Pappas, condemned prosecutors for referring to the death as an apparent case of domestic violence.

“This was, apparently, a terroristic version of ‘honor killing’,” a statement from NOW said.