MARGARETVILLE-One state trooper was shot to death Wednesday morning and another one wounded in Delaware County as police surrounded a house near Arkville, searching for a suspect involved in the shooting of a third trooper which occurred Tuesday during a traffic stop.

In a stunning development Wednesday night, the house erupted in flames and was destroyed. Officials recovered a charred body in the remains but it could not be immediately determined if it was the man they were seeking.

Preston Felton, acting superintendent of the New York State Police, said the body was slumped in a doorway holding a rifle.

The hunt for Travis Trim, 23, of St. Lawrence County, started after Trooper Matthew Gombosi was shot in the torso Tuesday during a traffic stop in the Margaretville area. Gombosi was saved from serious injury by his body armor, treated and released from the hospital.

Gomboski, based with Troop C in Sidney, had approached a stolen van being driven by Trim about 2:45 p.m. Tuesday in Margaretville near the Sunoco Country Store at 515 Main St. Trim had reportedly been looking at a map and appeared to be lost.

Trim of North Lawrence had been driving a minivan reported stolen by a SUNY Canton student in St. Lawrence County over the weekend. The van was later found abandoned on a road in nearby Middletown.

Trooper David C. Brinkerhoff (left), 29, of Coxsackie, an eight and a half year veteran of the State Police and a member of the agency's elite Mobile Response Team, was shot in the head and killed during the manhunt for Trim. Another trooper, Richard Mattson (right) of Dutchess County was shot in the arm.

Mattson is in serious but stable condition at Albany Medical Center. As of Wednesday evening, he had undergone about six hours of surgery. Mattson's wife and father were at the hospital Wednesday night. He is the father of a two-year-old son.

Both Brinkerhoff and Mattson had been flown to the medical center by helicopter.

Brinkerhoff is the sixth trooper to die in the line of duty since March 2006.

Brinkerhoff was assigned to the Coxsackie Barracks in Troop F. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, and 7 month old daughter. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Authorities had received a burglar alarm shortly after 8 a.m. at a weekend home on Cemetery Road in the Town of Margaretville, and had responded to the scene. Dozens of troopers, sharpshooters and armored vehicles responded after it was learned that Trim had barricaded himself inside and was exchanging gunfire with police officials. The house is located just outside Catskill Park off Route 30.