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Long Island Man Charged In Wife's 2010 Murder Ordered Held Without Bail

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Long Island man charged with murdering his wife nearly six years ago was ordered held without bail as his indictment was unsealed Monday.

As CBS2's Jennifer McLogan reported, prosecutors allege Joseph Jones, 33, beat and strangled his wife, Nicole Tessa in December 2010, following a quarrel over stolen oxycodone pills. He then buried Tessa's body in the woods near their Patchogue home, prosecutors alleged.

Led handcuffed into criminal court in Riverhead, Jones appeared incredulous that after more than five years, he was being charged with strangling his wife.

"I think anyone who sits around for five years thinks they get away with murder," said Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney Robert Biancavilla.

But it was the first time prosecutors revealed an alleged motive for Tessa's murder.

"In the one-year period 2010, Miss Tessa had been prescribed nearly 5,000 oxycodone pills," Biancavilla said. "The argument was over the fact that he had stolen the pills from her and was selling them."

Prosecutors claimed witnesses heard a heated argument on the driveway, and watched as Tessa walked toward the woods -- followed by her husband. She was never again seen alive.

"She was strangled and beaten, and buried in a shallow grave at the hands of Mr. Jones," Biancavilla said.

But defense attorney George Duncan thought the charges were absurd.

"If they had that kind of evidence, they let somebody accused of murder walk around all these years when they could have put him in jail on felonies?" Duncan said. "It's outrageous and ridiculous."

But the Tessa family could barely contain their emotions.

"As he spoke and time went on, things just didn't add up," said Jennifer Travis, Tessa's sister. "And he's a pathological liar, and all his lies came out."

CBS2 spoke to Jones on Dec. 21, 2010, when he first reported his wife missing. At the time, he was posting fliers across Suffolk County.

McLogan: "What do you think happened to your wife?"

Jones: "I don't know; I don't have a clue."

McLogan: "Police were here with dogs searching your property."

Jones:</strong: "Yes, they were."

McLogan: "That must make you upset."

Jones: "Yes, a little upset…. Please hon -- I love you. I miss you. Just come home."

But soon afterward, detectives found Tessa's body in a nearby shallow grave. Since then, Jones got a job managing properties and moved in with another woman and her children.

"He's an amazing man -- that is all I am going to say," said Jones' girlfriend, Melinda Oblatore. "He's an amazing man. You guys have it all wrong."

Jones pleaded not guilty and was ordered held without bail Monday.

"I hope he's brought to justice, because I've known all along that there was a problem and he was the one," said Nicole Tessa's father, Jack Tessa. "I want justice and I can put all this behind me and get some closure in my life."

The Tessa family is now raising their daughter and Jones' now 8-year-old son.

"It was his wife, I don't understand how someone can do that to someone they love," Jack Tessa added.

The prosecution said they have multiple witnesses to support evidence against Jones, WCBS 880's Mike Xirinachs reported.

Prosecutors have not yet named Tessa's doctor who prescribed the thousands of pain pills.

Jones is charged with second-degree murder.

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