The Staten Island man suspected of killing his girlfriend and dumping her body in southern New Jersey was shipped off to the Garden State yesterday to face possible murder charges.
Thomas Paolino, 19, was extradited after a brief Staten Island court appearance, where prosecutors charged him with unlawfully disposing of Jessica Tush’s body in a shallow grave in the Pine Barrens last week.
“We’re anxious to get him back to New Jersey so we can argue the charges,” said Paolino’s defense attorney, Joseph Sorrentino.
Paolino showed little emotion as the charges against him were read, but relatives wept.
Meanwhile, Tush’s mother again lashed out at her 19-year-old daughter’s killer, but said she won’t blame Paolino until murder charges are filed.
“Whoever did it needs to be punished for what they did to my child,” said Dina Tush.
She said Paolino and her daughter broke up on March 29, in a heated argument at the mall where she worked.
Police sources said yesterday that Paolino has a history of violent crimes – though the records have been sealed.
The sources added that Paolino lied to cops about when he last saw Tush..