MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Chris Jones was found guilty of first degree murder for death of his wife two years ago.
Jones was found guilty of first-degree murder and immediately sentenced to life in prison.
Jones was also found guilty of abuse of a corpse, for which he will be sentenced in March.
“It’s been a long two years, but we finally got justice for her,” Joanna Young, friend of Heather Pulambo-Jones, said. “Finally him — after all the lies and everything he tried to pull over people. People finally saw through those lies and we finally got justice for Heather.”
After the jury reviewed autopsy and crime scene photos Friday, Jones chose not to testify in his defense.
Wednesday, the jury saw video of police interviewing Jones.
In the video, Jones described his wife, who at the time was still missing, as erratic and inconsistent.
He also said she wasn’t ‘favorable’ towards him and claimed she was having an affair with an ex-boyfriend.
In one videotaped interview with police, Jones said he and Heather had an open marriage for two years, and that’s what lead to their separation and divorce filing.
Witnesses described Jones as flat, emotionless, and unconcerned about Heather’s disappearance.
The trial began Wednesday, the day after the jury was chosen.
A judicial error forced everyone to start over Tuesday morning with a new jury pool.
Jones was involved, and vocal as his defense team questioned the potential jurors.
Heather’s body was found dumped in a wooded area near Fayette County in 2013.
The elementary school teacher’s cause of death was ruled asphyxiation, and her body was found wrapped in an air mattress.
In April 2013, Jones told WREG he had no idea of his wife’s whereabouts.
“When is the last time you talked to her?” then-reporter Adam Hammond asked.
“That would’ve been Monday evening,” Jone replied.
“And how did that go?” Hammond continued.
“It was an upsetting discussion, as many of our discussions as of late are,” Jones said.
Jones admitted to getting into an argument with Palumbo-Jones the night she disappeared but says he nothing to do with why no one can find her.
“I never would put my hands on her. I wanted nothing but reconciliation since the day this started,” he said.
Jones even showed News Channel 3 what he says is the last correspondence he had with his wife, an email that says, “I cannot face everyone with this. Please forgive me; it is too much. Please raise (the children) to remember me as their loving mommy.”
“It’s been a very long, long week. So it’s good to have a res. to the case, and I think that’s what the family was looking for,” Theresa McCusker, state prosecutor, said.
Chris Jones will be back in court in March for sentencing for abuse of corpse charge.
