Man pleads guilty to killing girlfriend

A Staten Island man pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter today in the April 2008 death of his girlfriend, who was strangled and buried in a shallow grave in Wharton State Forest.

State police found the body of 19-year-old Jessica Tush, also of Staten Island, on April 3, 2008, according to the Burlington County prosecutor's office. An autopsy determined she died of asphyxia due to strangulation and injuries to her neck.

Thomas Paolino, 20, will be sentenced to 23 1/2 years in state prison and must serve 20 without the possibility of parole. He also pleaded guilty to hindering apprehension, which carries a five-year sentence, which he will serve concurrently.

Paolino will be formally sentenced on Sept. 18.