PENFIELD, N.Y. -- Paul Tucci, the boyfriend of a woman whose estranged husband was found dead in a Yates County field, is now charged with tampering of evidence in connection with the case.
Tucci was arraigned Tuesday in Penfield Town Court and taken into custody. He's expected to post $50,000 bond at the county jail.
A surveillance photo released last week by the District Attorney's Office shows Laura Rideout and Tucci entering the Hudson Avenue Walmart.
According to court papers, Tucci paid cash for a tarp, bungee cords, three bottles of heavy drain cleaner and a Diet Coke the night before Craig Rideout's body was discovered in a wooded area in Yates County.
Yates County deputies say Craig Rideout's body was found in a tarp secured by bungee cords and his face disfigured by a coercive acid. An open bottle of Diet Coke with a woman's DNA was found in the basement of Craig Rideout's Penfield townhome.
"In the felony complaint, it does make reference to a purchase that was made, the purchase of bungee cords and tarps and sulfuric acid in the form of drain cleaner, so we really can't comment on the evidence but some of that's laid out in the felony complaint,” said prosecutor Tim Prosperi.
Laura Rideout has been given a court order to submit a saliva DNA sample. Laura is charged with burglary and tampering with evidence at Rideout's New Wickham Drive townhome. She's accused of going to Craig's home and concealing, altering or destroying blood evidence.
Court papers also reveal Craig Rideout's car remote was found in the master bedroom of Laura's home.
Two of Craig Rideout's sons, Alex and Colin, are accused of cleaning up blood and other physical evidence at the crime scene using solvents, gloves and acid-based drain cleaner.
So far, no one has been charged with the killing.