Dover man indicted in the strangulation deaths of wife, father

Jeramie Colella (Dover Police photo)

CONCORD - The Dover man arrested in the fatal strangulation of his wife and father in August has been indicted on first- and second-degree murder counts in connection with the case, N.H.'s Attorney General said in a statement today..

Jeramie Colella, 44, was formally charged with first-degree murder, knowing second-degree murder, and two counts of reckless second-degree murder in connection with the death of his wife, Joanna Colella, and his father, Francis "Frank" Colella.

The bodies of Joanna and Francis Colella were discovered at 18 Tideview Drive in Dover on August 21. Jeramie Colella was arrested later that day.

He has been indicted for the first-degree murder of Francis for purposely causing his death by strangling him and for the second-degree murder of Joanna for knowingly causing her death by strangling her. Additional alternative counts of second-degree murder charge Jeramie Colella with recklessly causing Francis and Joanna Colella's deaths under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to the value of human life by strangling each of them.

Jeramie Colella will be arraigned on the charges in the Strafford County Superior Court on Jan. 28

The charges and allegations set forth in the indictments are merely accusations, and Jeramie Colella is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.