Family Member Disputes Jonas' Allegation He Was Abused by Wife

Albert Jonas' allegations that he was physically and verbally abused by his wife, thus provoking him to shoot her and his stepdaughter, are "absurd," Tina Falbo said Friday.

Falbo, in comments posted on Plainfield Patch, disputed the explanation Jonas gave to police to justify his shooting of wife Linda Jonas, 62, and Samantha Falbo, 25, in their Plainfield home Tuesday. Falbo is Linda Jonas' daughter and Samantha Falbo's sister.

“Neither the reporters, neighbors nor readers of this or any article have firsthand knowledge of what took place behind closed doors,” Falbo wrote.

“I do [know], and I will not justify a response to the allegations of abuse because they are absurd. … You are reading and remarking on statements made by a man currently sitting in jail for attempted murder who doesn’t even know his home address."

Falbo also disputes some comments made in court by a Will County prosecutor, among them that her sister is paralyzed on her right side. That is not true, she said, although she did not disclose her sister’s current condition or the extent of her injuries.

Albert Jonas, 75, was arrested Tuesday and charged with one count of attempted first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated battery with a firearm. Police say he shot Linda Jonas in the chest and leg and Samantha Falbo in the head.

During the course of a bond hearing earlier this week, Will County Assistant State’s Attorney Joel Brown said Jonas told police he shot his wife because she had beaten him and threatened to kill him. He said he had no memory of shooting Samantha Falbo and had no intention of hurting her, Brown said.

Tina Falbo posted her comments in response to a Patch article published on the court hearing and readers' speculation on the case.

"Respect my family’s privacy at this difficult time and reserve your judgment until the facts have been presented,” she wrote.

Among the points Falbo wanted to correct were that Linda and Albert Jonas were married for 12 years, not 14 or 15 as stated in court, and that Samantha Falbo lived with the couple since they moved into the house in 2005, not one year, as a neighbor said.

Falbo said she was most upset that it was reported that her sister was paralyzed on one side of her body. On behalf of the Falbo family, Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora issued a statement Friday refuting "media reports regarding [Samantha Falbo's] condition as false and inaccurate.”

Tina Falbo declined further comment when reached by phone today but did say her mother had been released from Provena St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet. Police had described her injuries previously as not life-threatening.

In her Patch comments, Falbo said her family “will make a statement when I determine the time is appropriate.”

Albert Jonas remains in the Will County jail because he’s been unable to pay $100,000 bail to be released.

He has confessed to shooting his wife and told police he was motivated by his wife’s alleged verbal and physical abuse. Just prior to the shooting, he told police, his wife allegedly told him to “go kill himself,” Brown told the judge during the bond hearing.

Jonas, however, also told police he did not know his home address, something he repeated in court Wednesday.

Jonas’ next court appearance is Aug. 3.