A New Jersey doctor accused of hiring a hit man to kill his wife isn't fighting for his freedom.
Dr. James Kauffman kept his eyes closed through most of Thursday morning's detention hearing in Atlantic County. Kauffman didn't contest remaining behind bars on murder-for-hire charges.
Superior Court Judge Bernard DeLury ruled there is strong likelihood Kauffman would engage in obstruction or witness tampering if he were freed before trial.
The judge allowed two co-defendants charged with lesser offenses to go free. Tabitha Chapman and Joseph Mullholland were freed pending trial, subject to conditions including that they not contact witnesses or relatives of the victim in the case.
The detention hearings for Kauffman and his accused associates took place a day after prosecutors released new details about the drug overdose death of the man they say was hired to kill radio host April Kauffman.
Prosecutors announced Wednesday that Francis Mullholland was found dead on Oct. 8, 2013, at his home in the Villas section of Lower Township in Cape May County. Responding officers found him on the living room floor along with a syringe and a blue wax fold marked "PitBull" that tested positive for heroin.
Mullholland died just over a year after April Kauffman was killed at the Linwood home she shared with her husband, James Kauffman.
Prosecutors claim the physician had his wife killed to protect an illegal prescription drug ring he was running with the Pagans biker gang.
James Kauffman was charged earlier this month with her murder. He has long maintained his innocence.
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He is due back in court next month.
