In April 2018, within the sleepy Florida Gulf Coast city of Eastpoint, it appeared a killer had struck.

“I acquired a name {that a} physique was situated .. off of Freeway 98,” Lt. Ronnie Jones, from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Workplace, advised “48 Hours” correspondent Peter Van Sant.

Badly crushed and with no identification, the girl grew to become a Jane Doe. Her killer’s id was additionally a thriller.

“What you are concerned about then is, are they unfastened in our group?” stated Jones. “What kind of particular person am I coping with or people?”

Lower than 24 hours later, Jones acquired a name about one other crime scene on the close by Sportsman’s Lodge Motel.

As investigators labored to see if the 2 had been linked, they discovered that the girl’s unconventional relationship held the solutions. 

For Franklin County assistant prosecutor, Jarred Patterson, the sleepy, Gulf Coast city of Apalachicola and surrounding countryside are among the many final remnants of a bygone period.

Jarred Patterson: Apalachicola, Florida is an excellent small place … It is definitely nonetheless harkens again to a time earlier than there was condos on each inch of the seaside and earlier than there have been high-rises. … We’re referred to right here, the counties alongside this space of the coast, because the Forgotten Coast.

However when a pair heading to a close-by fishing pond found Aileen Seiden’s battered physique on April 23, 2018, Patterson questioned what had introduced a killer to Florida’s Forgotten Coast?

Jarred Patterson: The horror that it actually was … It completely shocked individuals.

Ronnie Jones: It regarded like … somebody was in a rush. Whoever it was dumped the body and took off.

Lead investigator Lt. Ronnie Jones, then with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Workplace, says documenting Aileen’s unsettling dump website was the primary of two ominous occasions over the subsequent 24 hours. He was quickly dispatched to the second crime scene on the Sportsman’s Lodge Motel and a bloody spectacle inside room 15.

Peter Van Sant (contained in the motel room): So, what’s it like so that you can be again in right here?

Ronnie Jones: Uh, brings again some fairly dangerous reminiscences.

Jones’ reminiscences reside in stark distinction to the tree shaded grounds of the in any other case peaceable motel.

THE HORROR INSIDE ROOM 15

Ronnie Jones: As quickly as I got here in, I seen the mattress. I imply, it is — you could not miss it. … I imply, this entire space was lined and had blood stains on it.

Peter Van Sant: And if you noticed that form of blood loss, what did that let you know?

Ronnie Jones: I simply put two and two collectively and I robotically put that again to the, um, physique that was discovered the day earlier than.

Peter Van Sant: You probably did that shortly, like (snaps fingers) that?

Ronnie Jones: Needed to have. … It wasn’t simply any person minimize theirself and bled a bit bit on the mattress. I imply the quantity of blood that was on this mattress tells me that whoever was right here was in all probability deceased.

Jones recalled there was a scent of vinegar within the room.

Peter Van Sant: And what did that let you know?

Ronnie Jones: That somebody tried to wash the crime scene.

A luminol take a look at for traces of human blood revealed what an apparently hasty clear up could not conceal.

Ronnie Jones: The entire complete lavatory lit up.

Peter Van Sant: So, that was the scene of maybe a few of her most vicious assaults — was inside that rest room.

Ronnie Jones: Sure.

And Jones says the bathe curtain rod was a potential weapon.

Ronnie Jones: On the rod was situated a palm print and likewise, uh, blood.

Peter Van Sant: And that is important proof, proper?

Ronnie Jones: That is proper.

Testing would quickly verify that it was Aileen’s blood within the motel room. Now got here the gut-wrenching obligation to inform Aileen’s sister, Franceasca Seiden.

Franceasca Seiden: He stated my sister was murdered. … I do not know, like, what do you do? You search for help. That is all I may do. …I did not perceive why, like, it was given to me, once more, wish to deal with one other loss.

Whereas rising up in Miami, then-16-year-old Franceasca and 9-year-old Aileen confronted their first tragedy when their beloved mom, Murtha, handed away from most cancers.

Peter Van Sant: How did the 2 of you take care of this?

Franceasca Seiden: We did not speak about it. … as a result of it was so quick.

Six years later, their father Frank—a profitable furnishings producer who Franceasca says shared a particular bond with Aileen —all of a sudden died from a coronary heart assault. It left Aileen, then 14, an orphan, and 22-year-old Franceasca with a call to make.

Franceasca Seiden: I signed the papers, and I grew to become her authorized guardian.

Peter Van Sant: And what did that imply? What had been your tasks?

Franceasca Seiden: I grew to become a dad or mum. … I needed to take her to high school. I needed to choose her up from college. … I needed to end my very own college. I used to be working. … I did not have time to grieve. And I do not assume that she did both.

Seven years later, Franceasca moved to Los Angeles on her personal. That is when she says Aileen, by then in her 20s, started grieving their mother and father.

Franceasca Seiden: She began to assume quite a bit. … She grew to become extra delicate.

Allie: One thing like shedding her mother and father … has … long-lasting results all through your life. And it is apparent that it did.

Aileen’s greatest pal, not wanting her title related to this case, has requested “48 Hours” to confer with her as “Allie.” She remembers a powerful and decided Aileen making it on her personal in Miami.

Allie: She labored as a property supervisor … She lived in an excellent condo, , she paid her personal lease, she made her payments. She was very unbiased.

Franceasca noticed that independence firsthand when Aileen made an prolonged go to to L.A. in 2016.

Peter Van Sant: Trying again, do you want she had stayed with you?

Franceasca Seiden: 100% %. … As a result of no matter occurred when she went again to Miami is when she reconnected with Zach.

Zach was Zachary Abell, who Aileen had identified since they had been youngsters.

Allie: I am unsure if he had one of the best status in highschool. … At first, she wasn’t actually positive about him.

However years later, she and Abell began relationship.

Allie: I feel at first Aileen discovered Zach enjoyable, however I feel it modified fairly shortly.

Investigators in Franklin County would quickly study all about Zach Abell. They found that Zach, Aileen and one other girl named Christina Araujo had all been seen within the Apalachicola space. Detectives additionally discovered the three shared a room on the Sportsman’s Lodge Motel: room 15.

Jarred Patterson: We wanted to know what occurred inside that resort room outdoors of three individuals entered and two got here out carrying a physique.

AN UNCONVENTIONAL PROPOSAL

Off the coast of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Captain Mike Picavet units sail on his 50-foot boat.

Mike Picavet (on his boat): It is form of bizarre, uh, making an attempt to recollect any good instances. There simply weren’t. There was all the time some situation.

Again in 2018, Picavet would play a central position in Aileen Seiden’s homicide investigation. He knew Aileen and her boyfriend Zach Abell nicely.

Mike Picavet: Zach is simply, um, very entertaining. … He is very extroverted.

Picavet had met Abell by likelihood at a bar about seven years earlier.

Mike Picavet: He got here as much as me at Duffy’s and stated, “Hey, I like your shirt.” And I am like, “OK …”

Mike Picavet: After which, uh, Christina got here up.

Christina Araujo — Abell’s girlfriend on the time. The 2 had been relationship for about 4 years. Picavet says Araujo instantly began boasting about her highly effective father.

Mike Picavet: Proper outta the gate, she stated, “Oh, yeah, my dad’s a significant with the Palm Seashore County Sheriff’s Division, and if we ever get into any hassle with the legislation, he can maintain it.” And I used to be like, “What?” Who says that?

Regardless of their odd first assembly, Picavet says he started hanging out with the couple. What adopted had been years of untamed nights, wild events, and plenty of heavy consuming.

Mike Picavet: That was their go-to factor: “OK, we have gotta do photographs of this, photographs of this.”

However Picavet says there was an attention-grabbing energy dynamic within the couple’s relationship with Araujo, who’s eight years older than Abell, calling the photographs.

Mike Picavet: She was very controlling and really directing. … He would observe her lead with stuff.

Someday in 2016, Abell stopped by Picavet’s boat — however not with Araujo. As a substitute, Abell launched Picavet to Aileen Seiden. Picavet may inform Abell now had two girls in his life.

Mike Picavet: It was the weirdest factor. … In case your relationship’s not working, simply finish it and transfer on.

Nonetheless, Picavet says that Abell could not make a clear break from Araujo, who was additionally his enterprise companion.

Mike Picavet: He tried so many instances. He simply did not know methods to … after which additionally, uh, all of the threats on a regular basis that she may make him disappear. … Each time she bought drunk, she’d say some bizarre issues.

Aileen’s greatest pal, Allie, says Abell and Aileen started to secretly date.

Allie: She appeared to like him a lot that she was nonetheless hoping that he would, , determine to be together with her. … He would lead her on to assume, he was making an attempt to finish it with Christina.

In 2017, Aileen unexpectedly misplaced her job as a property supervisor.

Allie: She was actually beginning to lose management of her personal life.

Allie says which will clarify why Aileen finally began working at Abell and Araujo’s used automotive dealership.

Allie: It wasn’t the unbiased life that she had all the time lived.

Allie says Aileen continued to stress Abell to interrupt up with Araujo for good. However when Abell lastly tried to finish issues with Araujo, she countered with an unconventional proposal.

Allie: It was not the reply that anybody anticipated. … Christina got here again and stated, “Nicely, why do not we try to all be in a relationship then?” … It now grew to become this chance for this “throuple”, three-way form of relationship.

A throuple is a romantic relationship amongst three individuals. Allie says Aileen was in opposition to the concept.

Allie: Aileen stated, “Completely not. There isn’t any means. It is by no means going to work.” And there was form of crickets for just a few weeks.

However Allie says Aileen later modified her thoughts. The trio was now a throuple.

Allie: I used to be in shock actually. … But in addition a bit bit pleased for them that perhaps this might work.

However it did not work. Earlier than lengthy, there was hassle.

Allie: This entire dynamic began to alter the place considered one of them all the time gave the impression to be the odd man out or was jealous. … And at that time it simply began to spiral uncontrolled.

In accordance with Picavet, issues escalated, resulting in irrational habits and fights fueled by alcohol. He says Aileen and Araujo traded punches usually — normally leading to black eyes — on one or each of the ladies; that they’d generally conceal behind massive sun shades.

Mike Picavet: It was an on a regular basis factor — each second day factor, I may say.

Allie remembers issues in another way. She says Abell was the primary aggressor within the relationship.

Allie: Aileen would name me … and would say, “You need to come over right here, like he harm me once more.” And I would rush over there and {photograph} her and beg her to go to the police.

However Allie says Aileen refused, fearing Araujo’s legislation enforcement connections would work in opposition to her.

Aileen’s sister Franceasca was livid when she discovered of the abuse.

Franceasca Seiden: I wished my sister out of the state of affairs … I wished her out.

Peter Van Sant: It is exhausting to go away.

Franceasca Seiden: It is exhausting to go away. … And … I had this sense that Christina was extra … violent of the 2.

Allie: It was actually tough to see her going via a time like this. It was simply so exhausting. … And she or he was scared to loss of life.

As soon as, Allie says the abuse bought so dangerous, she took Aileen to the emergency room.

Allie: I took her to the hospital as a result of … they should report issues. However she would not say the place the bruises got here from.

Aileen’s greatest pal needed to ship a tough reality.

Allie: “Aileen, you must break up with this man. Somebody’s gonna find yourself useless.”

“I THINK THEY’RE GONNA KILL ME”

Allie: When Aileen was in actual hassle, it was exhausting to get anybody to return rescue her.

The trail that led to Aileen Seiden’s homicide might have begun weeks earlier. In 2018, Allie was shocked that regardless of the bodily violence of their relationship, Aileen had determined to maneuver in with Zach Abell and Christina Araujo. The throuple was now working collectively, sleeping collectively, and residing collectively.

Allie: Aileen was trapped within the relationship as a result of she was trapped financially. … However she felt that that was one final likelihood to make it work. … It was like a one month or two-month trial.

However inside just a few weeks, Allie says Aileen had had sufficient.

Allie: Aileen … was going to maneuver out. … She was actually finished with the connection.

However Aileen’s plans to go away had been halted on April 7, 2018, after Abell and Araujo had gotten right into a violent combat. Allie says she bought a name from Aileen on Abell’s cellphone.

Allie: She was going to go away and get Zach out of the home. However wish to go to a espresso store. … The subsequent name I bought was from Christina. … She was indignant and livid.

Allie says Araujo threatened to report the automotive Aileen and Abell had been driving in as stolen in an obvious try to hold them from leaving her behind. Allie instantly warned Aileen and Abell.

Allie: As a substitute of coming round and coming again, like I believed they’d, they hit the fuel and went to Georgia. … I stated, “What are you doing, Aileen? You do not have your cellphone. You do not have a pockets. That is loopy.” … She stated, “We’re occurring a street journey. … It is a good factor.”

However the street journey wasn’t a superb factor to Christina Araujo. She started harassing Abell and Aileen, sending a storm of indignant texts: “U 2 deserve one another.” Araujo despatched greater than 150 texts in roughly 24 hours. All went unanswered, together with this one: “My dad will likely be calling u.” Later, Araujo issued this risk: “you f***** me over and now I am f****** u over“

Allie: I used to be simply making an attempt to inform her, “Christina …why do not you are concerned about … your personal life?”

About 48 hours into the street journey, Abell and Aileen had been heading to Texas and Araujo appeared to have a change of coronary heart, texting: “… if you wish to come again dwelling come again. You by no means should query my love …”

For causes which can be unknown, as a substitute of coming dwelling, Abell invited Araujo to hitch them, and she or he flew to Dallas.

However with the throuple united, the outdated issues returned.

Allie: Aileen began to name me from Zach’s cellphone at evening saying, , “That is getting dangerous. And I do not know what to do.” … It wasn’t till Christina arrived, that that began to occur. … I used to be actually nervous somebody would get harm.

By day 10 of the street journey, Aileen’s older sister, Franceasca was additionally nervous. She hadn’t heard from Aileen shortly. When the trio stopped in New Orleans, Aileen lastly referred to as Franceasca and shared an alarming suspicion.

Franceasca Seiden: She’s like … “I feel they’re gonna kill me.” No joke. … So I used to be like, “Aileen, run to the closest fuel station.” … “Go inform the particular person —”

Peter Van Sant: Name 911.

Franceasca Seiden: Yeah! … “Run to love —”  I stated “run, get the — get out of there.” … “Go!” …She’s like, “I am unable to.”

Franceasca, determined to assist, tried to get extra particulars from Aileen.

Franceasca Seiden: If I had the place the handle was, I might’ve referred to as the police then and there, however she needed to go, she needed to get off and she or he hung up. … I used to be extraordinarily annoyed however I — and I used to be scared.

With no means to assist her sister, Franceasca hoped Aileen would keep protected.

The street journey continued into its second week. The trio then headed to Panama Metropolis, Florida, however a missed exit led them to the Forgotten Coast.

David Adlerstein: The street journey is obscure; partying at some point and murdering the subsequent.

David Adlerstein is a reporter for The Apalachicola Occasions, one of many oldest newspapers in Florida.

David Adlerstein: I have been masking the Aileen Seiden case because the week it occurred.

On the night of April 21, the trio — captured on surveillance footage — stumbled into the quiet peace of Franklin County.

David Adlerstein: They went to a preferred restaurant, the Purple Pirate, performed miniature golf, partied.

On the advice of an area, the throuple headed to the close by Sportsman’s Lodge Motel. They reserved the final emptiness of the evening: Room 15. The subsequent morning, on April 22, 2018, the throuple made a plan.

David Adlerstein: They determined they’d spend one other day there, not get again on the street, and make it a — a celebration. In order that they bought up within the morning and went to the liquor retailer.

Right here they’re in a screenshot from the shop’s surveillance footage. Whereas there, the trio bought massive bottles of vodka and Fireball whiskey.

David Adlerstein: After I went to analyze … their path that day and went to the liquor retailer … the clerk, she identified that the Fireball that they purchased was the biggest bottle you may purchase, and that is simply the three of them.

The throuple then returned to the Sportsman’s Lodge Motel.

Allie: I do not assume Aileen was having enjoyable. I feel she was simply making an attempt to perhaps get by and keep alive.

Allie says she spoke to Aileen that day.

Allie: Aileen stated … “I want to go away him. I am telling you. I am like a intercourse slave. He has this actually scary look in his eye. It’s extremely scary. It is totally different.” …  And she or he stated, “I want your assist.”

Allie says the 2 associates had crafted an escape plan: Aileen would get on a bus from Tampa — the trio’s subsequent vacation spot.

Allie: I purchased her a Greyhound ticket as a result of she did not have a pockets.

The bus would drop Aileen off close to Miami and Allie would take her dwelling. Aileen simply wanted to get on that bus, and she or he’d be protected.

Allie: After which, , I by no means heard again. I by no means heard something after that …      

The subsequent evening, a whole lot of miles away in Fort Lauderdale, Mike Picavet was dwelling and alone. There was a knock on the door. It was Christina Araujo and Zach Abell.

Mike Picavet: I used to be like, “OK, the place’s Aileen?” And immediately, Christina says, “Oh, she ran away.” … And I stated, “Bulls***.” I stated, “The place is she?” And Zach immediately … began to choke up, and he stated, “She’s useless.”

The information was surprising sufficient, however Picavet says as soon as Araujo was out of earshot, Abell advised him what occurred.

Mike Picavet: He stated that Christina killed her. He awoke. … She was useless subsequent to him. And, uh, he tried to provide her CPR, then, uh, wished to name 911. Christina stated “No” and advised him, “You possibly can’t name 911.” … For some cause, he saved on saying he needed to defend Christina. …And I am like, “What do you gotta defend her for?”

Picavet says he wished to guard each of his associates. He feared a violent consequence if he referred to as 911.

Mike Picavet: I did not need them to get killed … I simply wished to be sure that … they had been introduced in in a protected, uh, means. … The one factor that I may take into consideration … is to go discuss to her father.

Christina’s father, Colonel Tony Araujo. The one, Picavet says, Christina had all the time bragged may make her issues go away. When Abell and Christina fell asleep on the couch, Picavet took a photograph of Abell and Araujo on his sofa, and says he went on-line to seek for Christina’s father — a person he had by no means met.

Mike Picavet: So, I used to be panicking, looking for his cellphone quantity.

When Picavet lastly bought ahold of Colonel Araujo, he did not instantly reveal the lethal information.

Mike Picavet: I stated, “I gotta discuss to you. It is about Christina. It is essential.”

Picavet says Araujo’s father directed Mike to satisfy him at an odd place: a fuel station.

Mike Picavet: So I went up there … I stated, “Christina killed any person.” And he says, “You recognize I am a cop, proper?” And I am like, “Sure, sir. I do.” … He immediately stated, “Wait proper there.”

Picavet says Araujo’s father then introduced him to the sheriff’s workplace to make a proper assertion.

Mike Picavet: He did what was the precise factor to do. … He … bought two different individuals to ask me all of the questions.

Later that day, Picavet was proven a photograph, and he was the one to establish the battered physique of Aileen Seiden. With that affirmation, police descended on Picavet’s dwelling as Abell and Araujo had been about to go away. They had been arrested and introduced again to Franklin County. The pair was later charged with first-degree homicide. It might take nearly six years earlier than they’d face a jury — and by then, solely considered one of them would stand trial.

WHAT HAPPENED INSIDE ROOM 15?

For nearly six years, Franceasca Seiden lived in agonizing limbo as her sister Aileen’s case — difficult by having two defendants — confronted delay after irritating delay.

Franceasca Seiden: (crying) You are therapeutic, you are doing the issues that you’ll want to heal and then you definately’re stopped. … And now you are gonna prepare for this massive second. … after which it stops once more.

Lastly, in January 2024, on the Franklin County Courthouse in Apalachicola, Florida, Zach Abell was about to face trial. He had pleaded not responsible to first-degree homicide and would stand earlier than the jury alone. Eight months earlier, Christina Araujo took a plea deal for a lesser cost of second-degree homicide.

Peter Van Sant: So, she admitted participating on this?

Jarred Patterson: Sure. … she implicated herself … within the precise beating of Aileen.

After learning a mountain of proof, prosecutor Jarred Patterson believes Abell was extra accountable in Aileen’s homicide. And the state is counting on the jury believing Araujo’s model of what occurred inside room 15.

Jarred Patterson: The one one who has advised us something about what occurred in that room is Christina Araujo.

David Adlerstein: As soon as Christina made her plea deal, she would turn out to be the prosecution’s star witness.

Print reporter David Adlerstein, digital camera in hand, was there as Christina Araujo transported the courtroom again to the night of April 22, 2018. Araujo testified that she, Zach Abell and Aileen had been enjoyable within the room on the Sportsman’s Lodge Motel after a day of heavy consuming.

JARRED PATTERSON (in courtroom): When Zach drinks, does he act in another way?

CHRISTINA ARAUJO (in courtroom): Sure … He turns into very aggressive, very imply.

Abell grew to become violently enraged, says Araujo, when Aileen posed a seemingly harmless query.

CHRISTINA ARAUJO (in courtroom): She stated, “Christina, guess what?”

Peter Van Sant: And she or he appears to be like over at Christina and says, hey “Christina, guess what …” How would that sentence be completed?

Jarred Patterson: I don’t know ‘trigger she by no means bought to complete it.

CHRISTINA ARAUJO (in courtroom): Zachary bought up instantly and went over to her, and was in her face, hitting her. … He is simply yelling at her, telling her, “You all the time begin issues.” (crying)

Araujo admits to additionally hitting Aileen as she demanded to know what she was about to say. She by no means bought a solution.

CHRISTINA ARAUJO (in courtroom): And I bought so annoyed, I simply went and bought — I left the room.

After stepping outdoors room 15 for a couple of minutes, Araujo claims she returned to seek out Abell and Aileen within the lavatory.

CHRISTINA ARAUJO (in courtroom): After I opened the door, he had one thing white in his hand, like if he was poking at her.

Jarred Patterson: The medical expert was capable of establish small round bruising to the physique of Aileen that … might be in line with a bathe curtain rod.

Just like the bathe curtain rod investigators recovered that had palm print impressions in Aileen’s blood.

Peter Van Sant: Whose palm was it?

Jarred Patterson: The palm print belonged to Zach Abell.

The assault continued close to the beds says Araujo, the place she says Abell reached for his wood strolling stick.

CHRISTINA ARAUJO (in courtroom): He hits her a number of instances with it. … When he hit her within the — the again although, the stick broke.

Jarred Patterson: We had really discovered items of that wood workers within the resort room … we did not notice the importance of it till we discovered the opposite piece within the automobile that contained our sufferer’s DNA.

Araujo says she watched in terror as Abell started utilizing that stick with sexually assault Aileen.

David Adlerstein: Christina’s description of the crime was … horrifying to take heed to. … Aileen clearly suffered a horrible loss of life.

Adlerstein remembers the medical expert saying Aileen’s accidents reminded him of these he had seen in motorcar crashes.

David Adlerstein: As a reporter, I strive very exhausting to not be emotional. I distinctly bear in mind … preventing again tears.

Araujo claims she finally put herself between Abell and Aileen, and the assault lastly stopped. Aileen was badly crushed however nonetheless alive, she says. And the exhausted trio simply fell sleep.

CHRISTINA ARAUJO (in courtroom): I did not assume she was gonna die from it.

Araujo claims it wasn’t till she awoke the subsequent morning that she realized Aileen was useless. She says she solely participated within the coverup out of worry of what Abell would possibly do to her.

David Adlerstein: She appeared to me genuinely remorseful … Others had totally different opinions.

Peter Van Sant: Who’s Christina Araujo in your guide?

Alex Morris: Manipulative, crafty, a chameleon. … I feel that there is evil in her.

Alex Morris is Zach Abell’s legal professional. He says Christina Araujo acted alone.

Alex Morris: I imagine that she is the assassin.

Morris says, it was Christina Araujo who beat Aileen, and that picture taken by Mike Picavet at his dwelling after the homicide exhibits she had accidents to her palms and toes.

Peter Van Sant: Which tells you, Christina will need to have been the attacker.

Alex Morris: That is proper.

Araujo was the one with homicidal intent, says Morris, triggered when Abell and Aileen took off together with her within the rearview mirror. And he says these threatening texts that she despatched to Abell’s cellphone earlier than becoming a member of them on the street journey learn like a confession.

Alex Morris: There are threats of bodily hurt to each Aileen and Zach within the messages.

Peter Van Sant (studying Araujo’s textual content): “You come close to me hoe, I’ll kill you.”

Alex Morris: I feel it speaks for itself. And that is precisely what occurred.

After Aileen’s homicide, Morris says Araujo wiped down the motel room—utilizing the vinegar that Ronnie Jones would later scent. He says Abell’s palm prints on the curtain rod bought there when he moved it throughout the cleanup.

Alex Morris: He was instructed to choose the curtain rod up over there and put it over there.

Peter Van Sant: By?

Alex Morris: Christina.

A toll sales space surveillance picture from after the homicide exhibits that Christina Araujo, and never Zach Abell, was the one driving the automotive. And due to this fact, Morris says, she was the one in management.

Alex Morris: The proof signifies Christina to be … the one giving the instructions … and had all the pieces to have the ability to manipulate the state of affairs.

Manipulating Zach Abell, says Morris, due to these threats she had been making for years about her father’s affect in fixing her issues.

Alex Morris: Backside line is Zach was terrified of Christina’s father.

Abell selected to not testify. When Morris made his ultimate arguments to the jury, he concluded the proof confirmed there was just one one that wished Aileen Seiden useless.

ALEX MORRIS (in courtroom): They have not confirmed any motive as to why Mr. Abell could be keen on murdering Ms. Seiden, however I am going to let you know the place motive lies and it is clear as day, and that is with Ms. Araujo.

Alex Morris: The motive being: I need rid of the one who’s taken my man.

Peter Van Sant: So jealousy?

Alex Morris: Sure.

In his closing, Patterson stated Christina Araujo already accepted her position on this crime. He requested the jury to carry Zach Abell accountable for his half by discovering him responsible of homicide.

JARRED PATTERSON (in courtroom): They lived collectively. …They labored collectively. They personal a enterprise collectively. … They went to the Sportsman’s Lodge collectively. … They emptied out the room collectively. … They ran away collectively. …  They bought arrested collectively. The one factor they did not do collectively was kill Aileen Seiden? No means.

However who would the jury imagine?

A QUESTION UNANSWERED

Ronnie Jones: She wasn’t born right here. … And she or he did not reside right here. However she was left right here. And she or he’ll all the time be remembered by Franklin County.

Residents of Florida’s Forgotten Coast will now lengthy bear in mind Aileen Seiden, says Ronnie Jones. Nearly six years after her loss of life, the group waited for justice for the stranger they now had come to embrace as considered one of their very own.

Peter Van Sant: What was going via your thoughts because the jury begins its deliberation?

Ronnie Jones: Make it fast.

David Adlerstein: I used to be advised by the jury foreman that after they first went in … there was 10 in favor of first-degree premeditated homicide with two holdouts.

After about 5 hours of deliberations, the jury reached a consensus.

JUDGE ALLMAN (in courtroom): Within the case of the State of Florida vs. Zachary Ray Abell … the defendant is responsible of the lesser included offense of second-degree homicide.

Second-degree homicide similar to Christina Araujo. Adlerstein says the jury foreman advised him they simply could not determine if Abell had really meant to kill Aileen.

David Adlerstein: They knew that, uh, Christina had pled responsible to second, and I feel they finally stated … we will give him the identical.

Mike Picavet: It would not inform me that they are equally accountable.

Mike Picavet says even with the decision, he’s satisfied his pal performed no half in Aileen’s loss of life.

Mike Picavet: To me, there’s an harmless man sitting in jail.

Ronnie Jones: I feel they’re each simply as responsible as the opposite.

Now retired from legislation enforcement, Ronnie Jones spends his days tending his bar in Apalachicola. He says he is nonetheless left questioning what actually occurred inside room 15.

Peter Van Sant: Is that this case a thriller to you?

Ronnie Jones: It is not a thriller on precisely what occurred, however precisely why it occurred … That’s what nonetheless bothers me to at the present time. Why?

Like what Aileen may need been about to say that sparked the assault.

Ronnie Jones: It was my understanding within the rumors … that she was fixing to reveal the truth that she was pregnant.

Peter Van Sant: Pregnant. And was she pregnant? Did you study that on the post-mortem?

Ronnie Jones: I used to be on the post-mortem, and she or he was not pregnant. … I do not know if she thought she was or not.

When it was time for sentencing, Abell lastly spoke and advised the courtroom one other twist on this tortured story.

ZACH ABELL (at sentencing): I had stopped, and I had grabbed a Ring Pop. And I proposed to her with a Ring Pop and requested her to marry me. And she or he stated, “Sure.” … And me and Aileen had been gonna go our means and go away Christina out of it.

Peter Van Sant: Zach spoke at his sentencing and stated that he’d really proposed to Aileen throughout this journey.

Franceasca Seiden: Uh, I feel that’s simply … BS. … Uh, it is an excellent story, however no.

JUDGE ALLMAN (at sentencing): I’ve been within the justice system in a single type or one other, for 40 years, hardly ever have I seen the kind of accidents … that I noticed on Aileen Seiden.

The decide advised Abell he wished he may impose a harsher punishment earlier than sentencing him to the utmost: life in jail.

Jarred Patterson: Within the state of Florida, life means life, we do not have parole.

At her sentencing, Araujo’s father Colonel Tony Araujo set the file straight. He stated he by no means used his affect to learn his daughter, and he recalled the dialog he had together with her after the homicide.

COL. TONY ARAUJO (at sentencing): “You’ll come clean with the reality. You’ll settle for accountability. You can be the voice of the sufferer, and you’ll testify underneath oath in a courtroom of legislation. … After which no matter is sentenced to you, that is high-quality.”

Jarred Patterson: There was no settlement together with her as to the size of sentence … She gave her assertion with the information that she may nonetheless obtain life in jail.

CHRISTINA ARAUJO (at sentencing): I take into consideration that day every single day of my life. … The small print hang-out me, and the reminiscences hold me up.

The decide acknowledged her cooperation, and sentenced Araujo to 25 years.

Ronnie Jones: Justice has been served. He will not beat up anymore females; neither will she.

Allie: I feel that each girl form of thinks, “I would depart if I used to be in that state of affairs. I might simply rise up and go away. I might by no means tolerate that.”

Aileen’s greatest pal Allie hopes there will likely be extra compassion for these trapped in abusive relationships.

Allie: It is all the time that, “I am sorry. It is by no means going to occur once more.” …  and also you imagine it, since you’re in love and issues are good 95% of the time. However the 5% which can be dangerous are so dangerous.

Peter Van Sant: Along with your sister gone, how would you like her to be remembered?

Franceasca Seiden: I need her to be remembered as a candy, loving human being whom … sadly had … misplaced her mother and father at such a younger age, however she was nonetheless so candy. Like she was such a sweetheart. Her soul was so form.

Christina Araujo is scheduled to be launched in 2043. She will likely be 63 years outdated. 

Should you or somebody is a sufferer of home violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233

Produced by Lauren A. White and Richard Fetzer. Marlon Disla and Phil Tangel are the editors. Ryan Smith and Tamara Weitzman are the event producers. Chelsea Narvaez is the affiliate producer and Cameron Rubner is the published affiliate. Anthony Batson is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the manager story editor. Judy Tygard is the manager producer.

Peter Van Sant

Peter Van Sant is an award-winning correspondent for “48 Hours, the place his true-crime and justice reporting is featured throughout a number of CBS Information broadcasts and platforms. Throughout a profession that spans practically 5 many years, Van Sant has lined lots of the most vital occasions of our lifetime.Moreover, Van Sant hosts the top-ranking podcast “Blood is Thicker.”