Unconventional relationship holds answers to Florida woman’s violent murder

This story initially aired on Oct. 19, 2024. It was up to date on July 12, 2025.

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

“I obtained a name {that a} physique was positioned .. 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 lady turned a Jane Doe. Her killer’s identification was additionally a thriller.

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

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

As investigators labored to see if the 2 have been related, they realized that the lady’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 seashore 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 puzzled 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 following 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 unhealthy recollections.

Jones’ recollections 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 inform you?

Ronnie Jones: I simply put two and two collectively and I mechanically 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 little bit bit on the mattress. I imply the quantity of blood that was on this mattress tells me that whoever was right here was most likely deceased.

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

Peter Van Sant: And what did that inform you?

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 disguise.

Ronnie Jones: The entire whole toilet 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 positioned a palm print and in addition, uh, blood.

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

Ronnie Jones: That is proper.

Testing would quickly affirm that it was Aileen’s blood within the motel room. Now got here the gut-wrenching responsibility 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 might 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 cope with this?

Franceasca Seiden: We did not discuss 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 the 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 turned her authorized guardian.

Peter Van Sant: And what did that imply? What have been your obligations?

Franceasca Seiden: I turned a mum or dad. … I needed to take her to highschool. I needed to decide 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 suppose 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 dad and mom.

Franceasca Seiden: She began to suppose rather a lot. … She turned extra delicate.

Allie: One thing like dropping her dad and mom … 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 seek advice from her as “Allie.” She remembers a robust and decided Aileen making it on her personal in Miami.

Allie: She labored as a property supervisor … She lived in a terrific condo, you understand, she paid her personal hire, 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 would like 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 recognized since they have been youngsters.

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

However years later, she and Abell began relationship.

Allie: I believe to start with Aileen discovered Zach enjoyable, however I believe it modified fairly shortly.

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

Jarred Patterson: We would have liked to know what occurred inside that lodge 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, attempting to recollect any good occasions. There simply weren’t. There was at all times some subject.

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 serious 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 have been years of untamed nights, wild events, and many 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.

At some point in 2016, Abell stopped by Picavet’s boat — however not with Araujo. As a substitute, Abell launched Picavet to Aileen Seiden. Picavet might 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 associate.

Mike Picavet: He tried so many occasions. He simply did not know tips on how to … after which additionally, uh, all of the threats on a regular basis that she might 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, you understand, determine to be along with her. … He would lead her on to suppose, he was attempting 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 that 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 at all times 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, “Effectively, why do not we try to all be in a relationship then?” … It now turned this chance for this “throuple”, three-way form of relationship.

A throuple is a romantic relationship amongst three individuals. Allie says Aileen was towards the thought.

Allie: Aileen stated, “Completely not. There is not any approach. It is by no means going to work.” And there was form of crickets for a number of 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 little bit bit completely happy for them that possibly this might work.

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

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

In keeping with Picavet, issues escalated, resulting in irrational conduct 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 disguise behind large sun shades.

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

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

Allie: Aileen would name me … and would say, “It’s important to come over right here, like he harm me once more.” And I might 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 towards her.

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

Franceasca Seiden: I needed my sister out of the scenario … I needed her out.

Peter Van Sant: It is arduous to go away.

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

Allie: It was actually troublesome to see her going by a time like this. It was simply so arduous. … And he or she was scared to dying.

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

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

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

Allie: “Aileen, it’s a must to break up with this man. Somebody’s gonna find yourself lifeless.”

“I THINK THEY’RE GONNA KILL ME”

Allie: When Aileen was in actual hassle, it was arduous to get anybody to come back rescue her.

The trail that led to Aileen Seiden’s homicide could have begun weeks earlier. In 2018, Allie was stunned 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 a number of weeks, Allie says Aileen had had sufficient.

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

However Aileen’s plans to go away have been halted on April 7, 2018, after Abell and Araujo had gotten right into a violent struggle. 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 following name I bought was from Christina. … She was offended and livid.

Allie says Araujo threatened to report the automotive Aileen and Abell have been driving in as stolen in an obvious try to preserve 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 might, 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 happening a street journey. … It is a good factor.”

However the street journey wasn’t an excellent factor to Christina Araujo. She started harassing Abell and Aileen, sending a storm of offended 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 might be calling u.” Later, Araujo issued this menace: “you f***** me over and now I am f****** u over“

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

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

For causes which might be unknown, as a substitute of coming house, Abell invited Araujo to hitch them, and he or she 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, you understand, “That is getting unhealthy. And I do not know what to do.” … It wasn’t till Christina arrived, that that began to occur. … I used to be actually apprehensive somebody would get harm.

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

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

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 can not.”

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

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

With no approach 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 in the future and murdering the following.

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 for the reason that 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 well-liked restaurant, the Purple Pirate, performed miniature golf, partied.

On the advice of a neighborhood, the throuple headed to the close by Sportsman’s Lodge Motel. They reserved the final emptiness of the evening: Room 15. The following 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: Once 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 could possibly purchase, and that is simply the three of them.

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

Allie: I do not suppose Aileen was having enjoyable. I believe she was simply attempting to possibly get by and keep alive.

Allie says she spoke to Aileen that day.

Allie: Aileen stated … “I would like 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 totally scary. It is completely different.” …  And he or she stated, “I would like your assist.”

Allie says the 2 mates 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 house. Aileen simply wanted to get on that bus, and he or she’d be protected.

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

The following evening, tons of of miles away in Fort Lauderdale, Mike Picavet was house 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 lifeless.”

The information was stunning 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 awakened. … She was lifeless subsequent to him. And, uh, he tried to provide her CPR, then, uh, needed to name 911. Christina stated “No” and advised him, “You possibly can’t name 911.” … For some motive, he stored on saying he needed to shield Christina. …And I am like, “What do you gotta shield her for?”

Picavet says he needed to guard each of his mates. He feared a violent final result if he known as 911.

Mike Picavet: I did not need them to get killed … I simply needed to be sure that … they have been introduced in in a protected, uh, approach. … The one factor that I might take into consideration … is to go speak to her father.

Christina’s father, Colonel Tony Araujo. The one, Picavet says, Christina had at all times bragged might 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 speak to you. It is about Christina. It is crucial.”

Picavet says Araujo’s father directed Mike to fulfill 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 realize 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 proper 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 determine the battered physique of Aileen Seiden. With that affirmation, police descended on Picavet’s house as Abell and Araujo have been about to go away. They have been arrested and introduced again to Franklin County. The pair was later charged with first-degree homicide. It could take virtually six years earlier than they might face a jury — and by then, solely certainly 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 — sophisticated by having two defendants — confronted delay after irritating delay.

Franceasca Seiden: (crying) You are therapeutic, you are doing the issues that you must heal and then you definitely’re stopped. … And now you are gonna prepare for this large 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 finding out 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, digicam 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 have been stress-free within the room on the Sportsman’s Lodge Motel after a day of heavy consuming.

JARRED PATTERSON (in court docket): When Zach drinks, does he act in a different way?

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

Abell turned violently enraged, says Araujo, when Aileen posed a seemingly harmless query.

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

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

Jarred Patterson: I do not know ‘trigger she by no means bought to complete it.

CHRISTINA ARAUJO (in court docket): 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 at all times 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 court docket): 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 search out Abell and Aileen within the toilet.

CHRISTINA ARAUJO (in court docket): Once 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 determine small round bruising to the physique of Aileen that … might be in keeping 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 court docket): He hits her a number of occasions with it. … When he hit her within the — the again although, the stick broke.

Jarred Patterson: We had really discovered items of that wood employees within the lodge 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 dying.

Adlerstein recollects the medical expert saying Aileen’s accidents reminded him of these he had seen in motorized vehicle crashes.

David Adlerstein: As a reporter, I strive very arduous to not be emotional. I distinctly keep in mind … combating 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 court docket): I did not suppose she was gonna die from it.

Araujo claims it wasn’t till she awakened the following morning that she realized Aileen was lifeless. She says she solely participated within the coverup out of concern of what Abell would possibly do to her.

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

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

Alex Morris: Manipulative, crafty, a chameleon. … I believe 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 photograph taken by Mike Picavet at his house after the homicide reveals she had accidents to her arms and ft.

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 along 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 believe 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 in the course of the cleanup.

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

Peter Van Sant: By?

Alex Morris: Christina.

A toll sales space surveillance photograph from after the homicide reveals 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 every part to have the ability to manipulate the scenario.

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 frightened of Christina’s father.

Abell selected to not testify. When Morris made his last arguments to the jury, he concluded the proof confirmed there was just one one who needed Aileen Seiden lifeless.

ALEX MORRIS (in court docket): They have not confirmed any motive as to why Mr. Abell can be inquisitive about murdering Ms. Seiden, however I am going to inform you the place motive lies and it is clear as day, and that is with Ms. Araujo.

Alex Morris: The motive being: I would like rid of the one that’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 court docket): 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 approach.

However who would the jury imagine?

A QUESTION UNANSWERED

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

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

Peter Van Sant: What was going by 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 court docket): 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 believe 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 dying.

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

Ronnie Jones: I believe 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 isn’t a thriller on precisely what occurred, however precisely why it occurred … That’s what nonetheless bothers me to today. 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 he or she 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 he or she stated, “Sure.” … And me and Aileen have been gonna go our approach 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 believe that’s simply … BS. … Uh, it is a terrific 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 might 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 profit his daughter, and he recalled the dialog he had along with her after the homicide.

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

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

CHRISTINA ARAUJO (at sentencing): I take into consideration that day daily of my life. … The small print hang-out me, and the recollections preserve 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 believe that each lady form of thinks, “I would depart if I used to be in that scenario. I’d simply stand up and go away. I’d by no means tolerate that.”

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

Allie: It is at all times 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 might be unhealthy are so unhealthy.

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

Franceasca Seiden: I would like her to be remembered as a candy, loving human being whom … sadly had … misplaced her dad and mom at such a younger age, however she was nonetheless so candy. Like she was such a sweetheart. Her soul was so type.

In January 2025, “Allie” handed away. She was 42.

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

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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 printed affiliate. Anthony Batson is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the chief story editor. Judy Tygard is the chief producer.