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

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

“What you are worried about then is, are they free in our group?” stated Jones. “What sort 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 related, they realized 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 actually 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 folks.

Ronnie Jones: It appeared 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 reminiscences.

Jones’ reminiscences dwell 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 complete space was lined and had blood stains on it.

Peter Van Sant: And whenever you noticed that form of blood loss, what did that inform you?

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 lower theirself and bled somewhat 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 odor of vinegar within the room.

Peter Van Sant: And what did that inform you?

Ronnie Jones: That somebody tried to scrub 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 complete 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 verify 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 assist. That is all I may do. …I did not perceive why, like, it was given to me, once more, prefer 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 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 a sudden died from a coronary heart assault. It left Aileen, then 14, an orphan, and 22-year-old Franceasca with a choice to make.

Franceasca Seiden: I signed the papers, and I turned her authorized guardian.

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

Franceasca Seiden: I turned a dad or mum. … I needed to take her to high school. 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 so much. … She turned extra delicate.

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

Aileen’s finest pal, not wanting her identify 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 an excellent condo, you recognize, she paid her personal hire, she made her payments. She was very impartial.

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% p.c. … 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 undecided if he had the most effective popularity in highschool. … At first, she wasn’t actually positive about him.

However years later, she and Abell began relationship.

Allie: I believe at first 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 girl 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 resort room exterior of three folks 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 instances. There simply weren’t. There was all the time some problem.

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

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

Picavet had met Abell by probability 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 Seaside County Sheriff’s Division, and if we ever get into any hassle with the legislation, he can handle 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 pictures of this, pictures of this.”

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

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 an alternative, 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 accomplice.

Mike Picavet: He tried so many instances. He simply did not know how one can … 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 finest 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 recognize, 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 which will clarify why Aileen finally began working at Abell and Araujo’s used automobile dealership.

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

Allie says Aileen continued to strain 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, “Properly, why do not we attempt 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 folks. Allie says Aileen was towards the thought.

Allie: Aileen stated, “Completely not. There is no approach. 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 additionally somewhat bit joyful for them that possibly this might work.

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

Allie: This complete dynamic began to vary the place one among them all the time appeared 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 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 typically disguise 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 a different way. She says Abell was the principle aggressor within the relationship.

Allie: Aileen would name me … and would say, “You must 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 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 exhausting to depart.

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

Allie: It was actually tough to see her going by way of 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 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 finest pal needed to ship a tough reality.

Allie: “Aileen, it’s a must to 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 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 probability 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 completed with the connection.

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

Allie: She was going to depart and get Zach out of the home. However prefer 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 automobile Aileen and Abell had been driving in as stolen in an obvious try and maintain them from leaving her behind. Allie instantly warned Aileen and Abell.

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

However the highway journey wasn’t an excellent 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 shall 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 worried about … your individual life?”

About 48 hours into the highway 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 must query my love …”

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

However with the throuple united, the previous issues returned.

Allie: Aileen began to name me from Zach’s telephone at evening saying, you recognize, “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 fearful somebody would get harm.

By day 10 of the highway journey, Aileen’s older sister, Franceasca was additionally fearful. 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 believe they’re gonna kill me.” No joke. … So I used to be like, “Aileen, run to the closest gasoline 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 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 pissed off however I — and I used to be scared.

With no approach to assist her sister, Franceasca hoped Aileen would keep secure.

The highway 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 highway journey is obscure; partying sooner or later and murdering the following.

David Adlerstein is a reporter for The Apalachicola Instances, 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 Pink Pirate, performed miniature golf, partied.

On the suggestion 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 highway, 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 giant 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 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 want to depart 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 she or he stated, “I want your assist.”

Allie says the 2 pals 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 secure.

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

The subsequent evening, lots of 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 straight away, Christina says, “Oh, she ran away.” … And I stated, “Bulls***.” I stated, “The place is she?” And Zach straight away … began to choke up, and he stated, “She’s useless.”

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

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

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

Mike Picavet: I did not need them to get killed … I simply needed to ensure that … they had been introduced in in a secure, uh, approach. … The one factor that I may take into consideration … is to go speak 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 telephone 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 essential.”

Picavet says Araujo’s father directed Mike to fulfill him at an odd place: a gasoline 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 straight away 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 suitable factor to do. … He … bought two different folks 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 dwelling as Abell and Araujo had been about to depart. They had 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’d face a jury — and by then, solely one among 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 should 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 collaborating 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 instructed us something about what occurred in that room is Christina Araujo.

David Adlerstein: As soon as Christina made her plea deal, she would change into 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 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 she or he seems 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 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 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 court docket): And I bought so pissed off, I simply went and bought — I left the room.

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

CHRISTINA ARAUJO (in court docket): 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 in a position to 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 picket strolling stick.

CHRISTINA ARAUJO (in court docket): 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 truly discovered items of that picket 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 court docket): I did not suppose she was gonna die from it.

Araujo claims it wasn’t till she wakened the following morning that she realized Aileen was useless. She says she solely participated within the coverup out of concern of what Abell may 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 e book?

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

Alex Morris is Zach Abell’s lawyer. 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 reveals she had accidents to her palms and toes.

Peter Van Sant: Which tells you, Christina should 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 telephone earlier than becoming a member of them on the highway 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 odor. He says Abell’s palm prints on the curtain rod bought there when he moved it through 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 reveals that Christina Araujo, and never Zach Abell, was the one driving the automobile. And subsequently, 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 things 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 scared of Christina’s father.

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

ALEX MORRIS (in court docket): They have not confirmed any motive as to why Mr. Abell could be fascinated by 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 need 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 function 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 she or he did not dwell 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. Virtually six years after her loss of life, the group waited for justice for the stranger they now had come to embrace as one among their very own.

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

Ronnie Jones: Make it fast.

David Adlerstein: I used to be instructed 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 identical to Christina Araujo. Adlerstein says the jury foreman instructed him they only could not determine if Abell had truly supposed to kill Aileen.

David Adlerstein: They knew that, uh, Christina had pled responsible to second, and I believe they finally stated … we’ll 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 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 is not a thriller on precisely what occurred, however precisely why it occurred … That’s what nonetheless bothers me to this present day. 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 instructed 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 approach and depart Christina out of it.

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

Franceasca Seiden: Uh, I believe 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, not often have I seen the type of accidents … that I noticed on Aileen Seiden.

The choose instructed 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 document straight. He stated he by no means used his affect to learn 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 accountability. You may be the voice of the sufferer, and you’ll testify beneath 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 data that she may nonetheless obtain life in jail.

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

The choose 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 girl form of thinks, “I would go away if I used to be in that scenario. I might simply stand up and depart. I might by no means tolerate that.”

Aileen’s finest pal Allie hopes there shall 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 are unhealthy are so unhealthy.

Peter Van Sant: Together 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 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.

For those who or somebody you recognize 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.