Shocking new details about the mysterious murder of Miami heiress Aileen Seiden will be revealed in a new episode of ’48 Hours’ tonight.
Seiden, daughter of well-known Miami businessman Frank Seiden, died after succumbing to horrific injuries she suffered inside the Sportsman Lodge.
At that time, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office arrested her boyfriend, Zachary Abell, and their mutual girlfriend, Christina Araujo. The case has remained an enigma ever since. afflict
But tonight, in a new episode of CBS’ ’48 Hours’ investigation titled ‘Who Killed Aileen Seiden in Room 15?’, investigators will investigate the turbulent dynamic between the couple and the help of Seiden’s best friend. , ‘Allie’.
Franklin County Deputy Prosecutor Jarred Patterson and former Franklin County Sheriff’s Office investigator Ronnie Jones, who were involved in the case before retiring, gave chilling accounts of what the crime scene was like.
Shocking new details about the mysterious murder of Miami heiress Aileen Seiden will be revealed in a new show tonight.
Franklin County Deputy Prosecutor Jarred Patterson and former Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Ronnie Jones, who were involved in the case before retiring, gave chilling accounts of what the crime scene was like.
‘She had bruises… from head to toe, covering her entire body. She suffered… I’ve never seen anything like it,” Jones said.
‘I just put two and two together. It wasn’t just someone who cut himself and bled a little in bed. “I mean, the amount of blood… tells me that whoever was here probably already passed away,” he added.
“We needed to know what happened inside that hotel room, when three people came in and two came out carrying a body,” Patterson said.
Allie, who had known the victim for 25 years, also told viewers that a frightened Seiden often told her that Abell would physically abuse her and would sometimes get into physical altercations with Araujo.
‘This whole dynamic started to change when one of them always seemed to be the odd one out or was jealous. And at that moment it started to get out of control.
‘Aileen was calling me… and saying, “You have to come here, like I’m hurting again.”
‘She wouldn’t tolerate anyone bothering her normally. However, there was something different about this,” the friend says in the short trailer.
‘I just put two and two together. It wasn’t just someone who cut himself and bled a little in bed. “I mean, the amount of blood… tells me that whoever was here was probably already deceased,” Jones said.
Allie, who had known the victim for 25 years, also told viewers that a frightened Seiden often told her that Abell would physically abuse her and would sometimes get into physical altercations with Araujo.
He also claimed that the Seidens called and asked for help before embarking on the road trip that cost him his life.
But by the time he figured out how to get her away from Abell and Araujo, Seiden was dead.
“It’s the most savage beating I’ve ever seen in my 40 years in law enforcement,” said Franklin County Sheriff AJ “Tony” Smith. The Miami Herald at the time of the murder.
“He had broken ribs, broken limbs and a broken skull. Just horrible.’
Authorities said the suspects dumped Seiden’s body on the side of a road while driving back to his home in North Miami.
Police said Seiden may have still been alive.
“For all we know, she may have been alive when she was abandoned,” Smith told the Herald.
He also stated that Seiden called and asked for help before embarking on the road trip that cost him his life.
Seiden was the youngest daughter of Frank M. Seiden, a Miami businessman who sold furniture to high-profile beach hotels, cruise ships, and Disney resorts.
Araujo is the daughter of Col. Tony Araujo of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. She and Abell have a history of drug arrests. Colonel Araujo is a 36-year veteran of the force and the agency’s fourth highest-ranking official.
Police believe what happened at the motel between Araujo, Abell and Seiden could have been sex-related.
“It’s kind of a love triangle,” Smith told the Herald.
‘We believe the suspect may have been involved with both women. We know he abused both women in the past. He is a real thug, a bully.
Video taken by the sheriff’s office shows the moment Abell was transported to the Broward County Jail.
He was seen with handcuffs on his wrists and ankles and wearing a white shirt with black shorts.
Police believe what happened at the motel between Araujo, Abell and Seiden could have been sex-related.
Araujo, Abell and Seiden knew each other and all lived in the same apartment building. They also worked for Abell’s used car company and auto insurance business.
Both were charged with second-degree murder and tampering with evidence.
Abell was convicted in January and sentenced to life in prison. Araujo pleaded guilty in May 2023 and was later sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Araujo, Abell and Seiden lived in the same apartment building and worked for Abell’s used car company and auto insurance business.
The trio had just returned from Texas when they stopped at the motel where Seiden was murdered.
After beating Seiden to death and dumping his body, they fled to a friend’s house in South Florida.
Seiden Her older sister, Deborah Seiden, who worked as an investigator for the Miami-Dade County state’s attorney’s office, told the Herald she was “heartbroken.”
“I’m devastated,” Deborah said. ‘Especially the way he died. My sister didn’t deserve this.
The episode airs at 10/9c on CBS and on Paramount+.
