♪
>>> WE ALL LIVE TWO LIVES.
ONLY THE MOST INTIMATE PEOPLE
THAT WE KNOW REALLY KNOW WHO WE
ARE.
>> 911, DO YOU NEED POLICE OR
PARAMEDICS.
>> UH, PARAMEDICS.
>> IT BEGINS WITH A 911 CALL
FROM THE HOUSE.
>> IT WAS SUNDAY MORNING, YEAR
2016.
>> WHAT'S THE ADDRESS OF THE
EMERGENCY?
>> A NEW COMMUNITY.
IT'S KIND OF CONSIDERED A SLEEPY
LITTLE TOWN.
NICE PLACE TO WORK.
NICE PLACE TO LIVE.
>> AND WHAT'S HAPPENED?
>> WE HAVE A PATIENT HERE WHO'S
FALLEN OFF STAIRS AND I DON'T
HAVE A PULSE AND SHE'S COLD.
>> ERIC SCOTT SILLS IS A
FERTILITY DOCTOR.
>> PARTIALLY ON THE STAIRS.
>> SUSANN SILLS IS HER WIFE.
>> LOOKS LIKE HER SHOE HAS COME
OFF.
>> MOTHER OF TWINS, A BOY AND A
GIRL.
>> SO SHE'S NOT BREATHING?
>> NO, SHE'S NOT BREATHING.
>> SHE WAS THE ONE WHO WAS FOUND
THAT MORNING.
>> I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU
INSTRUCTIONS FOR CHEST
COMPRESSIONS, OKAY?
>> THEY HAD IT ON THE
SPEAKERPHONE, SO SCOTT AND MARY
KATE, THE DAUGHTER, WERE BOTH
HEARD ON THE 911 CALL.
>> WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO,
SIR?
I CAN'T SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
>> CPR.
>> I'M DOING THE CPR.
>> DR. SILLS WAS AN INFERTILITY
SPECIALIST.
>> KEEP GOING.
KEEP GOING.
>> I'M GOING TO DO IT THIS WAY.
>> THEY RAN THEIR CLINIC AS
PARTNERS.
>> SUSANN TOOK CARE OF ALL THE
BUSINESS SIDE OF THINGS.
>> CONTINUE THE COMPRESSIONS
UNTIL PARAMEDICS ARRIVE AND TAKE
OVER.
>> SHE'S MAKING NOISES OUT OF
HER MOUTH.
>> SHE WAS HIS NUMBER ONE
SUPPORTER IN EVERYTHING THAT HE
DID.
THEY REALLY LOOKED LIKE THEY HAD
IT ALL.
>> HOLD ON.
WE'RE DOING IT.
BABY, COME ON.
>> SHE WAS MAKING SOME KIND OF
NOISE JUST FROM THE
COMPRESSIONS, BUT I THINK SHE
WAS ALREADY DEAD.
>> WE GET NOTIFIED BY OUR
SERGEANT TO COME OUT TO A HOUSE
AND BEGIN A DEATH INVESTIGATION.
>> SO WHEN YOU WENT INSIDE, WHAT
STUCK OUT TO YOU?
>> WELL, AS SOON AS YOU GO INTO
THE FRONT DOOR, THE STAIRWELL IS
RIGHT OFF TO YOUR LEFT.
SUSANN WAS RIGHT THERE.
SHE HAD A BLANKET COVERING HER
BODY.
>> WE COULD SEE THE OTHER THINGS
LAYING AROUND THIS, STAINLESS
STEEL SOUP POT, A PURSE, AN
EMPTY MEDICATION BOTTLE.
>> AND THE SCARF WAS A LITTLE
FURTHER DOWN AWAY FROM HER.
>> THE DEPUTY CORONER DURING HER
PRELIMINARY BODY EXAM OF SUSANN,
THE INJURIES WEREN'T CONSISTENT
WITH SOMEBODY FALLING DOWN A
STAIRS.
>> HER NECK HAD A PRETTY
PRONOUNCED LIGATURE MARK.
>> THE QUESTION IS, HOW WAS SHE
STRANGLED?
>> WHEN SHE WAS FOUND, SCOTT --
>> THE SCARF WAS AROUND HER
NECK.
>> I THINK THE FIRST DAY THERE
WAS MENTION OF DOGS MAYBE
PULLIG ON A SCARF.
>> YOU'RE SO GOOD.
>> THEY HAD A COUPLE DOGS,
RESCUES.
MARY KATE SAY THE DOGS PULLING
ON THE SCARF.
>> WE DIDN'T GET THE IMPRESSION
IT WAS ANY KIND OF VIOLENT
PULLING.
>> DO YOU THINK THAT THE DOGS
COULD HAVE PULLED ON HER SCARF
HARD ENOUGH TO STRANGLE HER TO
DEATH?
>> COULD THEY DO IT?
YES.
>> WHEN YOU CAME TO THE HOUSE,
IT WAS A DEATH INVESTIGATION.
BY THE TIME YOU LEFT, WAS IT A
MURDER INVESTIGATION?
>> NO, IT WASN'T JUST AS CLEAR
CUT AS THAT.
♪
>>> DO YOU HAVE A SPIDY SENSE
WHEN YOU GO INTO THESE SCENES?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO THINK SO.
PROBABLY ALL OF US WOULD LIKE TO
THINK SO WE CAN FIGURE IT OUT AS
SOON AS WE WALK IN, SHERLOCK
HOLMES-STYLE.
>> Reporter: ON THAT SUNDAY
MORNING, NOVEMBER 2016, ORANGE
COUNTY SHERIFF'S HOMICIDE
DETECTIVES ERIC HATCH AND DAVE
HOLLOWAY HAD MORE QUESTIONS THAN
CLUES.
AT THAT POINT IN TIME, THAT
MORNING, NOVEMBER 13th, WAS
SCOTT SILLS A VICTIM OR A
SUSPECT?
>> TO US, HE WAS A VICTIM.
WE WERE GOING TO A HOUSE WHERE
TWO KIDS AND A HUSBAND JUST LOST
THEIR WIFE AND MOTHER.
>> Reporter: DR. SCOTT SILLS HAD
MADE THAT 911 CALL AND REPORTED
FINDING HIS WIFE AND BUSINESS
PARTNER, SUSANN, AT THE BOTTOM
OF THE STAIRS.
IS IT A STEEP STAIRWAY?
>> YEAH, IT'S PRETTY HIGH.
I BELIEVE IT WAS 13.5 FEET FROM
THE FLOOR TO THE TOP OF THE
STAIRS.
♪
>> Reporter: DID IT SEEM
PLAUSIBLE THAT A 45-YEAR-OLD
WOMAN IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE WOULD
HAVE FALLEN DOWN THE STAIRS TO
HER DEATH?
>> AT THE TIME, IT SOUNDED
BELIEVABLE.
>> SUSANN HAD INJURIES TO PRETTY
MUCH HER WHOLE BODY.
HER FACE WAS ALL BRUISED UP.
HER BACK WAS BRUISED UP.
BOTH ARMS AND LEGS HAD BRUISING
AND ABRASIONS.
>> Reporter: AND AROUND HER BODY
WAS THAT ODD COLLECTION OF
ITEMS.
>> THEY DEFINITELY STOOD OUT.
ESPECIALLY THAT STEEL POT.
IT ALMOST LOOKED LIKE IT WAS
PLACED THERE.
IT WASN'T UPSIDE DOWN OR LEANING
AGAINST ANYTHING.
>> WE HAD TO FIGURE OUT WHY
THOSE THINGS WERE THERE.
>> Reporter: THE DETECTIVES SAID
DR. SILLS DIDN'T SEEM NERVOUS
THAT THEY WERE IN HIS HOME
ASKING QUESTIONS.
>> HE WAS GOING WITH THE FLOW.
>> HOW COOPERATIVE WAS ME?
>> VERY.
>> HE GAVE US PERMISSION TO
SEARCH HIS HOUSE.
>> WHEN WE INTERVIEWED THE SILLS
CHILDREN, MARY KATHERINE AND
ERIC, THE 12-YEAR-OLD TWINS,
EACH TOLD A SIMILAR STORY TO
THEIR DAD, THAT SUSANN HAD NOT
BEEN FEELING WELL THAT NIGHT.
>> SUSANN HAD A HISTORY OF
MIGRAINES.
THEY WERE TYPICALLY
DEBILITATING, REQUIRING A
DARKROOM, QUIET AND BEDREST.
AND SHE HAD BEEN SUFFERING FROM
A MIGRAINE THAT WEEKEND.
>> Reporter: THE MIGRAINE SEEMED
TO EXPLAIN THAT LARGE POT.
>> SOMETIMES SHE CARRIED AROUND
A BOWL IN ORDER TO HAVE IT NEAR
HER BEDSIDE IN CASE SHE THREW UP
THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
>> Reporter: AND THE EMPTY PILL
BOTTLE WAS FOR A PAIN MEDICATION
DR. SILLS SAID HIS WIFE TOOK TO
TREAT HER MIGRAINES.
SO DID THAT MAKE IT SOUND MORE
POSSIBLE THAT SHE COULD HAVE
FALLEN DOWN THE STAIRS BECAUSE
SHE WAS SUFFERING FROM A
MIGRAINE?
>> MAYBE.
>> Reporter: AND THERE SEEMED TO
BE NOTHING IN THE COUPLE'S
RELATIONSHIP TO SUGGEST ANOTHER
REASON.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT THE
SILLS' MARRIAGE?
>> ACCORDING TO SCOTT,
EVERYTHING WAS FINE.
THEY HAD, YOU KNOW, A GOOD
RELATIONSHIP.
>> Reporter: BOTH CHILDREN
ATTESTED THAT THEIR PARENTS
LOVED EACH OTHER AND SAID THEY
RARELY ARGUED.
AND WERE NEVER VIOLENT.
♪
DETECTIVES STARTED PIECING
TOGETHER A TIMELINE OF THE
WEEKEND.
>> SATURDAY NIGHT, SHE WAS ON
THE COUCH.
ERIC CAME DOWN TO SEE HER, CHECK
ON HER, MAKE SURE SHE WAS OKAY.
>> Reporter: IT WAS AROUND
MIDNIGHT WHEN ERIC SAID HE AND
HIS MOM WENT BACK UPSTAIRS AFTER
SHE PUT THE DOGS AWAY IN THEIR
CRATE.
MARY KATHERINE HAD GONE TO BED
IN HER PARENT'S BEDROOM.
SUSANN WAS GOING TO SPEND THE
NIGHT IN MARY KATHERINE'S ROOM,
WHICH WAS THE QUIETEST.
>> IT WAS MARY KATHERINE'S IDEA
FOR SUSANN TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN
THAT ROOM.
IT WAS CLEAN, ACCORDING TO MARY
KATHERINE.
AND DONE UP LIKE A LITTLE HOTEL
SUITE FOR SUSANN TO CON VELESS
IN THERE.
>> Reporter: MAIG LEFT A NOTE ON
HER DOOR WITH WHAT WOULD BE HER
LAST WORDS TO HER MOM.
I KNOW YOU ARE TIRED, SHE SAID.
BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT I LOVE
YOU.
♪
>> Reporter: AROUND 4:00 A.M.,
ERIC SAID HE WOKE TO THE SOUND
OF HIS PARENTS ARGUING IN THE
NEXT ROOM.
>> THE TWO WINDOWS THAT'S ERIC'S
ROOM.
>> SO ERIC IS RIGHT NEXT TO MARY
KATHERINE'S ROOM WHERE HIS MOM
WAS.
>> YEAH, YEAH.
>> AND WHAT DID HE TELL YOU HE
HEARD?
>> HE HEARD LOUD VOICES ARGUING,
BUT HE DIDN'T DESCRIBE HEARING
ANY PHYSICAL CONFRONTATION.
>> ERIC TOLD DETECTIVES THAT
AFTER ABOUT FIVE MINUTES HE
DECIDED TO GO SLEEP IN THE MAIN
BEDROOM WITH HIS SISTER.
ACCORDING TO MARY KATHERINE'S
STATEMENT, SHE THOUGHT HE'D COME
IN AROUND 3:40 A.M. AND TOLD HER
THEIR PARENTS WERE ARGUING ABOUT
A WORK EMAIL.
>> HOW DO YOU KNOW SHE GOT AN
ESNAIL.
>> BECAUSE ERIC SAID THEY WERE
TALKING ABOUT THAT.
>> OH, OKAY.
SO ERIC TOLD YOU THAT SHE GOT AN
EMAIL.
AND THAT SHE WAS -- IT WAS ABOUT
SOMETHING --
>> SOMETHING ABOUT WORK.
>> Reporter: DR. SILLS TOLD
DETECTIVES HE HAD ARGUED WITH
SUSANN BECAUSE HE FOUND HER
WORKING LATE ON HER LAPTOP,
WHICH MADE HER MIGRAINES WORSE.
WHEN YOU HEARD THAT THEY HAD AN
ARGUMENT SHORTLY BEFORE SHE WAS
FOUND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE
STAIRS DEAD, WHAT WAS GOING
THROUGH YOUR MIND?
>> WELL, AGAIN, THAT'S ONE MORE
PIECE OF DATA WE'RE GOING TO
COLLECT.
IT DOESN'T MEAN ONE WAY OR
ANOTHER THAT IT WAS A MURDER,
BUT THAT'S DEFINITELY AN AVENUE
THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PURSUE.
>> Reporter: NEITHER ERIC NOR
MARY KATHERINE HEARD THEIR DAD
RETURN TO THE BEDROOM.
>> I WOKE UP AND MY DAD WAS JUST
ON THE COVERS JUST LAYING THERE.
THERE WASN'T ENOUGH ROOM TO GET
IN SO HE WAS LAYING ON IT.
>> ON TOP OF IT?
>> YEAH.
♪
>> Reporter: IT WAS AROUND 6:30
A.M. THE NEXT MORNING WHEN DR.
SILLS AND THE TWINS WOKE UP.
HE ASKED THEM IF THEY WANTED TO
GO TO THE POOL AND GET SOME
DONUTS.
MARY KATHERINE SAID WHEN SHE
LEFT THE BEDROOM AND LOOKED OVER
THE BANISTER, SHE SAW HER MOM'S
BODY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE
STAIRS.
THAT LONG, RED AND WHITE SCARF
AROUND HER NECK.
♪
>> THAT WAS MARY KATHERINE'S
SCARF.
IT WAS FOUND IN THE SAME ROOM AS
SUSANN'S BODY.
>> BUT THE SCARF WASN'T ON HER
BODY?
>> WHEN WE ARRIVED, IT WAS NOT.
MARY KATHERINE TOLD US THAT SHE
HAD TO REMOVE THE SCARF AND SHE
DID THAT NOT TO IMPEDE MOM'S
BREATHING.
>> Reporter: ADDING TO THE
MYSTERY, WERE THE INJURIES TO
SUSANN'S NECK, THE DEPUTY
CORONER HAD NOTICED DURING HER
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF THE
BODY EARLIER THAT MORNING.
>> ESPECIALLY WITH THE LIGATURE
MARK ACROSS HER NECK, IT JUST
DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
>> Reporter: IS IT POSSIBLE SHE
COULD HAVE FALLEN DOWN THE
STAIRS AND SOMEHOW THE SCARF
STRANGLED HER?
>> COULD HAVE CAUGHT ON A
BANISTER, SURE.
I SUPPOSE SO, BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE
ANY EVIDENCE OF THAT.
>> Reporter: AS DETECTIVES
CONTINUED THEIR INVESTIGATION,
THE QUESTIONS MOUNTED.
DID ANYBODY IN THE HOUSE HEAR A
FALL DOWN THE STAIRS?
>> NO.
NOBODY DESCRIBED HEARING A FALL
DOWN THE STAIRS OR SUSANN WAS
CARRYING THAT STAINLESS STEEL
POT, NO ONE HEARD THAT BOUNCE
DOWN THE STAIRS OR LAND ON THE
TILE FLOOR.
THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE ON THE
STAIRS OF SOMEONE GOING DOWN,
BROKEN BALLSTER OR ANYTHING LIKE
THAT.
♪
>> Reporter: AND SOMETHING ELSE
THE DETECTIVES THOUGHT WAS
STRANGE.
>> IT WAS A WARM DAY EVEN THOUGH
IT WAS NOVEMBER.
BUT WHEN WE SPOKE WITH SCOTT AND
DURING THE WHOLE TIME WE WERE IN
THE HOUSE DOING OUR
INVESTIGATION, HE WAS WEARING A
BEANIE OVER HIS HEAD.
HE SAID HE SLEPT WITH IT BECAUSE
IT WAS COLD.
>> DID YOU ASK HIM TO REMOVE THE
BEANIE?
>> YES.
>> Reporter: AS IT TURNED OUT,
SUSANN WASN'T THE ONLY ONE WITH
INJURIES THAT MORNING.
♪
>>> WE DISCOVERED THAT SCOTT HAD
SOME INJURIES.
HE HAD CUT UP HERE ON HIS
FOREHEAD.
AND ON HIS ARM HE HAD A BRUISE.
>> DR. SCOTT SILLS SAID THERE
WAS A SIMPLE EXPLANATION FOR THE
INJURIES.
HE HAD HURT HIMSELF WHILE
WORKING ON HIS CAR IN THE GARAGE
WITH HIS SON ERIC.
THERE WAS JUST ONE PROBLEM --
>> ERIC TOLD US DAD DIDN'T HURT
HIMSELF.
>> DID HE SAY TO YOU I LEFT THE
GARAGE, SO MAYBE HE HURT HIMSELF
WHIL I WAS GONE?
>> NO, HE TOLD US THEY CAME IN
THE HOUSE TOGETHER.
>> Reporter: AND INVESTIGATORS
SAID THEY FOUND SOMETHING DR.
SILLS COULDN'T EXPLAIN ON THAT
DAY.
YOU FOUND BLOOD?
>> YES.
>> BLOOD IN MARY KATHERINE'S
ROOM.
WHERE SUSANN HAD BEEN STAYING ON
THE CURTAINS, THE WALL, AND THE
NIGHT STAND.
SO, THAT MORNING, WHEN YOU ASKED
SCOTT ABOUT THE BLOOD, WHAT DID
HE SAY?
>> HE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE IT CAME
FROM.
HE WAS UNAWARE OF IT.
>> Reporter: MARY KATE TOLD
INVESTIGATORS THE ROOM WAS,
QUOTE, PERFECT WHEN SHE LEFT IT.
SHE ALSO SAID SHE TURNED DOWN
THE BED, BUT NOW IT WAS MADE.
>> DIDN'T REALLY MAKE SENSE.
WHY WOULD SUSANN TAKE THE TIME
TO MAKE THE BED THE MIDDLE OF
THE NIGHT?
>> SO IF YOU FOUND BLOOD IN MARY
KATHERINE'S BEDROOM, YOU KNOW
THAT THERE ARE LIGATURE MARKS ON
SUSANN, WHY NOT TAKE HIM DOWN TO
THE STATION AT THIS POINT AND
QUESTION HIM?
>> ONCE YOU ARREST SOMEBODY,
THAT STARTS PROCESSES THAT YOU
CAN'T STOP.
BESIDES THE BLOOD IN THE
BEDROOM, WE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE
ENOUGH EVIDENCE OF A FIGHT
OCCURRING.
SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE
WASN'T ENOUGH PROBABLE CAUSE
LEGALLY TO ARREST HIM.
>> SUSANN'S AUTOPSY FOUR DAYS
LATER DIDN'T PROVIDE ANY
DEFINITIVE ANSWERS.
THE FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST NOTED
THAT SUSANN HAD INJURIES ALL
OVER HER BODY THAT COULD HAVE
RESULTED FROM A FALL, INCLUDING
A FRACTURED C3 VERTEBRA, NEAR
THE BASE OF HER NECK WHICH CAN
BE FATAL.
THEN THERE WAS THAT LIGATURE
MARK ACROSS HER NECK AND
HEMORRHAGING OF BLOOD VESSELS IN
HER EYES WHICH POINTED TO
STRANGULATION.
IT WOULD TAKE MONTHS TO MAKE AN
OFFICIAL RULING.
>> IT'S NOT SOMETHING THEY WANT
TO RUSH INTO OR MAKE A RASH
JUDGMENT ON.
THE DOCTOR WANTED TO EXAMINE THE
WHOLE CASE MORE CLEARLY.
>> Reporter: IN THE MEANTIME,
DETECTIVES REQUESTED DNA TESTING
ON EVIDENCE COLLECTED FROM THE
SILLS HOME AND FORENSIC ANALYSIS
ON SUSANN'S PHONE AND LAPTOP.
THEY ALSO DUG DEEPER INTO WHO
THE SILLS WERE.
>> NONE OF THEIR IMMEDIATE
NEIGHBORS KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT
THE FAMILY.
EVENUALLY WE CONTACTED WHOEVER
WE COULD OUT OF THEIR CONTACT
LIST TO TRY TO FIND OUT MORE.
>> IN HIGH SCHOOL I THOUGHT THIS
MUST BE WHAT GENIUS MEANS.
HIS HUMOR, HIS QUICK WHIT.
>> SANDY ROBERTS AND JAMIE AKINS
HAVE KNOWN SCOTT SILLS SINCE
THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DAYS IN
TENNESSEE.
>> HE WAS SOMETHING WE HAD NEVER
SEEN BEFORE.
IN A SMALL TOWN IN TENNESSEE AT
THAT AGE, HE WAS VERY SPECIAL.
>> HE WAS HILARIOUS.
I MEAN, PEOPLE COME TO CLASS IN
A THREE PIECE SUIT AND IT'S NOT
DRESS-UP DAY.
>> HE'S FLAMBOYANT.
HE'S BIGGER THAN LIFE.
HE WAS VERY, VERY KIND.
>> I GREW UP PRETTY POOR.
I DIDN'T HAVE A CAR IN HIGH
SCHOOL OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
AND A LOT OF TIMES NO LUNCH
MONEY.
HE ALWAYS PULLED OUT HIS WALLET
AND PAID FOR IT.
IT JUST WASN'T A QUESTION.
>> Reporter: HIS FUTURE SEEMED
LIMITLESS.
HE WAS ACCEPTED TO BOTH LAW
SCHOOL AND MEDICAL SCHOOL.
>> WE WERE KIND OF ALL ON THE
EDGE OF OUR SEAT WONDERING WHAT
HE WAS GOING TO DECIDE TO DO.
♪
>> Reporter: AND IT WAS SO
SURPRISE WHEN THE HOMETOWN BOY
BECAME A ROW NOUNED IVF
SPECIALIST, A PROFESSION THAT
WOULD LEAD HIM TO SUSANN.
>> SUSANN WAS GOING THROUGH
FERTILITY TREATMENT, TRYING TO
GET PREGNANT WITH HER FIRST
HUSBAND.
>> CHRIS MED SUSANN IN BUSINESS
SCHOOL WHERE SHE EARNED AN MBA.
SHE HAD CONFIDED IN HIM ABOUT
HER STRUGGLES TO GET PREGNANT.
>> HAVING KIDS WAS EVERYTHING TO
SUSANN.
SHE WOULD CRY ABOUT IT.
I MEAN, IT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO
HER.
AND ERIC SCOTT SILLS WAS HER
FERTILITY DOCTOR.
>> Reporter: BUT SOON CHRIS SAYS
THEY WERE A COUPLE.
>> SHE STARTED TALKING ABOUT DR.
SILLS AFTER SHE HAD TOLD ME SHE
WAS GETTING DIVORCED AND THAT
SHE WAS NOW DATING HIM.
I JUST REMEMBER HER SAYING HE'S
A BRILLIANT DOCTOR.
>> Reporter: DR. SILLS, WHO WAS
ALSO COMING OUT OF A PREVIOUS
MARRIAGE, SEEMED TO HAVE MET HIS
MATCH.
>> SUSANN WAS SMART, WITTY.
>> WE LOVE MR. SOCK.
>> SARCASTIC BUT NOT IN A MEAN
WAY.
JUST ENOUGH TO DIG AT YOU.
YOU KNOW, INCREDIBLY DRIVEN, A
LOYAL FRIEND.
>> SHE WAS SO CLASSY, SO
BEAUTIFUL, VERY ENGAGING.
>> SEEMED LIKE TO ME HE FOUND
ONE THAT IT WAS A GOOD FIT.
>> Reporter: SUSANN FIT RIGHT IN
AT SCOTT'S 20th HIGH SCHOOL
REUNION.
>> SHE DANCED THE WHOLE TIME.
THEY WERE LOVELY TOGETHER.
HE JUST SEEMED REALLY HAPPY.
>> Reporter: THE COUPLE MARRIED
AND WELCOMED TWINS THROUGH IVF,
ADDING TO DR. SILLS TWO OLDER
KIDS.
AND EVENTUALLY SUSANN'S BUSINESS
ACUMEN WOULD LEAD THEM TO START
THEIR OWN IVF PRACTICE IN APRIL,
2015.
>> SHE STARTED THE BUSINESS.
SHE BUILT IT.
SUSANN PRETTY MUCH RAN
EVERYTHING WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
ACTUALLY DOING THE PROCEDURES.
>> Reporter: THE PRACTICE SOON
TOOK OFF.
>> WE ACTUALLY HAVE DR. SCOTT
SILLS HERE, AN OBGYN WHO IS ALSO
A FERTILITY SPECIALIST.
>> HE WAS OFTEN FEATURED ON THE
TV PROGRAM, THE DOCTORS, WHICH
WAS DISTRIBUTED BY CBS.
>> WE DECIDED TO PROVIDE YOU
THAT REMOVAL SURGERY AT NO COST.
>> HE WAS IN MANY EYES A SAINT.
HE WAS LOVED BY HIS PATIENTS.
>> Reporter: DR. JULIO NOVOA IS
AN OBGYN WHO CO-AUTHORED A BOOK
WITH DR. SILLS.
>> THEY WERE A TEAM.
NOT JUST MARRIED BUT A TEAM.
AND WORKING WELL TOGETHER.
>> Reporter: BUT ABOUT A MONTH
BEFORE HER DEATH, RICK LEADS,
ANOTHER OF SUSANN'S FRIENDS SAYS
SHE LEFT HIM A TROUBLING
MESSAGE.
>> SHE SOUNDED LIKE SHE WAS
WHISPERING.
IT WAS SO DIFFERENT FROM THE
HAPPY, JOVIAL, EXCITED VOICE
MAILS I GOT BEFORE.
THIS ONE WAS DEFINITELY THINGS
WEREN'T GOOD.
>> Reporter: WHEN THEY SPOKE,
RICK SAYS IT SOUNDED LIKE THERE
WAS TENSION OVER A PHOTO.
>> SHE SAID IT WAS A TOPLESS
PHOTO OF HER THAT HAD APPEARED
ON A BLOG.
THIS WAS SOME DISCUSSION SHE
♪
>>> WHEN NEWS OF SUSANN'S DEATH
REACHED HER FRIENDS, THEY WERE
STUNNED.
>> IT WAS DEVASTATING.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
IT DIDN'T SEEM PLAUSIBLE TO ME
THAT SHE JUST FELL DOWN THE
STAIRS WITH A MIGRAINE HEADACHE.
>> Reporter: IT DIDN'T SOUND
LIKE THE VIBRANT SUSANN THEY
KNEW.
DR. SILLS' FRIENDS SAY THEY WERE
EQUALLY PERPLEXED.
>> SCOTT WOULD NOT DISCUSS
ANYTHING WITH US.
>> HE QUICKLY CHANGED THE
SUBJECT.
WE NEVER SPOKE AGAIN.
YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TRAGEDIES
AFFECT PEOPLE.
>> WHAT WERE YOUR IMPRESSIONS OF
SCOTT SILLS THROUGHOUT THE
INVESTIGATION?
>> I WOULD DESCRIBE HIM AS
EMOTIONLESS.
HE NEVER ACTED AS THOUGH SUSANN
WAS EVEN HIS WIFE.
HE TALKED ABOUT WHAT A GOOD
MANAGER SHE WAS AND HOW SHE KEPT
THEIR BUSINESS FLOWING.
BUT HE NEVER ONCE MENTIONED THAT
SHE WAS A GOOD MOTHER OR THAT HE
LOVED HER.
>> Reporter: ALL VERY BUSINESS
LIKE?
>> YEAH.
>> Reporter: IN FACT, THE DAY
AFTER SUSANN'S DEATH, THE DOCTOR
HAD GONE TO WORK.
>> I WAS SHOCKED.
WHO GOES TO THE OFFICE THE NEXT
MORNING WHEN YOUR WIFE DIED?
>> Reporter: JOANIE RICKER'S
DAUGHTER WAS A NURSE AT THE
SILLS' IVF CLINIC AND HAD CALLED
HER IN A PANIC.
>> SHE SAID YOUR PATIENTS ARE IN
CYCLE AND THEY HAVE TO BE
TREATED.
>> Reporter: JOANIE VOLUNTEERED
TO HELP MANAGE THE OFFICE,
SOMETHING SUSANN DID AND ENDED
UP WORKING THERE FOR TWO YEARS.
DID DR. SILLS TALK ABOUT HIS
WIFE?
>> OH, NEVER.
>> DID HE EVER SAY HOW SHE DIED?
>> IT WAS NEVER DISCUSSED.
>> Reporter: PRETTY SOON, SHE
SAYS, THE DOCTOR STARTED
CHANGING HIS APPEARANCE.
>> HE STARTED TO DRESS LIKE A
MOVIE STAR.
I MEAN, HE WAS VERY SIMPLE
BEFORE.
>> Reporter: AND SHE SAYS, THE
ONCE BALDING DOCTOR NOW HAD A
FULL HEAD OF HAIR.
>> WE DEFINITELY NOTICED NEW
HAIR.
>> Reporter: THEY ALSO NOTICED
DR. SILLS' FLASHIER ONLINE
PERSONA.
>> I SAID TO ONE OF MY FRIENDS,
NOW IS SILLS A DOCTOR OR A
MODEL?
I PERSONALLY DON'T KNOW ANY
DOCTORS ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT ARE
TAKING SELFIES IN THE GYM IN
THEIR BLAZERS AND SUNGLASSES AND
PORSCHES.
IT WAS A LITTLE MUCH.
>> ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE STARTED
TO BE ANOTHER WOMAN IN PHOTOS
AND HE WAS OUT ON DATES AND THEY
WERE GOING AROUND TOWN.
>> Reporter: THE BEHAVIOR RAISED
EYEBROWS, BUT IT WAS HARDLY
EVIDENCE.
THEN, IN NOVEMBER 2017, A YEAR
AFTER SUSANN'S DEATH, THERE WAS
FINALLY NEWS FROM THE CORONER'S
OFFICE.
SUSANN'S CAUSE OF DEATH WAS
CITED AS LIGATURE STRANGULATION.
AND THE MANNER A HOMICIDE.
♪
DR. SILLS WAS NOW THE PRIME
SUSPECT.
DNA RESULTS ON THE BLOOD IN MARY
KATHERINE'S ROOM SHOWED A
MIXTURE OF HIS AND SUSANN'S DNA.
>> THEY WERE BOTH THERE.
>> THERE WAS A FIGHT?
>> THERE WAS A FIGHT AND HE
KILLED HIS WIFE.
>> Reporter: ON AUGUST 8th,
2018, NEARLY TWO YEARS AFTER
SUSANN'S DEATH, DETECTIVES
HOLLOWAY AND HATCH MADE A
SURPRISE HOUSE CALL AT THE
DOCTOR'S HOME.
DID YOU ASK DR. SILLS AT THIS
POINT, JUST FLAT OUT, DID YOU
KILL YOUR WIFE?
>> YES.
AND STARTED STRESSING OUT AND
STARTED SWEATING.
HE BECAME MORE DEFENSIVE.
>> Reporter: THEY SAY THE DOCTOR
DENIED KILLING HIS WIFE AND HE
NOW OFFERED AN EXPLANATION FOR
HIS BLOOD IN MARY KATHERINE'S
ROOM.
HE SAID HE HAD INJURED HIMSELF
REPLACING A WINDOW SCREEN.
WOULDN'T MARY KATHERINE HAVE
SEEN THE BLOOD THAT HE LEFT FROM
REPLACING THE SCREEN?
>> FOR SURE.
>> AND SHE DIDN'T MENTION IT?
>> NOPE.
♪
>>Reporter: DESPITE THE DEATH
BEING RULED A HOMICIDE,
DETECTIVES SAID THEY STILL HAD
MORE INVESTIGATING TO DO, LIKE
FINDING A MOTIVE.
A SEARCH OF SUSANN'S PHONE
PROVIDED SOME CLUES.
TEXT MESSAGES HINTED AT PROBLEMS
IN THE MARRIAGE.
>> THERE WAS ONE IN PARTICULAR
WHERE SHE HAD SOME PRETTY STRONG
WORDS TOWARDS SCOTT.
>> Reporter: IN TEXTS SENT IN
LATE AUGUST, LESS THAN THREE
MONTHS BEFORE HER DEATH, SUSANN
WROTE, I AM TRAPPED.
YOU ARE KILLING ME.
I JUST WANT OUT.
AND WE JUST AREN'T RIGHT FOR
EACH OTHER.
AND ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE HER
DEATH, SUSANN HAD CONFIDED IN
RICK LEADS.
>> SHE AND SCOTT WERE IN A
REALLY ROCKY PLACE.
AND SHE WAS THINKING ABOUT
LEAVING HIM.
>> Reporter: HE SAID SUSANN WAS
ALSO UPSET ABOUT A PHOTO SHE
POSTED ONLINE.
>> WHATEVER WAS GOING ON BETWEEN
HER AND SCOTT, AND THIS PICTURE
WAS JUST A PIVOTAL POINT FOR
HER.
>> Reporter: SUSANN HAD POSTED A
TOPLESS PHOTO AFTER MAKING A BET
IN A POLICE KAL CHAT ROOM CALLED
PAT TRICK.NET.
>> SUSANN APPARENTLY WAS ONE OF
THE FEW WOMEN WHO WAS INVOLVED
IN THIS FORUM.
SHE KIND OF THREW OUT THAT IF
DONALD TRUMP WON THE
PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION THAT SHE
WOULD POST A PICTURE OF HER BARE
BREASTS.
>> Reporter: AND ON THE DAY OF
HER DEATH, DETECTIVES HAD FOUND
A PRINT-OUT IN DR. SILL'S HOME
OFFICE OF AN EXCHANGE BETWEEN
SUSANN AND ANOTHER PATRICK.NET
MEMBER FROM AUGUST 30th, 2016,
DISCUSSING THE PHOTO.
THE MAN, WHO WENT BY TEN POUND
BASS, WROTE, ALL I'VE GOT TO SAY
IS YOU MUST HAVE A SUPER COOL
HUSBAND.
SUSANN, AKA TURTLE DOVE,
REPLIED, HE'S EXHAUSTIVE
ACTUALLY.
IT ISN'T EASY BEING MARRIED TO A
WOMAN WHO IS PARTIALLY NAKED AND
POSING ALLURINGLY ALL THE TIME.
DR. SILLS DENIED HE PRINTED THAT
CHAT.
BUT WHEN INVESTIGATORS LATER
SEARCHED HIS PHONE, THEY FOUND A
PHOTO OF THE SAME EXCHANGE.
DOES THIS SOUND LIKE THIS COULD
LEAD TO MOTIVE?
>> YES.
IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S
BUILDING UP IN HIM, SOME KIND OF
ANGER OR JEALOUSY ABOUT WHAT HIS
WIFE IS DOING ONLINE WITHOUT
HIM.
>> ENOUGH TO KILL HER?
>> UH-HUH.
>> Reporter: DETECTIVES ALSO
LEARNED THAT DR. SILLS HAD TRIED
TO COLLECT ON A $250,000 LIFE
INSURANCE POLICY ON SUSANN.
BUT HE CLAIMED THE INSURANCE
COMPANY HAD CALLED HIM.
>> HE WASN'T ABLE TO COLLECT
BECAUSE THE DEATH CERTIFICATE
WAS RULED AS A HOMICIDE.
>> DO YOU THINK SCOTT SILLS
THOUGHT HE HAD GOTTEN AWAY WITH
IT?
>> I THINK SO.
>> EVERYDAY HE WENT BY HE FELT A
LITTLE MORE AT EASE, I THINK.
>> Reporter: ON APRIL 25th,
2019, NEARLY 2.5 YEARS AFTER
SUSANN'S DEATH, DR. SILLS WAS
ARRESTED FOR HER ALLEGED MURDER,
ON HER WAY TO SURGERY.
HE QUICKLY POSTED A MILLION
DOLLAR BOND, BUT INVESTIGATORS
WERE ABOUT TO GET AN UNEXPECTED
TIP FROM A WOMAN WHO SAID SHE
HAD MET DR. SILLS WHILE SUSANN
WAS STILL ALIVE.
>> THEY MET THROUGH FACEBOOK.
HE WAS INFATUATED WITH HER.
>> Reporter: SHE SHARED AN EMAIL
DR. SILLS SENT HER ABOUT TWO
WEEKS AFTER SUSANN'S DEATH.
>> YES.
>> SO IT'S IN FRENCH?
THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST
IMPORTANT MANUSCRIPT I HAVE EVER
WRITTEN.
I'M ASKING YOU TO SERIOUSLY
RETHINK OUR SUSPENDED BUT ONCE
INTENSE RELATIONSHIP.
WHEN YOU FIRST READ THAT EMAIL,
WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION?
>> I THOUGHT, I WAS SHOCKED.
THIS IS A MOTIVE.
>> SO COULD DR. SILLS HAVE
KILLED HIS WIFE TO GET HER OUT
OF THE WAY?
>> OH, I JUST DON'T SEE THAT AT
ALL.
>> Reporter: DR. SILLS' DEFENSE
ATTORNEY JACK EARLY DENIES THAT
THERE WAS A ROMANTIC
RELATIONSHIP AND HE SAYS THAT
EMAIL WAS MERELY A DEVASTATED
FATHER'S DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO
FIND A NEW MOTHER FOR HIS
CHILDREN.
DID YOU FEEL IN YOUR GUT THAT
YOU COULD WIN THIS CASE?
>>
♪
>>> IN NOVEMBER, 2023, JUST OVER
SEVEN YEARS AFTER SUSANNSILLS'S
DEATH, SCOTT SILLS NOW STRIPPED
OF HIS MEDICAL LICENSE WENT ON
TRIAL FOR HER MURDER.
THE ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DECLINED OUR
REQUEST FOR AN INTERVIEW, BUT
CAMERAS WERE ALLOWED IN COURT
FOR PORTIONS OF THE TRIAL WHERE
SENIOR DEPUTY D.A. JENNIFER
WALKER LAID OUT HER CASE TO THE
JURY.
>> NOVEMBER 13th OF 2016, THIS
MAN KILLED HIS WIFE AND HID IT.
>> Reporter: WALKER ARGUED THAT
SCOTT SILLS BEAT AND THEN
STRANGLED SUSANN TO DEATH BEFORE
STAGING THE SCENE TO MAKE IT
LOOK LIKE SHE'D FALLEN DOWN THE
STAIRS.
>> THIS IS A MURDER, NOT AN
ACCIDENT.
>> Reporter: THE PROSECUTION'S
CASE RELIED HEAVILY ON SUSANN'S
AUTOPSY.
BUT SCOTT SILLS' DEFENSE
ATTORNEY, JACK EARLY, CAME TO %
COURT ARMED WITH A UNIQUE
THEORY.
HE SUGGESTED THAT SUSANN FELL,
EITHER GOING UP OR DOWN THE
STAIRS AND THAT ONE OR BOTH OF
THE FAMILY DOGS THEN TUGGED ON
THE SCARF THAT WAS WRAPPED
AROUND HER NECK.
DO YOU HONESTLY THINK THAT THE
DOGS PULLED HARD ENOUGH TO
STRANGLE HER TO DEATH?
>> NO.
NO.
THAT WAS NOT THE MAIN THEORY
THAT THE DOGS ACTUALLY STRANGLED
HER TO DEATH.
>> Reporter: INSTEAD, EARLY
FOCUSSED ON ANOTHER INJURY
IDENTIFIED IN SUSANN'S AUTOPSY,
THAT FRACTURED C3 VERTEBRA.
HE SAYS THAT INJURY IS
CONSISTENT WITH A FALL AND THAT
IT WOULD HAVE LEFT SUSANN'S
INCAPACITATED.
>> LET'S ASSUME THAT SOMEONE
TRIPS AND FALLS AND FRACTURED
THEIR C3.
THEIR BREATHING IS COMPROMISED.
IF THEY'RE THEN CHOKED, IT
DOESN'T TAKE MUCH TO KILL THEM.
>> Reporter: THE DEFENSE HAD THE
SCARF TESTED FOR DOG DNA.
IT CAME BACK POSITIVE.
AND THERE WAS TESTIMONY THAT THE
DOGS WERE KNOWN TO PLAY TUG OF
WAR, AS SEEN IN THIS VIDEO.
AND WHEN SUSANN AND SCOTT'S NOW
19-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER MARY
KATHERINE TOOK THE STAND FOR THE
PROSECUTION, HER TESTIMONY
SUPPORTED THE DEFENSE'S THEORY.
INVESTIGATOR DAVE HOLLOWAY WAS
AT THE TRIAL.
>> MARY KATHERINE TESTIFIED THAT
SHE SAW THE DOGS PULLING AT THE
SCARF AROUND HER NECK.
AND NONE OF THAT CAME UP DURING
THE DAY WE INTERVIEWED HER THE
FIRST TIME.
>> HOW DID THAT STRIKE YOU?
>> WELL, I KNOW THAT SHE WAS
STILL CLOSE WITH HER FATHER.
>> DO YOU THINK SHE'S TRYING TO
PROTECT HER DAD?
>> I WOULD SAY SO.
>> EARLY DENIES THAT.
HE SAYS THE REASON MARY
KATHERINE DIDN'T TELL
INVESTIGATORS IS SIMPLE.
>> IT WASN'T ASKED.
WHY WOULD SHE THINK THE DOGS
WERE IMPORTANT.
SHE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW THAT
THERE'S ANY QUESTION OF BEING
CHOKED.
>> Reporter: HE SAYS SCOTT SILLS
DID TELL FIRST RESPONDERS.
AND HE ARGUED THAT SUSANN'S
TOXICOLOGY TESTS POINT TO AN
ACCIDENTAL FALL.
SHE HAD A MUSCLE RELAXANT AND
PAIN MEDICATION IN HER SYSTEM.
AND EARLY TOLD THE JURY THAT
SUSANN SUFFERED FROM A FAINTING
DISORDER AND THAT VERTIGO WOULD
ACCOMPANY HER MIGRAINES.
BUT THE PROSECUTION SAID THE
DEFENSE'S THEORY DOESN'T MAKE
SENSE.
>> STRANGULATION IS A SILENT
KILLER.
YOU KNOW WHAT ISN'T A SILENT
KILLER, FALLING DOWN MULTIPLE
STAIRS.
YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE SHE BOUNCED
HER HEAD, NECK, BACK, SHOULDERS,
INSIDE HER ARMS, LEGS AND FEET
MULTIPLE WAYS AGAINST
APPROXIMATELY SIX STAIRS LIKE
BEING IN A SOUNDPROOF PINBALL
MACHINE.
THEN WAS STRANGLED BY HER DOGS.
NOT REASONABLE.
>> Reporter: AND WHY WOULD
SUSANN HAVE A SCARF AROUND HER
NECK THAT EARLY IN THE MORNING
TO BEGIN WITH?
PROSECUTORS SUGGESTED THAT SCOTT
SILLS USED IT TO STRANGLE HER
AND LEFT IT AROUND HER NECK TO
COURT THE MARKS.
BUT EARLY TOLD THE JURY IT
WASN'T UNUSUAL FOR SUSANN TO
WEAR A SCARF, ESPECIALLY WHEN
SHE WASN'T FEELING WELL.
>> BECAUSE IF SHE GOT SICK, THAT
WAS SOMETHING THAT SHE WOULD
WEAR A SCARF TO WIPE YOUR MOUTH
WITH.
>> Reporter: BUT THE PROSECUTION
ALSO POINTED OUT THAT SUSANN AND
SCOTT'S SON ERIC TOLD
INVESTIGATORS HE SAW HIS MOTHER
PUT THE DOGS AWAY IN THEIR CRATE
IN THE HOURS BEFORE SHE DIED.
>> ERIC SAID THAT HIS MOM PUT
THE DOGS IN THE CRATE.
>> YES.
SOMETIMES DOGS WHEN THEY'RE
CRATE TRAINED WHEN THEY GO TO
BED WILL GO LAY IN THEIR CRATE,
EVEN WITH THE DOOR OPEN.
>> Reporter: THERE WAS ALSO NO
BLOOD ON THE STAIRS OR DAMAGE TO
THEM.
THERE ARE ALL THESE INJURIES
THAT YOU SAY COME FROM THE FALL
DOWN THE STAIRS, ALL OVER HER
BODY, BUT SHE LEAVES NO MARKS ON
THE STAIRS.
>> BUT THERE'S NO MARKS ANYWHERE
IN THE HOUSE.
>> Reporter: BUT THERE WAS THAT
BLOOD IN MARY KATHERINE'S
BEDROOM.
IS AND THE PROSECUTION ARGUED IT
WAS EVIDENCE THAT A FIGHT
OCCURRED.
A FORENSIC SCIENTIST TESTIFIED
THAT THE STAINS ON THE NIGHT
STAND AND DRAPES WERE CONSISTENT
WITH SCOTT SILLS' DNA.
EARLY DID ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HIS
CLIENT'S BLOOD WAS IN THE ROOM,
BUT HE TOLD THE JURY ABOUT
SCOTT'S CLAIM THAT HE HURT
HIMSELF THERE ON AN EARLIER
DATE.
FROM SCOTT REPLACING A SCREEN?
>> FROM GETTING CUT ON A NAIL
THAT WAS ON THE BACK OF THE
NIGHT STAND THAT WAS THERE.
>> Reporter: THAT FORENSIC
SCIENTIST, THOUGH, TESTIFIED
THAT ONE OF THE STAINS ON THE
WALL WAS A MIXTURE OF DNA.
AND SCOTT AND SUSANN WERE LIKELY
CONTRIBUTORS.
EARLY SAYS THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT
WAS SUSANN'S BLOOD.
AND THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN HER
TOUCH DNA THAT WAS PICKED UP.
>> SUSANN HAD TOUCHED THAT AREA
BEFORE, AT SOME POINT IN TIME.
AND SHE LIVED THERE.
>> Reporter: BUT THE PROSECUTION
POINTED OUT THAT THERE WERE ALSO
CLUMPS OF SUSANN'S HAIR FOUND IN
MARY KATHERINE'S ROOM.
AND THERE WERE BLOODSTAINS ON
SUSANN'S CLOTHING THAT WERE
FOUND TO BE CONSISTENT WITH
SCOTT SILLS' DNA, TOO.
EARLY HAD A REBUTTAL TO IT ALL.
STARTING WITH THE HAIR.
>> SHE HAS HAIR EXTENSIONS.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT HAIR
EXTENSIONS CAUSE?
LOSS OF HAIR.
>> Reporter: AND THE BLOOD ON
THE CLOTHES?
>> YOU DON'T KNOW HOW OLD IT IS.
>> Reporter: THE JURY WAS ALSO
SHOWN PICTURES OF THOSE INJURIES
THAT WERE OBSERVED ON SCOTT.
REMEMBER HOW HE TOLD
INVESTIGATORS THAT HE HURT
HIMSELF WHILE WORKING ON HIS CAR
WITH HIS SON?
AND HOW, ACCORDING TO
INVESTIGATORS, ERIC SAID THAT
HIS FATHER DIDN'T GET INJURED?
WELL, WHEN ERIC TOOK THE STAND,
HIS TESTIMONY ALLOWED FOR THE
POSSIBILITY.
>> WHAT HE TESTIFIED IS I DIDN'T
STAY THERE THE WHOLE TIME HE
FIXED THE CAR.
>> DOES THAT SEEM LIKE A
DECEMBER CREPESY TO YOU?
>> WELL, IT'S NOT A DISCREPANCY.
NO ONE IS ASKING HIM THAT FULL
STORY AT THE AGE OF 12.
>> SO HE DIDN'T NECESSARILY SAY
AT AGE 12, DAD DIDN'T GET THE
INJURY FROM THE CAR.
>> NO.
HE BASICALLY SAID I WASN'T THERE
WHEN I GOT THE INJURY.
>> Reporter: WHILE ERIC SILLS
DID TESTIFY THAT A LOUD
DISCUSSION BETWEEN HIS PARENTS
HAD WOKEN HIM UP SHORTLY BEFORE
HIS MOTHER'S DEATH, THE DEFENSE
TOLD THE JURY THAT THERE WAS
NOTHING TO IT.
AND THOSE TEXTS BETWEEN SCOTT
AND SUSANN IN THE MONTHS BEFORE
SUSANN'S DEATH?
>> IF YOU HAVE 40,000 TEXTS AND
THERE'S FIVE OF THEM WITH HARD
LANGUAGE IN IT, THAT'S A PERFECT
MARRIAGE.
>> Reporter: THE JURY DIDN'T
HEAR ABOUT THE LIFE INSURANCE
POLICY.
THAT EMAIL SCOTT SENT TO ANOTHER
WOMAN.
OR HIS SOCIAL MEDIA PHOTOS IN
THE WAKE OF HIS WIFE'S DEATH.
BUT THEY WERE TOLD ABOUT THE
PATRICK.NET POSTS AND THE
PROSECUTION ARGUED THAT TOPLESS
PHOTO THAT SUSANN POSTED ON THE
SITE ENRAGED SCOTT.
>> IT WASN'T A BIG DEAL.
>> IT'S NOT STRIKING TO YOU THAT
HE HAD THIS PHOTO IN TWO PLACES
ON HIS PHONE AND THEN ON THE
PRINTER?
>> NO.
FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T KNOW
REALLY WHO PRINTED THIS STUFF
UP.
>> Reporter: EARLY MAINTAINS
THERE IS NO MOTIVE FOR MURDER.
>> THERE WAS NEVER ANY PHYSICAL
VIOLENCE.
THEIR WORKING AND MARRIAGE
RELATIONSHIP, EVERYBODY LOOKED
AT IT AS LOVING.
>> Reporter: SCOTT SILLS CHOSE
NOT TO TAKE THE STAND.
THE TRIAL SPANNED THREE WEEKS
AND THEN THE CASE WENT TO THE
JURY.
>> MY HEART WAS JUST POUNDING.
♪
>> Reporter: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF
THE DEFENSE THAT THE DOGS MAY
HAVE PLAYED A ROLE IN HER DEATH?
CHAT NOW WITH TH
♪
>> Reporter: JURORS ERIN ELLIS,
JACK VAN CAMP AND SUSAN BLAHO
SAY WHEN DELIBERATIONS BEGAN,
THEY FELT THE PRESSURE.
>> IT'S JUST SO INTIMIDATING
THAT YOU GOT SOMEONE'S LIFE ON
THE LINE.
>> IT WEIGHS ON YOU.
>> OH, YEAH.
AND THE RIPPLE EFFECT.
>> THE KIDS.
>> YEAH.
>> DID YOU THINK ABOUT THAT,
THAT THESE KIDS DIDN'T ONLY LOSE
THEIR MOM, THAT IF YOU CONVICT
HIM, NOW THEY'RE LOSING THEIR
DAD?
>> OF COURSE.
>> YEAH.
>> Reporter: THEY SAY THEY ALSO
FELT A CLEAR MOTE I HAVEIVE WAS LACKING.
>> IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE WHY
SOMEBODY WOULD SNAP.
>> SOMEBODY WOULD DO THAT.
>> YEAH.
>> Reporter: AFTER ABOUT THREE
HOURS THEY CAME TO A DECISION.
>> JURORS ARE INDICATING THAT
THEY'VE REACHED A VERDICT IN
THIS MATTER.
>> Reporter: THE CLERK READ THE
VERDICT.
>> WITH WE THE JURY IN THE ABOVE
ENTITLED ACTION FIND THE
DEFENDANT ERIC SCOTT SILLS NOT
GUILTY OF THE CRIME OF FIRST
DEGREE MURDER.
WE THE JURY IN THE
ABOVE-ENTITLED ACTION FIND THE
DEFT, ERIC SCOTT SILLS GUILTY OF
THE CRIME OF SECOND DEGREE
MURDER.
>> Reporter: GUILTY OF SECOND
DEGREE MURDER.
SCOTT SILLS, WHO GAVE THE GIFT
OF LIFE TO SO MANY THROUGH HIS
IVF PRACTICE, NOW CONVICTED OF
TAKING THE LIFE OF HIS WIFE, THE
MOTHER OF HIS KIDS.
>> I JUST FELT SAD.
I WAS TEARING UP ON THE WAY OUT.
THIS WHOLE FAMILY HAD BEEN
THROUGH SO MUCH, YOU KNOW.
NOW THIS IS THE NEXT PHASE OF
IT.
>> BUT HE DID THAT.
>> Reporter: THE JURORS WE SPOKE
TO SAY THAT NO ONE ON THE JURY
BOUGHT THE DEFENSE'S THEORY
ABOUT THE DOGS.
>> THE DOGS WOULD HAVE TO CHOKE
HER ON THE STAIRS AND MY DOG WAS
AS BIG AS HERS.
AND MY DOG CANNOT GET A GRIP ON
WOODEN STAIRS WITH THEIR NAILS
TO DO ANYTHING.
THEY JUST SLIDE.
>> THE SCARF HAD NO PUNCTURE
WOUNDS EITHER.
I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED HOLES.
>> AND THE FALL DOWN THE STAIRS
WOULDN'T CREATE THAT SCENARIO ON
HER BODY.
>> Reporter: INSTEAD, WHAT THEY
SPENT THE MOST TIME GRAPPLING
WITH WAS WHETHER SCOTT SILLS WAS
GUILTY OF FIRST DEGREE OR SECOND
DEGREE MURDER.
FIRST DEGREE MURDER REQUIRES
PREMEDITATION AND DELIBERATION.
>> I JUST DON'T THINK HE PLANNED
IT.
>> I DON'T.
>> IF HE HAD PLANNED IT OR DONE
ANY KIND OF FORETHOUGHT, IT
WOULDN'T BE A HOT MESS CRIME
SCENE THAT IT WAS.
>> IT WAS KIND OF LIKE A SNAP.
>> BUT INVESTIGATOR DAVE
HOLLOWAY SAYS WHILE SCOTT SILLS
MAY NOT HAVE PLANNED HIS CRIME,
HE CERTAINLY HAD THE TIME TO
THINK ABOUT WHAT HE WAS DOING.
>> HE HAD PLENTY OF TIME FROM
WHEN HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO
SUSANN'S NECK TILL SHE DIED TO
STOP WHAT HE WAS DOING.
HE STILL DID IT.
I WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED IT
WAS SECOND DEGREE.
>> ON MARCH 15th, 2024, ABOUT
THREE MONTHS AFTER THE VERDICT,
COURT RECONVENED FOR SENTENCING.
SUSANN SILLS' MOTHER, TERESA
NEUBAUR ADDRESSED THE COURT AND
KEPT THE FOCUS ON HER DAUGHTER.
>> SHE WAS A DYNAMIC PERSON.
SHE HAD HOPES AND DREAMS.
>> Reporter: HOPES AND DREAMS
THAT ONE DAY SUSANN WOULD SEE
HER DAUGHTER MARY KATHERINE WALK
DOWN THE STAIRS OF THE FAMILY'S
SAN CLEMENTE HOME ON HER WEDDING
DAY.
>> IT WAS A VERY PAINFUL THING
FOR ME TO LEARN OF THE ROLE OF
THE STAIRCASE EVENTUALLY PLAYED
IN REAL LIFE.
>> Reporter: MARY KATHERINE ALSO
ADDRESSED THE COURT AND SPOKE OF
ALL THE LOSS SHE ENDURED AT SUCH
A YOUNG AGE.
SHE AND HER BROTHER WERE TAKEN
IN BY A FAMILY FRIEND AFTER
THEIR FATHER'S ARREST.
AND THAT FAMILY FRIEND DIED
SUDDENLY OF A HEALTH CONDITION
AROUND THE END OF THE TRIAL.
SHE ASKED THE JUDGE TO SHOW HER
FATHER MERCY.
>> I WANT MY FATHER TO WALK ME
DOWN MY AISLE AT MY WEDDING SOME
DAY.
WHEN I HAVE A FAMILY AND
CHILDREN, I WANT MY FATHER TO BE
THERE TO HOLD MY BABY.
I'VE BEEN LEFT ORPHANED AND I
FEEL SO LOST WITHOUT MY PARENTS.
>> WE'RE HERE FOR SENTENCING ON
THE MATTER.
>> Reporter: JUDGE PATRICK
DONAHUE SENTENCED SCOTT SILLS TO
THE MANDATORY SENTENCE UNDER
CALIFORNIA LAW, 15 YEARS TO LIFE
IN PRISON.
>> GOOD LUCK, SIR.
>> HIS FATE WAS DECIDED.
BUT FOR SO MANY, QUESTIONS
REMAIN.
EXACTLY WHAT LED UP TO SUSANN
SILLS' DEATH?
DO YOU THINK WE'LL EVER KNOW
EXACTLY HOW IT HAPPENED?
>> I DON'T THINK SO.
>> NO.
>> Reporter: SCOTT SILLS
DECLINED OUR REQUEST FOR AN
INTERVIEW, BUT IN THE END, NO
EXPLANATION WILL SUFFICE OR EASE
THE PROFOUND SENSE OF LOSS THAT
LINGERS.
PA
PATIENTS NOW WITHOUT THEIR
DOCTOR.
>> THOUSANDS OF WOMEN FELT HIM
TO BE A SAINT.
FROM A SAINT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO
THE DEVIL.
THAT'S HOW IT ENDED UP BEING.
>> Reporter: AND CHILDREN
WITHOUT THEIR FATHER OR THEIR
MOTHER.
>> HER KIDS WERE SO IMPORTANT TO
HER AND EVERYTHING SHE DID
REVOLVED AROUND HER CHILDREN.
SHE WAS AN INCREDIBLE HUMAN
BEING.
I MISS HER.
♪
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>> SHOCK IS THE WORD THAT COMES
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