RIGHT?
>> THIS IS WHERE IT ALL BEGAN.
APRIL 23, 2018.
I RECEIVED A CALL THAT A BODY
WAS LOCATED OFF OF HIGHWAY 98.
I COME OVER TO THIS AREA, AND
APPROXIMATELY HERE WAS ABOUT
WHERE THE HEAD OF THE BODY WAS
AT.
AND STRETCHED OUT ACROSS THE
DITCH WITH THE FEET FACING IN
THAT DIRECTION.
SHE HAD BRUISES FROM HEAD TO
TOE, COVERING HER ENTIRE BODY.
SHE HAD LACERATIONS ON HER FACE,
STOMACH, LEGS.
>> SO THIS WOMAN SUFFERED BEFORE
SHE DIED?
>> SHE SUFFERED.
I'D NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.
IT WAS EXTREME VIOLENCE.
EXTREME VIOLENCE.
OVERKILL.
>> AND WHO'D DO SOMETHING LIKE
THAT?
>> AT THE TIME, YOU DON'T KNOW.
AND WHAT YOU WORRY ABOUT THEN IS
ARE THEY LOOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY?
WHAT TYPE OF INDIVIDUAL AM I
DEALING WITH?
OR INDIVIDUALS?
IS THERE ONE PERSON, IS THERE
TWO?
YOU HAVE A MILLION QUESTIONS
THAT YOU CAN ASK, BUT YOU HAVE
NO ANSWERS AT THE TIME.
THE NEXT DAY THEY IDENTIFIED THE
WOMAN AS AILEEN SEIDEN.
A YOUNG 31-YEAR-OLD FEMALE IN
THE MIAMI AREA.
>> I'VE KNOWN AILEEN SEIDEN FOR
25 YEARS.
SHE WAS MY BEST FRIEND.
AILEEN HAD CALLED ME.
SHE HAD TOLD ME IT WAS PRETTY
WHERE SHE WAS.
THE LAST TALK I HAD WITH AILEEN
WAS VERY DIFFERENT.
SHE TOLD ME JUST THESE HORRIFIC
THINGS YOU'D NEVER THINK YOU'LL
HEAR FROM YOUR BEST FRIEND.
SHE SAID I NEED YOUR HELP.
>> IT WAS LIKE A MOVIE, MY
SISTER'S INVOLVED, AND I DON'T
KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.
I TOLD HER TO RUN.
>> YOU USED THE WORD RUN?
>> 100% I SAID RUN.
I SAID GET OUT OF THERE, GO.
SHE SAID I CAN'T.
>> SHE WAS SCARED TO DEATH.
>> THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN.
THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO US.
THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN IN REAL
LIFE.
>> WE RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE
SPORTSMAN'S LODGE MOTEL.
THERE WAS A ROOM THAT THEY WERE
IN THE PROCESS OF CLEANING.
THERE WAS BLOOD.
>> AND WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR
MIND AS YOU WALK THROUGH ALL
THIS BEAUTY?
>> THIS RIGHT HERE WOULD BE THE
LAST PLACE THAT YOU COULD EVER
IMAGINE A HOMICIDE TAKING PLACE,
ESPECIALLY RIGHT HERE IN THIS
PIECE OF PARADISE.
I'LL TAKE YOU TO ROOM NUMBER 15.
>> NOW, WHEN THE HOUSEKEEPERS
FIRST CAME THROUGH THIS DOOR,
WHAT DID THEY SEE?
>> THEY SAID THE FURNITURE WAS
KNOCKED OVER ONTO THE FLOOR.
AS THEY STARTED CLEANING THE
ROOM, THEY FOUND MORE AND MORE
STUFF TO BE WRONG.
THEY NOTICED STUFF MISSING FROM
THE BEDS, THE SHEETS, ANYTHING
LIKE THAT.
THIS BED HERE WAS COMPLETELY
COVERED IN BLOODSTAIN.
>> SO THAT TELLS YOU THERE WAS A
VIOLENT SCENE GOING ON.
>> YES.
>> AND WHAT HAPPENED IN ROOM 15?
>> DON'T KNOW.
>> IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK,
RIGHT?
>> OH, IF THEY COULD TALK, I'D
LOVE TO HEAR THEM.
♪
>>> APALACHICOLA, FLORIDA, IS A
WONDERFUL SMALL PLACE.
>> FOR FRANKLIN COUNTY ASSISTANT
PROSECUTOR JARRED PATTERSON THE
SLEEPY TOWN OF APALACHICOLA AND
TH SURROUNDING COUNTRYSIDE ARE
A BYGONE ERA.
>> WE REFER TO HERE THE COUNTIES
ALONG THIS COAST AS THE
FORGOTTEN COAST.
>> BUT WHEN A COUPLE HEADING TO
A NEARBY FISHING POND DISCOVERED
AILEEN SEIDEN'S BATTERED BODY ON
APRIL 23, 2018, PATTERSON
WONDERED WHAT HAD BROUGHT A
KILLER TO FLORIDA'S FORGOTTEN
COAST.
>> THE HORROR THAT IT REALLY
WAS, IT ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED
PEOPLE.
>> IT LOOKED LIKE SOMEONE WAS IN
A HURRY.
WHOEVER IT WAS, DUMPED THE BODY
AND TOOK OFF.
>> LEAD INVESTIGATOR LIEUTENANT
RONNIE JONES, THEN WITH THE
FRANKLIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S
OFFICE, SAYS DOCUMENTING
AILEEN'S UNSETTLING DUMP SITE
WAS THE FIRST OF TWO OMINOUS
EVENTS OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS.
HE WAS SOON DISPATCHED TO THE
SECOND CRIME SCENE AT THE
SPORTSMAN'S LODGE MOTEL.
AND THAT BLOODY SPECTACLE INSIDE
ROOM 15.
SO WHAT'S IT LIKE FOR YOU TO BE
BACK IN HERE?
>> BRINGS BACK SOME PRETTY BAD
MEMORIES.
>> JONES MEMORIES LIVE IN STARK
CONTRAST TO THE TREE-SHADED
GROUNDS OF THE OTHERWISE
PEACEFUL MOTEL.
>> AS SOON AS I CAME IN, I
NOTICED THE BED.
YOU COULDN'T MISS IT.
I MEAN THIS WHOLE AREA WAS
COVERED AND HAD BLOODSTAINS ON
IT.
>> AND WHEN YOU SAW THAT KIND OF
BLOOD LOSS, WHAT DID THAT TELL
YOU?
>> I JUST PUT TWO AND TWO
TOGETHER AND I AUTOMATICALLY PUT
THAT BACK TO THE BODY THAT WAS
FOUND THE DAY BEFORE.
>> YOU DID THAT QUICKLY, LIKE
THAT?
>> HAD TO OF.
IT WASN'T JUST LIKE SOMEBODY CUT
THEIRSELF AND BLED A LITTLE BIT
ON THE BED.
THE AMOUNT OF BLOOD ON THIS BED
TELLS ME WHOEVER IT WAS WAS
PROBABLY DECEASED.
>> JONES RECALLS THERE WAS A
SMELL OF VINEGAR IN THE ROOM.
AND WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU?
>> THAT SOMEONE ATTEMPTED TO
CLEAN THE CRIME SCENE.
>> A LUMINOL TEST FOR TRACE OF
HUMAN BLOOD REVEALED WHAT AN
APPARENTLY HASTY CLEANUP
COULDN'T HIDE.
>> THE WHOLE ENTIRE BATHROOM LIT
UP.
>> SO THAT WAS THE SCENE OF
PERHAPS SOME OF HER MOST VICIOUS
ATTACKS WAS INSIDE THAT
BATHROOM?
>> YES.
>> AND JONES SAYS THE SHOWER
CURTAIN ROD WAS A POSSIBLE
WEAPON.
>> ON THE ROD WAS LOCATED A PALM
PRINT AND ALSO BLOOD.
>> AND THAT'S SIGNIFICANT
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> TESTING WOULD SOON CONFIRM
THAT IT WAS AILEEN'S BLOOD IN
THE MOTEL ROOM.
NOW CAME THE GUT WRENCHING DUTY
TO NOTIFY AILEEN'S SISTER,
FRANCEASCA SEIDEN.
>> HE SAID MY SISTER WAS
MURDERED.
I DON'T KNOW, LIKE, WHAT DO YOU
DO?
YOU LOOK FOR SUPPORT.
THAT'S ALL I COULD DO.
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY, LIKE,
IT WAS GIVEN TO ME, AGAIN, LIKE
TO HANDLE ANOTHER LOSS.
>> WHILE GROWING UP IN MIAMI
THEN-16-YEAR-OLD FRANCEASCA AND
9-YEAR-OLD AILEEN FACED THEIR
FIRST TRAGEDY WHEN THEIR BELOVED
MOTHER, MURTHA PASSED AWAY FROM
CANCER.
HOW DID THE TWO OF YOU DEAL WITH
THIS?
>> WE DIDN'T TALK IT BECAUSE IT
WAS SO FAST.
>> SIX YEARS LATER, THEIR
FATHER, FRANK, A SUCCESSFUL
FURNITURE MANUFACTURER WHO
FRANCEASCA SAYS SHARED A BOND
WITH AILEEN, SUDDENLY DIED FROM
A HEART ATTACK.
IT LEFT AILEEN THEN 14 AN ORPHAN
AND 22-YEAR-OLD FRANCEASCA WITH
A DECISION TO MAKE.
>> I SIGNED THE PAPERS AND I
BECAME HER LEGAL GUARDIN.
>> AND WHAT DID THAT MEAN?
WHAT WERE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES?
>> I BECAME A PARENT.
I HAD TO TAKE HER TO SCHOOL.
I HAD TO PICK HER UP FROM
SCHOOL.
I HAD TO FINISH MY OWN SCHOOL.
I WAS WORKING.
I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO GRIEVE,
AND I DON'T THINK THAT SHE DID
EITHER.
>> SEVEN YEARS LATER, FRANCEASCA
MOVED TO LOS ANGELES ON HER OWN.
THAT'S WHEN SHE SAYS AILEEN, NOW
IN HER 20s, BEGAN GRIEVING THEIR
PARENTS.
>> STARTED TO THINK A LOT.
SHE BECAME MORE SENSITIVE.
>> SOMETHING LIKE LOSING HER
PARENTS HAS LONG LASTING
THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE.
IT'S OBVIOUS THAT IT DID.
>> THIS IS AILEEN'S BEST FRIEND.
NOT WANTING HER NAME ASSOCIATED
WITH THIS CASE, SHE HAS ASKED 48
HOURS TO REFER TO HER AS ALLIE.
SHE REMEMBERS A STRONG AND
DETERMINED AILEEN MAKING IT ON
HER OWN IN MIAMI.
>> SHE WORKED AS A PROPERTY
MANAGER.
SHE LIVED IN A GREAT APARTMENT.
YOU KNOW, SHE PAID HER OWN RENT.
SHE PAID HER BILLS.
SHE WAS VERY INDEPENDENT.
>> FRANCEASCA SAW THAT
INDEPENDENCE FIRST-HAND WHEN
AILEEN MADE AN EXTENDED VISIT TO
L.A. IN 2016.
LOOKING BACK, DO YOU WISH SHE
HAD STAYED WITH YOU?
>> 100%.
BECAUSE WHATEVER HAPPENED WHEN
SHE WENT BACK TO MIAMI IS WHEN
SHE RECONNECTED WITH ZACH.
>> ZACH WAS ZACHARY ABELL, WHO
AILEEN HAD KNOWN SINCE THEY WERE
TEENAGERS.
>> I'M NOT SURE HE HAD THE BEST
REPUTATION IN HIGH SCHOOL.
AT FIRST SHE WASN'T REALLY SURE
ABOUT HIM.
>> BUT YEARS LATER SHE AND ZACH
ABELL STARTED DATING.
>> I THINK IN THE BEGINNING
AILEEN FOUND ZACH FUN.
BUT I THINK IT CHANGED PRETTY
QUICKLY.
>> INVESTIGATORS IN FRANKLIN
COUNTY WOULD SOON LEARN ALL
ABOUT ZACH ABELL.
THEY DISCOVERED THAT ZACH,
AILEEN, AND THIS WOMAN,
CHRISTINA ARAUJO HAD ALL BEEN
SEEN IN THE APALACHICOLA AREA.
THEY ALSO LEARNED THE THREE
SHARED A ROOM AT THE SPORTSMAN'S
LODGE, ROOM NUMBER 15.
>> WE NEEDED TO KNOW WHAT
HAPPENED INSIDE THAT HOTEL ROOM,
OUTSIDE OF THREE PEOPLE ENTER
ASKED TWO CAME OUT CARRYING A
>>> OFF THE COAST OF FORT
LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, CAPTAIN
MIKE PICAVET SET SAIL ON HIS
50-FOOT BOAT.
>> KIND OF WEIRD TRYING TO
REMEMBER ANY GOOD TIMES.
THERE JUST WEREN'T.
THERE WAS ALWAYS SOME ISSUE.
>> BACK IN 2018 MIKE WOULD PLAY
A CENTRAL ROLE IN AILEEN
SEIDEN'S MURDER INVESTIGATION.
HE KNEW AILEEN AND HER
BOYFRIEND, ZACH ABELL, WELL.
>> ZACH IS JUST VERY
ENTERTAINING.
HE'S VERY EXTROVERTED.
>> MIKE HAD MET ZACH BY CHANCE
AT A BAR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS
EARLIER.
>> HE CAME UP TO ME AT DUFFY'S
AND SAID, HEY, I LIKE YOUR
SHIRT.
AND I'M LIKE OKAY.
>> AND THEN CHRISTINA CAME UP.
>> CHRISTINA ARAUJO, ZACH'S
GIRLFRIEND AT THE TIME.
THE TWO HAD BEEN DATING FOR
ABOUT FOUR YEARS.
MIKE SAID CHRISTINA IMMEDIATELY
STARTED BOASTING ABOUT HER
POWERFUL FATHER.
>> RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE SHE
SAID, OH, YEAH, MY DAD'S A MAJOR
WITH THE PALM BEACH COUNTY
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, AND IF WE
EVER GET INTO ANY TROUBLE WITH
THE LAW, HE CAN TAKE CARE OF IT.
I WAS LIKE, WHAT?
WHO SAYS THAT?
>> DESPITE THEIR ODD FIRST
MEETING, MIKE SAID HE BEGAN
HANGING OUT WITH THE COUPLE.
WHAT FOLLOWED WERE YEARS OF WILD
NIGHTS, WILD PARTIES, AND LOTS
OF HEAVY DRINKING.
>> THAT WAS THEIR GO-TO THING.
OKAY, WE'VE GOT TO DO SHOTS OF
THIS, SHOTS OF THIS.
>> BUT MIKE SAYS THERE WAS AN
INTERESTING POWER DYNAMIC IN THE
COUPLE'S RELATIONSHIP WITH
CHRISTINA WHO WAS 8 YEARS OLDER
THAN ZACH CALLING THE SHOTS.
>> SHE WAS VERY CONTROLLING AND
VERY DIRECT.
AND HE WOULD FOLLOW HER LEAD
WITH STUFF.
>> ONE DAY IN 2016 ZACH STOPPED
BY MIKE'S BOAT BUT NOT WITH
CHRISTINA.
INSTEAD ZACH INTRODUCED MIKE TO
AILEEN SEIDEN.
MIKE COULD TELL ZACH NOW HAD TWO
WOMEN IN HIS LIFE.
>> IT WAS THE WEIRDEST THING.
IF YOUR RELATIONSHIP'S NOT
WORKING, JUST END IT AND MOVE
ON.
>> HOWEVER, MIKE SAID THAT ZACH
COULDN'T MAKE A CLEAN BREAK FROM
CHRISTINA, WHO WAS ALSO HIS
BUSINESS PARTNER.
>> HE TRIED SO MANY TIMES AND
JUST DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO.
AND ALSO ALL THE THREATS ALL THE
TIME SHE COULD MAKE HIM
DISAPPEAR.
EVERY TIME SHE GOT DRUNK SHE
WOULD SAY SOME WEIRD THINGS.
>> AILEEN'S BEST FRIEND, ALLIE,
SAID ZACH AND AILEEN BEGAN TO
SECRETLY DATE.
>> SHE SEEMED TO LOVE HIM SO
MUCH SHE WAS HOPING HE'D DECIDE
TO BE WITH HER.
HE WOULD LEAD HER ONTO THINGS.
HE WAS TRYING TO END IT WITH
CHRISTINA.
>> IN 2017 AILEEN UNEXPECTEDLY
LOST HER JOB AS PROPERTY
MANAGER.
>> SHE WAS REALLY STARTING TO
LOSE CONTROL OF HER OWN LIFE.
>> ALLIE SAYS THAT MAY EXPLAIN
WHY AILEEN EVENTUALLY STARTED
WORKING AT ZACH'S AND
CHRISTINA'S USED CAR DEALERSHIP.
>> IT WASN'T THE INDEPENDENT
LIFE SHE'D ALWAYS LIVED.
>> WHEN ZACH FINALLY TRIED TO
END THINGS WITH CHRISTINA, SHE
COUNTERED WITH AN UNCONVENTIONAL
PROPOSAL.
>> IT WAS NOT THE ANSWER THAT
ANYONE EXPECTED.
CHRISTINA CAME BACK AND SAID,
WELL, WHY DON'T WE TRY AND ALL
BE IN A RELATIONSHIP THEN?
IT NOW BECAME THIS OPPORTUNITY
FOR THIS THROUPLE, THREE-WAY
KIND OF RELATIONSHIP.
>> A THROUPLE IS A ROMANTIC
RELATIONSHIP AMONG THREE PEOPLE.
ALLIE SAYS AILEEN WAS AGAINST
THE IDEA.
>> AILEEN SAID ABSOLUTELY NOT,
NO WAY, IT'S NEVER GOING TO
WORK.
AND IT WAS KIND OF CRICKETS FOR
A FEW WEEKS.
>> BUT ALLIE SAYS AILEEN CHANGED
HER MIND.
THE TRIO WAS A THROUPLE.
>> I WAS IN SHOCK FOR A MOMENT.
BUT MAYBE HAPPY FOR THEM THIS
COULD WORK.
>> THERE WAS TROUBLE.
>> THIS DYNAMIC STARTED TO
CHANGE WHERE ONE OF THEM SEEMED
TO BE THE ODD MAN OUT OR WAS
JEALOUS.
AT THAT POINT IT STARTED TO
SPIRAL OUT OF CONTROL.
>> ACCORDING TO MIKE PICAVET,
THINGS ESCALATED, LEADING TO
IRRATIONAL BEHAVIOR AND FIGHTS
FUELED BY ALCOHOL.
HE SAYS AILEEN AND CHRISTINA
TRADED PUNCHES OFTEN, USUALLY
RESULTING IN BLACK EYES ON ONE
OR BOTH OF THE WOMEN.
THAT THEY'D SOMETIMES HIDE
BEHIND BIG SUNGLASSES.
>> IT WAS A EVERY DAY THING,
EVERY SECOND DAY THING I COULD
SAY.
>> ALLIE REMEMBERS THINGS
DIFFERENTLY.
SHE SAYS ZACH WAS THE
MANUGRESSOR IN THE RELATIONSHIP.
>> AILEEN WOULD CALL ME AND SAY
YOU HAVE TO COME OVER HERE, LIKE
HE HURT ME AGAIN.
AND I'D RUSH OVER THERE AND
PHOTOGRAPH HER AND BEG HER TO GO
TO THE POLICE.
>> BUT ALLIE SAYS AILEEN REFUSED
FEARING CHRISTINA'S LAW
ENFORCEMENT CONNECTIONS WOULD
WORK AGAINST HER.
AILEEN'S SISTER, FRANCEASCA, WAS
FURIOUS WHEN SHE LEARNED OF THE
ABUSE.
>> I WANTED MY SISTER OUT OF THE
SITUATIO.
I WANTED HER OUT.
>> IT'S HARD TO LEAVE.
>> IT'S HARD TO LEAVE, AND I HAD
THIS FEELING THAT CHRISTINA WAS
MORE VIOLENT OF THE TWO.
>> IT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT TO
SEE HER GOING THROUGH A TIME
LIKE THIS.
IT WAS JUST SO HARD, AND SHE WAS
SARED TO DEATH.
>> ONCE, ALLIE, SAYS THE ABUSE
GOT SO BAD, SHE TOOK AILEEN TO
THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
>> I TOOK HER TO THE HOSPITAL
BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO REPORT
THINGS, BUT SHE WOULDN'T SAY
WHERE THE BRUISES CAME FROM.
>> AILEEN'S BEST FRIEND HAD TO
DELIVER A HARD TRUTH.
>> AILEEN, YOU HAVE TO BREAK UP
WITH THIS GUY.
SOMEONE'S GOING TO END UP DEAD.
>>> WHEN AILEEN WAS IN REAL
TROUBLE, IT WAS HARD TO GET
ANYONE TO COME RESCUE HER.
>> THE PATH THAT LED TO AILEEN
SEIDEN'S MURDER MAY HAVE BEGUN
WEEKS EARLIER.
IN 2018 ALLIE WAS SURPRISED THAT
DESPITE THE PHYSICAL VIOLENCE IN
THEIR RELATIONSHIP, AILEEN HAD
DECIDED TO MOVE IN WITH ZACH
ABELL AND CHRISTINA ARAUJO.
THE THROUPLE WAS NOW WORKING
TOGETHER, SLEEPING TOGETHER, AND
LIVING TOGETHER.
>> AILEEN WAS TRAPPED IN THE
RELATIONSHIP BECAUSE SHE WAS
TRAPPED FINANCIALLY, BUT SHE
FELT THAT THAT WAS ONE LAST
CHANCE TO MAKE IT WORK.
IT WAS LIKE A ONE-MONTH OR
TWO-MONTH TRIAL.
>> BUT WITHIN A FEW WEEKS, ALLIE
SAYS AILEEN HAD HAD ENOUGH.
>> AILEEN WAS JUST GOING TO MOVE
OUT.
SHE WAS REALLY DONE WITH THE
RELATIONSHIP.
>> BUT AILEEN'S PLANS TO LEAVE
WERE HALTED ON APRIL 7, 2018,
AFTER ZACH AND CHRISTINA HAD
GOTTEN INTO A VIOLENT FIGHT.
ALLIE SAYS SHE GOT A CALL FROM
AILEEN ON ZACH'S PHONE.
>> SHE WAS GOING TO LEAVE AND
GET ZACH OUT OF THE HOUSE, LEAVE
TO GO TO A COFFEE SHOP.
THE NEXT CALL I GOT WAS FROM
CHRISTINA.
SHE WAS ANGRY AND FURIOUS.
>> ALLIE SAYS CHRISTINA
THREATENED TO REPORT THE CARRIE
LIEN AND ZACH WERE DRIVING IN AS
STOLEN IN AN APPARENT ATTEMPT TO
KEEP THEM FROM LEAVING HER
BEHIND.
ALLIE IMMEDIATELY WARNED AILEEN
AND ZACH.
>> INSTEAD OF COMING AROUND AND
COMING BACK LIKE I THOUGHT THEY
WOULD, THEY HIT THE GAS AND WENT
TO GEORGIA.
I SAID WHAT ARE YOU DOING,
AILEEN, YOU DON'T HAVE YOUR
PHONE, YOU DON'T HAVE A WALLET.
THIS IS CRAZY.
SHE SAID WE'RE GOING ON A ROAD
TRIP, THIS IS A GOOD THING.
>> BUT THE ROAD TRIP WASN'T A
GOOD THING TO CHRISTINA ARAUJO.
SHE BEGAN HARASSING ZACH AND
AILEEN, SENDING A STORM OF ANGRY
TEXTS.
"YOU TWO DESERVE EACH OTHER."
CHRISTINA SENT MORE THAN 150
TEXTS IN ROUGHLY 24 HOURS.
ALL WENT UNANSWERED INCLUDING
THIS ONE.
"MY DAD WILL BE CALLING YOU."
LATER, CHRISTINA ISSUED THIS
THREAT.
"YOU EFFED ME OVER AND NOW I'M
EFFING YOU OVER."
>> I WAS JUST TRYING TO TELL
HER, CHRISTINA, WHY DON'T YOU
WORRY ABOUT YOUR OWN LIFE?
>> ABOUT 48 HOURS INTO THE ROAD
TRIP ZACH AND AILEEN WERE
HEADING TO TEXAS, AND CHRISTINA
SEEMED TO HAVE A CHANGE OF
HEART.
TEXTING "IF YOU WANT TO COME
BACK HOME, COME BACK.
YOU NEVER HAVE TO QUESTION MY
LOVE."
FOR REASONS THAT ARE UNKNOWN,
INSTEAD OF COMING HOME ZACH
INVITED CHRISTINA TO JOIN THEM,
AND SHE FLEW TO DALLAS.
BUT WITH THE THROUPLE UNITED,
THE OLD PROBLEMS RETURNED.
>> AILEEN STARTED TO CALL ME
FROM ZACH'S PHONE AT NIGHT
SAYING, YOU KNOW, THIS IS
GETTING BAD AND I DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO DO.
IT WASN'T UNTIL CHRISTINA
ARRIVED THAT THAT STARTED TO
HAPPEN.
I WAS REALLY WORRIED SOMEONE
WOULD GET HURT.
>> BY DAY TEN OF THE ROAD TRIP
AILEEN'S OLDER SISTER,
FRANCEASCA, WAS ALSO WORRIED.
SHE HADN'T HEARD FROM AILEEN IN
A WHILE.
WHEN THE TRIO STOPPED IN NEW
ORLEANS, AILEEN FINALLY CALLED
FRANCEASCA AND SHARED AN
ALARMING SUSPICION.
>> SHE'S LIKE, I THINK THEY'RE
GOING TO KILL ME.
NO JOKE.
SO I WAS LIKE, AILEEN, RUN TO
THE NEAREST GAS STATION, GO TELL
THE PERSON --
>> CALL 911.
>> YEAH, LIKE RUN.
I SAID RUN, GET OUT OF THERE,
GO.
SHE SAID I CAN'T.
>> FRANCEASCA, DESPERATE TO
HELP, TRIED TO GET MORE DETAILS
FROM AILEEN.
>> IF I HAD WHERE THE ADDRESS
WAS, I WOULD HAVE CALLED THE
POLICE THEN AND THERE, BUT SHE
HAD TO GO.
SE HAD TO GET OFF, AND SHE HUNG
UP.
>> I WAS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED
AND I WAS SCARED.
>> WITH NO WAY TO HELP HER
SISTER, FRANCEASCA HOPED AILEEN
WOULD STAY SAFE.
THE ROAD TRIP CONTINUED INTO ITS
SECOND WEEK.
THE TRIO THEN HEADED TO PANAMA
CITY, FLORIDA.
BUT A MISSED EXIT LED THEM TO
THE FORGOTTEN COAST.
>> THE ROAD TRIP IS DIFFICULT TO
UNDERSTAND.
PARTYING ONE DAY AND MURDERING
THE NEXT.
>> DAVID ADLERSTEIN IS A
REPORTER FOR THE APALACHICOLA
TIMES, ONE OF THE OLDEST
NEWSPAPERS IN FLORIDA.
>> I'VE BEEN COVERING THE AILEEN
SEIDEN CASE SINCE THE WEEK IT
HAPPENED.
>> ON THE EVENING OF APRIL 21st
THE TRIO, SEEN HER IN THIS
SCREENSHOT FROM SURVEILLANCE
FOOTAGE, STUMBLED INTO THE QUIET
PEACE OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
>> THEY WENT TO A POPULAR
RESTAURANT, THE RED PIRATE,
PLAYED MINIATURE GOLF, PARTIED.
>> AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF A
LOCAL, THE THROUPLE HEADED TO
THE NEARBY SPORTSMAN'S LODGE
MOTEL.
THEY RESERVED THE LAST VACANCY
OF THE NIGHT, ROOM 15.
THE NEXT MORNING ON APRIL 22,
2018, THE THROUPLE MADE A PLAN.
>> THEY DECIDED THEY'D SPEND
ANOTHER DAY THERE, NOT GET BACK
ON THE ROAD, AND MAKE IT A -- A
PARTY.
SO THEY GOT UP IN THE MORNING
AND WENT TO THE LIQUOR STORE.
>> HERE THEY ARE IN THESE SCREEN
SHOTS FROM THE STORE'S
SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE.
WHILE THERE, THE TRIO PURCHASED
LARGE BOTTLES OF VODKA AND
FIREBALL WHISKEY.
>> WHEN I WENT TO INVESTIGATE
THEIR PATH THAT DAY AND WENT TO
THE LIQUOR STORE, THE CLERK, SHE
POINTED OUT THAT THE FIREBALL
THAT THEY BOUGHT WAS THE LARGEST
BOTTLE YOU COULD BUY.
AND THIS IS JUST THE THREE OF
THEM.
>> THE THROUPLE THEN RETURNED TO
THE SPORTSMAN'S LODGE MOTEL.
>> I DON'T THINK AILEEN WAS
HAVING FUN.
I THINK SHE WAS JUST TRYING TO
MAYBE GET BY AND STAY ALIVE.
>> ALLIE SAYS SHE SPOKE TO
AILEEN THAT DAY.
>> AILEEN SAID I NEED TO LEAVE
HIM, I'M TELLING YOU I'M LIKE A
SEX SLAVE.
HE HAS THIS REALLY SCARY LOOK IN
HIS EYE.
IT'S VERY SCARY, IT'S DIFFERENT,
AND SHE SAID I NEED YOUR HELP.
>> ALLIE SAYS THE TWO FRIENDS
HAD CRAFTED AN ESCAPE PLAN.
AILEEN WOULD GET ON A BUS FROM
TAMPA, THE TRIO'S NEXT
DESTINATION.
>> I BOUGHT HER A GRAY HOUND
TICKET BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T HAVE A
WALLET.
>> THE BUS WOULD DROP AILEEN OFF
NEAR MIAMI, AND ALLIE WOULD TAKE
HER HOME.
AILEEN JUST NEEDED TO GET ON
THAT BUS AND SHE'D BE SAFE.
>> AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I NEVER
HEARD BACK.
I NEVER HEARD ANYTHING AFTER
THAT.
>> THE NEXT NIGHT HUNDREDS OF
MILES AWAY IN FORT LAUDERDALE,
MIKE PICAVET WAS HOME AND ALONE.
THERE WAS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR.
IT WAS CHRISTINA ARAUJO AND ZACH
ABELL.
>> I WAS LIKE, OKAY, WHERE'S
AILEEN?
AND RIGHT AWAY CHRISTINA SAYS,
OH, SHE RAN AWAY.
AND I SAID BULL [ BLEEP ].
I SAID WHERE IS SHE?
AND ZACH RIGHT AWAY STARTED TO
CHOKE UP AND SAID, SHE'S DEAD.
>> THE NEWS WAS SHOCKING ENOUGH,
BUT MIKE SAID ONCE CHRISTINA WAS
OUT OF EARSHOT, ZACH TOLD HIM
WHAT HAPPENED.
>> HE SAID CHRISTINA KILLED HER.
HE WOKE UP, SHE WAS DEAD NEXT TO
HIM, AND HE TRIED TO GIVE HER
CPR THEN WANTED TO CALL 911.
CHRISTINA SAID NO AND TOLD HIM
YOU CAN'T CALL 911.
FOR SOME REASON HE KEPT SAYING
HE HE HAS TO PROTECT CHRISTINA.
>> MIKE SAID HE HAD TO PROTECT
BOTH HIS FRIENDS.
HE FEARED A VIOLENT OUTCOME IF
HE CALLED 911.
>> I DIDN'T WANT THEM TO GET
KILLED.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY
WERE BROUGHT IN A SAFE WAY.
THE ONLY THING I COULD THINK
ABOUT IS GO TALK TO HER FATHER.
>> CHRISTINA'S FATHER, COLONEL
TONY ARAUJO, THE ONE MIKE SAID
CHRISTINA HAD ALWAYS BRAGGED
COULD MAKE HER PROBLEMS GO AWAY.
WHEN ZACH AND CHRISTINA FELL
ASLEEP, MIKE TOOK THIS PHOTO AND
SAYS HE WENT ONLINE TO SEARCH
FOR CHRISTINA'S FATHER, A MAN HE
HAD NEVER MET.
>> SO I WAS PANICKING TRYING TO
FIND HIS PHONE NUMBER.
>> WHEN MIKE FINALLY GOT AHOLD
OF COLONEL ARAUJO, HE DIDN'T
IMMEDIATELY REVEAL THE DEADLY
NEWS.
>> I SAID I GOT TO TALK TO YOU,
IT'S ABOUT CHRISTINA, IT'S VERY
IMPORTANT.
>> MIKE SAYS CHRISTINA'S FATHER
DIRECTED MIKE TO MEET HIM AT AN
ODD PLACE, A GAS STATION.
>> SO I WENT UP THERE.
I SAID CHRISTINA KILLED
SOMEBODY.
AND HE SAYS YOU KNOW I'M A COP,
RIGHT?
I'M LIKE, YES, SIR, I DO.
HE RIGHT AWAY SAID WAIT RIGHT
THERE.
>> MIKE SAID CHRISTINA'S FATHER
THEN BROUGHT HIM TO THE
SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO MAKE A
FORMAL STATEMENT.
>> HE DID WHAT WAS THE RIGHT
THING TO DO.
HE GOT TWO OTHER PEOPLE TO ASK
ME ALL THE QUESTIONS.
>> LATER THAT DAY MIKE WAS SHOWN
A PHOTO, AND HE WAS THE ONE TO
IDENTIFY THE BATTERED BODY OF
AILEEN SEIDEN.
WITH THAT CONFIRMATION, POLICE
DESCENDED ON MIKE'S HOME AS ZACH
AND CHRISTINA WERE ABOUT TO
LEAVE.
THEY WERE ARRESTED AND BROUGHT
BACK TO FRANKLIN COUNTY.
THE PAIR WERE LATER CHARGED WITH
FIRST DEGREE MURDER.
IT WOULD TAKE ALMOST SIX YEARS
BEFORE ZACH ABELL AND CHRISTINA
ARAUJO WOULD FACE A JURY.
AND BY THEN, ONLY ONE OF THEM
WOULD STAND TRIAL.
>>> YOU'RE HEALING.
YOU'RE DOING THE THINGS THAT YOU
NEED TO HEAL, AND THEN YOU'RE
STOPPED.
>> FOR ALMOST SIX YEARS
FRANCEASCA SEIDEN LIVED IN
AGONIZING LIMBO AS HER SISTER,
AILEEN'S, CASE COMPLICATED BY
HAVING TWO DEFENDANTS FACE DELAY
AFTER DELAY AFTER FRUSTRATING
DELAY.
>> AND NOW YOU'RE GOING TO GET
READY FOR THIS BIG MOMENT AND IT
STOPS AGAIN.
>> FINALLY IN JANUARY OF 2024,
AT THE FRANKLIN COUNTY
COURTHOUSE IN APALACHICOLA,
FLORIDA, ZACH ABELL WAS ABOUT TO
FACE TRIAL.
HE HAD PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO
FIRST DEGREE MURDER AND WOULD
STAND BEFORE THE JURY ALONE.
EIGHT MONTHS EARLIER, CHRISTINA
ARAUJO TOOK A PLEA DEAL FOR A
LESSER CHARGE OF SECOND DEGREE
MURDER.
SO SHE ADMITTED TAKING PART IN
THIS?
>> YES.
SHE IMPLICATED HERSELF IN THE
ACTUAL BEATING OF AILEEN.
>> AFTER STUDYING THE MOUNTAIN
OF EVIDENCE, PROSECUTOR JARRED
PATTERSON, BELIEVED ZACH ABELL
WAS MORE RESPONSIBLE IN AILEEN'S
MURDER.
AND THE STATE IS MORE RELIABLE
IN BELIEVING CHRISTINA ARAUJO'S
VERSION OF WHAT HAPPENED INSIDE
ROOM 15.
>> THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS TOLD US
ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN
THAT ROOM IS CHRISTINA ARAUJO.
>> ONCE CHRISTINA MADE HER PLEA
DEAL, SHE WOULD BECOME THE
PROSECUTION'S STAR WITNESS.
>> PRINT REPORTER DAVID
ADLERSTEIN, CAMERA IN HAND, WAS
THERE AS CHRISTINA ARAUJO
TRANSPORTED THE COURTROOM BACK
TO THE EVENING OF APRIL 22,
2018.
ARAUJO TESTIFIED THAT SHE, ZACH
ABELL, AND AILEEN WERE RELAXING
IN THE ROOM AT THE SPORTSMAN'S
LODGE AFTER A DAY OF HEAVY
DRINKING.
>> WHEN ZACH DRINKS, DOES HE ACT
DIFFERENTLY?
>> YES, SIR.
HE BECOMES VERY AGGRESSIVE, VERY
MEAN.
>> ZACH ABELL BECAME VIOLENTLY
ENRAGED, SAYS ARAUJO, WHEN
AILEEN POSED A SEEMINGLY
INNOCENT QUESTION.
>> SHE SAID CHRISTINA, GUESS
WHAT?
>> AND SHE LOOKS OVER AT
CHRISTINA AND SAYS, CHRISTINA,
GUESS WHAT?
HOW WOULD THAT SENTENCE BE
FINISHED?
>> I HAVE NO IDEA BECAUSE SHE
NEVER GOT TO FINISH IT.
>> ZACHARY GOT UP IMMEDIATELY
AND WENT OVER TO HER AND WAS IN
HER FACE, HITTING HER.
HE'S JUST YELLING AT HER,
TELLING HER YOU ALWAYS START
PROBLEMS.
>> ARAUJO ADMITS TO ALSO HITTING
AILEEN AS SHE DEMANDED TO KNOW
WHAT SHE WAS ABOUT TO SAY.
SHE NEVER GOT AN ANSWER.
>> AND I GOT SO FRUSTRATED I
WENT AND GOT -- I LEFT THE ROOM.
>> AFTER STEPPING OUTSIDE ROOM
15 FOR A FEW MINUTES, ARAUJO
CLAIMED SHE RETURNED TO FIND
ABELL AND AILEEN IN THE
BATHROOM.
>> AND I OPEN THE DOOR, HE HAD
SOMETHING WHITE IN HIS HAND,
LIKE IF HE WAS POKING AT HER.
>> THE MEDICAL EXAMINER WAS ABLE
TO IDENTIFY SMALL, CIRCULAR
BRUISING TO THE BODY OF AILEEN
THAT COULD BE CONSISTENT WITH A
SHOWER CURTAIN ROD.
>> LIKE THE SHOWER CURTAIN ROD
INVESTIGATORS RECOVERED THAT HAD
PALM PRINT IMPRESSIONS IN
AILEEN'S BLOOD.
WHOSE PALM WAS IT?
>> THE PALM BELONGED TO ZACHARY
ABELL.
>> THE ASSAULT CONTINUED NEAR
THE BED, SAYS ARAUJO, WHERE SHE
SAID ABELL REACHED FOR HIS
WOODEN WALKING STICK.
>> HE HITS HER SEVERAL TIMES
WITH IT.
WHEN HE HIT HER ON THE BACK, THE
STICK BROKE.
>> WE HAD ACTUALLY FOUND PIECES
OF THAT WOODEN STAFF IN THE
HOTEL ROOM.
WE DIDN'T REALIZE THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF IT UNTIL WE
FOUND THE OTHER PIECE IN THE
VEHICLE THAT CONTAINED OUR
VICTIM'S DNA.
>> ARAUJO SAYS SHE WATCHED IN
TERROR AS ABELL BEGAN USING THAT
STICK TO SEXUALLY ASSAULT I-
AILEEN.
>> CHRISTINA'S DESCRIPTION OF
THE CRIME WAS HORRIFYING TO
LISTEN TO.
AILEEN CLEARLY SUFFERED TERRIBLE
DEATH.
>> ADLERSTEIN RECALLS THE
MEDICAL EXAMINER SAYING AILEEN'S
INJURIES REMINDED HIM OF THOSE
HE HAD SEEN IN MOTOR VEHICLE
CRASHES.
>> AS A REPORTER, I TRY VERY
HARD TO NOT BE EMOTIONAL.
I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER FIGHTING
BACK TEARS.
>> ARAUJO CLAIMED SHE EVENTUALLY
PUT HERSELF BETWEEN ABELL AND
AILEEN, AND THE ATTACK FINALLY
STOPPED.
AILEEN WAS BADLY BEATEN BUT
STILL ALIVE, SHE SAYS.
AND THE EXHAUSTED TRIO JUST FELL
ASLEEP.
>> I DIDN'T THINK SHE WAS GOING
TO DIE FROM IT.
>> ARAUJO CLAIMS IT WASN'T UNTIL
SHE WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING
THAT SHE REALIZED AILEEN WAS
DEAD.
SHE SAYS SHE ONLY PARTICIPATED
IN THE COVER-UP OUT OF FEAR OF
WHAT ABELL MIGHT DO TO HER.
>> SHE SEEMED TO ME GENUINELY
REMORSEFUL.
OTHERS HAD DIFFERENT OPINIONS.
>> WHO IS CHRISTINA ARAUJO IN
YOUR BOOK?
>> MANIPULATIVE, CUNNING, A
CHAMELEON.
I THINK THAT THERE'S EVIL IN
HER.
>> ALEX MORRIS IS ZACH ABELL'S
ATTORNEY.
HE SAYS CHRISTINA ARAUJO ACTED
ALONE.
>> I BELIEVE THAT SHE IS A
MURDERER.
LET'S TALK ABOUT HER STORY.
>> MORRIS SAYS IT WAS CHRISTINA
ARAUJO WHO BEAT AILEEN.
AND THAT PHOTO TAKEN BY MIKE
PICAVET AT HIS HOME AFTER THE
MURDER, SHOWS SHE HAD INJURIES
TO HER HANDS AND FEET.
WHICH TELLS YOU CHRISTINA MUST
HAVE BEEN THE ATTACKER.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> CHRISTINA ARAUJO WAS THE ONE
WITH HOMICIDAL THE INTENT, SAYS
MORRIS.
TRIGGERED WHEN ABELL AND AILEEN
TOOK OFF WITH HER IN THE
REARVIEW MIRROR.
AND HE SAYS THOSE THREATENING
TEXTS THAT SHE SENT TO ABELL'S
PHONE BEFORE JOINING THEM ON THE
ROAD TRIP READ LIKE A
CONFESSION.
>> THERE ARE THREATS OF BODILY
HARM TO BOTH AILEEN AND ZACH IN
THE MESSAGES.
>> YOU COME NEAR ME, HOE, I WILL
KILL YOU.
>> I THINK IT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF,
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT
HAPPENED.
>> AFTER AILEEN'S MURDER, MORRIS
SAYS ARAUJO WIPED DOWN THE MOTEL
ROOM USING THE VINEGAR THAT
RONNIE JONES WOULD LATER SMELL.
HE SAYS ABELL'S PALM PRINTS ON
THE CURTAIN ROD, GOT THERE WHEN
HE MOVED IT DURING THE CLEANUP.
>> HE WAS INSTRUCTED TO PICK THE
CURTAIN ROD UP OVER THERE AND
PUT IT OVER THERE.
>> BY?
>> CHRISTINA.
>> THIS TOLLBOOTH SURVEILLANCE
PHOTO FROM AFTER THE MURDER
SHOWS THAT CHRISTINA ARAUJO, AND
NOT ZACH ABELL, WAS THE ONE
DRIVING THE CAR.
AND THEREFORE, MORRIS SAYS, SHE
WAS THE ONE IN CONTROL.
>> THE EVIDENCE INDICATES
CHRISTINA TO BE THE ONE GIVING
THE DIRECTIONS AND HAD
EVERYTHING TO BE ABLE TO
MANIPULATE THE SITUATION.
>> MANIPULATING ZACH ABELL, SAYS
MORRIS, BECAUSE OF THOSE THREATS
SHE HAD BEEN MAKING FOR YEARS
ABOUT HER FATHER'S INFLUENCE IN
SOLVING HER PROBLEMS.
>> BOTTOM LINE IS ZACH WAS
FEARFUL OF CHRISTINA'S FATHER.
>> ABELL CHOSE NOT TO TESTIFY.
WHEN MORRIS MADE HIS FINAL
ARGUMENTS TO THE JURY, HE
CONCLUDED THE EVIDENCE SHOWED
THERE WAS ONLY ONE PERSON WHO
WANTED AILEEN SEIDEN DEAD.
>> THEY HAVEN'T PROVEN ANY
MOTIVE AS TO WHY MR. ABELL WOULD
BE INTERESTED IN MURDERING MS.
SEIDEN.
BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHERE MOTIVE
LIES, AND IT'S CLEAR AS DAY.
AND THAT'S WITH MS. ARAUJO.
>> THE MOTIVE BEING I WANT RID
OF THE PERSON WHO'S TAKEN MY
MAN.
>> SO JEALOUSY?
>> YES.
>> IN HIS CLOSING, PATTERSON
SAID CHRISTINA ARAUJO ALREADY
ACCEPTED HER ROLE IN THIS CRIME.
HE ASKED THE JURY TO HOLD ZACH
ABELL ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS PART
BY FINDING HIM GUILTY OF MURDER.
>> THEY LIVED TOGETHER, THEY
WORKED TOGETHER.
THEY OWN A BUSINESS TOGETHER.
THEY WENT TO THE SPORTSMAN'S
LODGE TOGETHER.
THEY EMPTIED OUT THE ROOM
TOGETHER.
THEY RAN AWAY TOGETHER.
THEY GOT ARRESTED TOGETHER.
THE ONLY THING THEY DIDN'T DO
TOGETHER WAS KILL AILEEN SEIDEN?
NO WAY.
>> BUT WHO WOULD THE JURY
BELIEVE?
>> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF CHRISTINA
ARAUJO'S TESTIMONY?
CHAT
>>> SHE WASN'T BORN HERE, AND
SHE DIDN'T LIVE HERE, BUT SHE
WAS LEFT HERE.
AND SHE'LL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED
BY FRANKLIN COUNTY.
>> RESIDENTS OF FLORIDA'S
FORGOTTEN COAST WILL NOW LONG
REMEMBER AILEEN SEIDEN, SAYS
RONNIE JONES.
ALMOST SIX YEARS AFTER HER DEATH
THE COMMUNITY WAITED FOR JUSTICE
FOR THE STRANGER THEY NOW HAD
COME TO EMBRACE AS ONE OF THEIR
OWN.
WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND
AS THE JURY BEGINS ITS
DELIBERATION?
>> MAKE IT QUICK.
>> I WAS TOLD BY THE JURY
FOREMEN THAT WHEN THEY FIRST
WENT IN THERE WAS TEN IN FAVOR
OF FIRST DEGREE PREMEDITATED
MURDER WITH TWO HOLD OUTS.
>> ALL RIGHT, EVERYONE, PLEASE
BE SEATED.
>> AFTER ABOUT FIVE HOURS OF
DELIBERATIONS, THE JURY REACHED
A CONSENSUS.
>> IN THE CASE OF THE STATE OF
FLORIDA VERSUS ZACHARY RAY ABELL
THE DEFENDANT IS GUILTY OF THE
LESSER INCLUDED OFFENSE OF
SECOND DEGREE MURDER.
>> SECOND DEGREE MURDER, JUST
LIKE CHRISTINA ARAUJO.
ADLERSTEIN SAYS THE JURY FOREMEN
TOLD HIM THEY JUST COULDN'T
DECIDE IF ZACH ABELL HAD
ACTUALLY INTENDED TO KILL
AILEEN.
>> THEY KNEW THAT CHRISTINA HAD
PLED GUILTY TO SECOND, AND I
THINK THEY EVENTUALLY SAID WE'RE
GOING TO GIVE HIM THE SAME.
>> IT DOESN'T TELL ME THAT
THEY'RE EQUALLY RESPONSIBLE.
>> MIKE PICAVET SAYS EVEN WITH
THE VERDICT, HE IS CONVINCED HIS
FRIEND PLAYED NO PART IN
AILEEN'S DEATH.
>> TO ME THERE'S AN INNOCENT MAN
SITTING IN JAIL.
>> I THINK THEY'RE BOTH JUST AS
GUILTY AS THE OTHER.
>> NOW RETIRED FROM LAW
ENFORCEMENT, RONNIE JONES SPENDS
HIS DAYS TENDING HIS BAR IN
APALACHICOLA.
HE SAYS HE'S STILL LEFT
WONDERING WHAT REALLY HAPPENED
INSIDE ROOM 15.
IS THIS CASE A MYSTERY TO YOU?
>> IT'S NOT A MYSTERY ON EXACTLY
WHAT HAPPENED BUT EXACTLY WHY IT
HAPPENED.
THAT IS WHAT STILL BOTHERS ME TO
THIS DAY.
WHY?
>> LIKE WHAT AILEEN MIGHT HAVE
BEEN ABOUT TO SAY THAT SPARKED
THE ATTACK.
>> IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING IN
THE RUMORS THAT SHE WAS FIXING
TO DISCLOSE THE FACT THAT SHE
WAS PREGNANT.
>> PREGNANT?
AND WAS SHE PREGNANT?
DID YOU LEARN THAT AT THE
AUTOPSY?
>> I WAS AT THE AUTOPSY AND
LEARNED SHE WAS NOT PREGNANT.
I DON'T KNOW IF SHE THOUGHT SHE
WAS OR NOT.
>> WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR
SENTENCING ZACH ABELL FINALLY
SPOKE AND TOLD THE COURTROOM
ANOTHER TWIST IN THIS TORTURED
STORY.
>> I HAD STOPPED AND I GRABBED A
RING POP AND I PROPOSED TO HER
WITH A RING POP AND ASKED HER TO
MARRY ME, AND SHE SAID YES.
AND ME AND AILEEN WERE GOING TO
GO OUR WAY AND LEAVE CHRISTINA
OUT OF IT.
>> ZACH SPOKE AT HIS SENTENCING
AND SAID THAT HE'D ACTUALLY
PROPOSED TO AILEEN DURING THIS
TRIP.
>> I THIN THAT IS JUST B.S.
IT'S A GREAT STORY, BUT NO.
>> I HAVE BEEN IN THE JUSTICE
SYSTEM IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER
FOR 40 YEARS.
RARELY HAVE I SEEN THE SORT OF
INJURIES THAT I SAW ON AILEEN
SEIDEN.
>> THE JUDGE TOLD ABELL HE
WISHED HE COULD IMPOSE A HARSHER
PUNISHMENT BEFORE SENTENCING HIM
TO THE MAXIMUM.
LIFE IN PRISON.
>> IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA LIFE
MEANS LIFE.
WE DON'T HAVE PAROLE.
>> AT HER SENTENCING CHRISTINA
ARAUJO'S FATHER, COLONEL TONY
ARAUJO, SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.
HE SAID HE NEVER USED HIS
INFLUENCE TO BENEFIT HIS
DAUGHTER.
AND HE RECALLED THE CONVERSATION
HE HAD WITH HER AFTER THE
MURDER.
>> YOU WILL OWN UP TO THE TRUTH.
YOU WILL ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY.
YOU WILL BE THE VOICE OF THE
VICTIM.
AND YOU WILL TESTIFY UNDER OATH
IN A COURT OF LAW.
AND THEN WHATEVER IS SENTENCED
TO YOU, THAT'S FINE.
>> THERE WAS NO AGREEMENT WITH
HER AS TO THE LENGTH OF
SENTENCE.
SHE GAVE HER STATEMENT WITH THE
KNOWLEDGE THAT SHE COULD STILL
RECEIVE LIFE IN PRISON.
>> I THINK ABOUT THAT DAY EVERY
DAY OF MY LIFE.
THE DETAILS HAUNT ME AND THE
MEMORIES KEEP ME UP.
>> THE JUDGE ACKNOWLEDGED HER
COOPERATION AND SENTENCED
CHRISTINA ARAUJO TO 25 YEARS.
>> JUSTICE HAS BEEN SERVED.
HE WON'T BEAT UP ANYMORE
FEMALES, NEITHER WILL SHE.
>> I THINK THAT EVERY WOMAN KIND
OF THINKS I WOULD LEAVE IF I WAS
IN THAT SITUATION.
I WOULD JUST GET UP AND LEAVE, I
WOULD NEVER TOLERATE THAT.
>> AILEEN'S BEST FRIEND, ALLIE,
HOPES THERE WILL BE MORE
COMPASSION FOR THOSE TRAPPED IN
ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS.
>> IT'S ALWAYS THE I'M SORRY,
IT'S NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN
AGAIN.
AND YOU BELIEVE IT BECAUSE
YOU'RE IN LOVE AND THINGS ARE
GOOD 95% OF THE TIME.
BUT THE 5% THAT ARE BAD ARE SO
BAD.
>> WITH YOUR SISTER GONE, HOW DO
YOU WANT HER TO BE REMEMBERED?
>> I WANT HER TO BE REMEMBERED
AS A SWEET, LOVING HUMAN BEING
WHO, UNFORTUNATELY, HAD LOST HER
PARENTS AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE.
BUT SHE WAS STILL SO SWEET.
LIKE SHE WAS JUST A SWEETHEART.
HER SOUL WAS SO KIND.