Florida police arrested a couple in connection with the savage beating of their co-worker with whom they were believed to be in a love triangle.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office arrested Christina Araujo, 38, and Zachary Abell, 30, who are both accused of brutally attacking 30-year-old Aileen Seiden.
Seiden, who is daughter of well-known Miami businessman, Frank Seiden, died after she succumbed to injuries she suffered inside the Sportsman Lodge. Her body was found at 5pm on April 23 by fishermen.
‘It’s the most savage beating I’ve see in my 40 years in law enforcement,’ Franklin County Sheriff A.J. ‘Tony’ Smith told The Miami Herald on Monday.
Florida police arrested couple Christina Araujo (left), 38, and Zachary Abell (right), 30, in connection with the savage beating of Aileen Seiden
Seiden (pictured), who is daughter of well-known Miami businessman, Frank Seiden, died after she succumbed to injuries she suffered inside the Sportsman Lodge. Her body was found at 5pm on April 23 by fishermen. Police believe all three were involved in a love triangle.
‘She had broken ribs, broken limbs, a busted skull. Just horrific.’
Authorities said the suspects later dumped Aileen Seiden’s body on the side of a road while driving back to their home in North Miami.
Police said Seiden could have still been alive.
‘For all we know, she may have been alive when they dumped her,’ Smith told the Herald.
Araujo is the daughter of Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Colonel Tony Araujo. She and Abell have histories of drug arrests. Colonel Araujo is a 36-year veteran of the force and the agency’s fourth-highest ranking official.
Video taken by the sheriff’s office shows the moment Abell was transported to the Broward County Jail
He was seen with handcuffs around his wrists and ankles and wearing a white shirt with black shorts. Abell is being held without bond
He oversees law enforcement operations in the county’s 17 districts. According to the sheriff’s office, the did colonel report his daughter’s arrest to his superiors. He remains on active duty.
Police believe Araujo, Abell and Seiden whatever happened at the motel could have been sex related.
‘It’s some kind of a love triangle,’ Smith told the Herald.
Araujo is the daughter of Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Colonel Tony Araujo (pictured). Colonel Araujo is the agency’s fourth-highest ranking official
‘We believe the male suspect may have been involved with both women. We know he’s abused both women in the past. He’s a real low-life, a thug.’
Video taken by the sheriff’s office shows the moment Abell was transported to the Broward County Jail.
He was seen with handcuffs around his wrists and ankles and wearing a white shirt with black shorts.
Abell is being held without bond. Araujo is currently getting treatment for an infection in a local hospital.
Both are charged with second-degree murder and with tampering with evidence.
Araujo, Abell and Seiden knew one another and all lived in the same apartment building. They also worked for Abell’s used-car company and car insurance business.
The trio had just returned from Texas when they stopped at the motel where Seiden was murdered.
After allegedly beating Seiden to death and dumping her body, they fled to a friend’s house in South Florida.
Aileen Seiden (pictured) was the youngest daughter of Frank M. Seiden, a Miami businessman who sold furniture to high-profile beach hotels, cruise ships and Disney resorts
According to the Herald, Abell and Araujo told their friend, who also knew Seiden, that she was murdered.
The unidentified friend called the police and the suspects were arrested the next day.
Aileen 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.
Her older sister, Deborah Seiden, who worked as an investigator for the Miami-Dade County state attorney’s office, told the Herald that her ‘heart is broken’.
‘I’m devastated,’ Deborah said. ‘Especially with the way she died. My sister didn’t deserve this.
Aileen’s other sister, Franceasca Seiden, who is the founder of a production company said a vigil will be held for Seiden on Thursday at 7pm.
Friends of the Seiden family set up a GoFundMe account on behalf of Aileen’s sister Franceasca.
‘In the tragic aftermath of her death, we’d like to ask for help in getting Franceasca what she needs to care for herself and the difficult tasks that lie ahead as she navigates these uncharted waters,’ the account reads.