The Throuple Murder Mystery: Who Killed Aileen Seiden in Florida Motel Room 15?
In April 2018, a horrific discovery shocked the peaceful community of Apalachicola, Florida, when a woman's brutally beaten body was found in a ditch alongside Highway 98. Lieutenant Ronnie Jones responded to the scene, finding the victim had suffered extreme violence with bruises and lacerations covering her entire body. The following day, authorities identified the deceased as 31-year-old Eileen Siden from Miami, setting in motion an investigation that would uncover disturbing evidence at a local motel.
The case took another turn when staff at the Sportsman's Lodge Motel discovered blood-soaked bedding and signs of violence in Room 15. Investigators found evidence of a hasty cleanup attempt using vinegar, but luminol tests revealed significant blood traces throughout the bathroom. The investigation would eventually focus on three people who had checked into that room: Eileen, her boyfriend Zach Abel, and a woman named Christina Araho—but only two departed, carrying a body with them.
Key Takeaways
A woman's brutally beaten body found near Highway 98 in April 2018 was identified as 31-year-old Eileen Siden from Miami.
Evidence of extreme violence was discovered in Room 15 of the Sportsman's Lodge Motel, where attempts had been made to clean up a bloody crime scene.
Investigators determined three people had entered the motel room—Eileen, her boyfriend Zach Abel, and Christina Araho—but only two left alive.
Finding the Remains
Discovery Site and Physical State
On April 23, 2018, authorities received a call about human remains discovered along Highway 98. The body was positioned across a ditch, with the head located near the roadway and feet pointing away. The victim exhibited severe trauma from head to toe, with extensive bruising covering the entire body and lacerations visible on the face, stomach, and legs. Lieutenant Ronnie Jones, who responded to the scene, described the injuries as evidence of "extreme violence" and "overkill," noting he had never encountered such brutality before.
The discovery raised immediate concerns about public safety, as investigators questioned whether the perpetrator or perpetrators remained active in the community. A couple heading to a nearby fishing pond had initially discovered the remains, bringing sudden terror to Florida's normally peaceful "Forgotten Coast" region.
The Victim: Eileen Sidon
The following day, authorities identified the deceased as Eileen Sidon, a 31-year-old woman from the Miami area. Eileen had lost both parents at a young age—her mother Mera died of cancer when Eileen was 9, and her father Frank suffered a fatal heart attack when she was 14. This left her sister Francesca, who was 22 at the time of their father's death, to become Eileen's legal guardian.
Prior to her death, Eileen had worked as a property manager in Miami. Friends described her as independent and self-sufficient, managing her own apartment and finances. The investigation revealed that Eileen had been staying at the Sportsman's Lodge Motel in room 15, along with her boyfriend Zachary Abel and a woman named Christina Araho.
During her final days, Eileen had reached out to her best friend (identified only as "Ally") with disturbing concerns, stating she needed help and mentioning her sister was somehow involved. When advised to flee, Eileen replied that she couldn't and appeared terrified. This communication proved to be their last interaction before Eileen's murder.
Investigation Begins
The initial discovery occurred on April 23, 2018, when authorities received a call about a body located off Highway 98. Lieutenant Ronnie Jones arrived at the scene to find a woman's body stretched across a ditch. The victim displayed extensive trauma, with bruises covering her entire body and lacerations on her face, stomach, and legs. The level of violence was described as extreme and excessive.
Unanswered Questions
At the beginning of the investigation, numerous uncertainties existed. Law enforcement needed to determine:
Was the perpetrator still in the community?
Was this the work of one person or multiple individuals?
What brought this violence to the typically peaceful Gulf Coast area?
The contrast between the brutal crime and the tranquil setting of Apalachicola, Florida—often called part of the "Forgotten Coast"—was stark. This small coastal town, largely untouched by commercial development, rarely experienced such violent crimes.
Identification of the Victim
The day following the discovery, the victim was identified as Eileene Siden, a 31-year-old woman from the Miami area. Her last communications revealed troubling circumstances:
She had called her best friend in distress, mentioning her sister's involvement in a frightening situation
She expressed fear and an inability to escape her circumstances
Her friend had urged her to flee
A second crime scene was discovered at the Sportsman's Lodge Motel when housekeepers reported disturbing findings in Room 15:
Evidence in Room 15 Significance Overturned furniture Signs of struggle Missing bedsheets Possible attempt to remove evidence Extensive blood stains on the bed Indication of severe violence Smell of vinegar Attempt to clean the crime scene Positive luminol test in bathroom Hidden blood evidence Blood and palm print on shower curtain rod Possible weapon
Testing confirmed the blood belonged to Eileene Siden. The investigation revealed that three individuals had occupied Room 15: Eileene, her boyfriend Zachary Abel, and a woman named Christina Araho. Only two had been seen leaving.
Eileene's personal history included significant tragedy. She lost her mother to cancer as a teenager, followed by her father's death from a heart attack when she was 14. Her older sister Francesca had become her legal guardian. Despite these challenges, Eileene had established herself as independent, working as a property manager in Miami.
Prior to her death, Eileene had reconnected with Zachary Abel, whom she had known since their teenage years. Their relationship apparently changed over time, and investigators would soon focus on understanding the dynamics between Eileene, Zachary, and Christina.
Victim's Background
Eileen Siden, a 31-year-old woman from Miami, was discovered on April 23, 2018, along Highway 98. Her body showed extensive trauma with bruises covering her entire body and multiple lacerations on her face, stomach, and legs. The extreme violence evident in her injuries shocked investigators who had never witnessed such brutality. The discovery raised immediate concerns about public safety and whether the perpetrator remained at large in the community.
Closest Companion's Insight
Eileen's closest friend of 25 years described their deep connection that spanned most of their lives. Living independently in Miami, Eileen had established herself professionally as a property manager with her own apartment. Her friend recalled Eileen as remarkably self-sufficient, handling her financial responsibilities and maintaining her independence with determination.
During Eileen's 2016 visit to Los Angeles to see her sister, her friend noticed Eileen's strong sense of autonomy. After returning to Miami, Eileen reconnected with Zachary Abel, someone she had known since their teenage years. While Eileen initially found Zach entertaining, her friend noticed the relationship dynamic shifted relatively quickly. This relationship change would later become significant to investigators piecing together the events leading to her death.
Final Exchange with Eileen
The last conversation between Eileen and her friend took on an alarming tone that diverged dramatically from their usual interactions. Eileen reached out desperately saying, "I need your help," describing a frightening situation that seemed "like a movie" where her sister was somehow involved. Her friend immediately advised Eileen to flee, specifically using the word "run" and urging her to escape the situation.
Eileen's response—"I can't"—conveyed profound fear. Her friend recalled the surreal nature of the conversation, noting, "This doesn't happen to us, this doesn't happen in real life." This final exchange would later provide crucial context for investigators trying to understand the circumstances surrounding Eileen's tragic death.
Crime Scene at the Motel Room
The Housekeepers' Finding
On April 24, 2018, housekeeping staff at the Sportsman's Lodge Motel made a disturbing discovery while cleaning room 15. Upon entering the room, they immediately noticed furniture knocked over on the floor. As they began their routine cleaning, they encountered more concerning signs that something was wrong.
Several items were missing from the beds, including sheets and linens. The most alarming discovery was a bed completely saturated with blood, indicating a violent incident had occurred. The scene they encountered was so concerning that management promptly contacted law enforcement.
Signs of Violence
The blood-soaked bed served as the most obvious indicator of a violent confrontation in the room. Blood patterns suggested extensive trauma had occurred, with the volume indicating potentially life-threatening injuries to the victim.
Tests later revealed the blood belonged to Eileen Siden, a 31-year-old woman whose body had been discovered the previous day along Highway 98. The bathroom showed additional evidence of violence - luminol testing caused the entire bathroom to illuminate, revealing significant blood evidence that someone had attempted to clean. Investigators noted the shower curtain rod appeared to have been used as a weapon, with both blood and a palm print discovered on it.
Investigative Findings
Lieutenant Ronnie Jones, lead investigator with the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, documented numerous details that connected this room to Eileen Siden's murder. The quantity of blood loss in the room immediately led him to connect it with the body found the previous day.
A distinct vinegar smell permeated the room, suggesting someone had hastily attempted to clean the crime scene. Despite these cleaning efforts, blood evidence remained visible. Jones determined that three individuals had occupied the room: Eileen Siden, her boyfriend Zachary Abel, and a woman named Christina Araho, with evidence suggesting only two left alive.
The peaceful, tree-shaded motel grounds stood in stark contrast to the violence that had unfolded within room 15. For investigators, the motel room represented the last location where Eileen was alive before her body was dumped along Highway 98 with extensive bruising and lacerations from head to toe.
Geographic Setting
Franklin County, nestled along Florida's Gulf Coast, contains the peaceful town of Apalachicola. This area is known as part of the "Forgotten Coast" - a region that preserves the character of old Florida. Unlike many coastal areas in the state, this location lacks the typical high-rise condominiums and crowded beaches found elsewhere.
The Sportsman's Lodge Motel, with its tree-shaded grounds, represents the tranquil character of the area. Room 15 at this motel became a significant location in the investigation. The motel's peaceful setting stands in stark contrast to the violent events that occurred within its walls.
Highway 98 runs through this coastal region, and it was along this highway where Eileen Siden's body was discovered in a ditch on April 23, 2018. This discovery location was approximately a day's drive from Miami, where Eileen had lived.
The beauty of the area makes it particularly jarring as a crime scene. The coastal landscape, with its natural splendor, seems incongruent with violent crime. As investigators noted, this piece of paradise would be the last place one would expect such a horrific incident to occur.
Apalachicola itself maintains the atmosphere of a small, sleepy Gulf Coast town. The community was understandably shocked by these events, as such violence was extremely unusual for this quiet area.
The region's isolated nature played a factor in the case, as the body was found in what appeared to be a hasty disposal site along the highway, suggesting the perpetrators were likely unfamiliar with the area and in a hurry to leave.
Public Reaction and Community Response
The discovery of Eileen Siden's brutally beaten body along Highway 98 sent shockwaves through the quiet community of Apalachicola. Local residents, unaccustomed to such violence in their peaceful coastal town, were deeply disturbed by the crime's brutality.
"The horror that it really was absolutely shocked people," noted Assistant Prosecutor Jared Patterson. For many locals, this incident disrupted their perception of the area as a safe haven.
Apalachicola, part of what locals affectionately call the "Forgotten Coast," had long maintained its small-town charm. The region had successfully resisted the high-rise developments and condominiums that dominated other Florida coastal areas. This murder felt particularly jarring against such an idyllic backdrop.
Lieutenant Ronnie Jones, the lead investigator, recalled the grim details of the case with clarity. The body discovery followed by the blood-soaked scene at the Sportsman's Lodge Motel created a disturbing picture of premeditated violence.
"I've never seen anything like it," remarked one investigator. "It was extreme violence, extreme overkill." The crime scene at Room 15 revealed extensive bloodstains, particularly on one bed, suggesting a brutal attack had occurred there.
Forensic evidence pointed to attempted concealment. Investigators detected a vinegar smell, indicating someone had tried to clean the crime scene. Luminol tests revealed blood traces throughout the bathroom, suggesting it may have been where some of the most vicious attacks occurred.
The investigation quickly identified three key individuals connected to the case:
Eileen Siden, the 31-year-old victim
Zachary Abel, Eileen's boyfriend
Christina Araho, associated with both Eileen and Zachary
All three had shared Room 15 at the Sportsman's Lodge, but as investigators grimly noted, "Three people entered and two came out carrying a body."
Friends of Eileen described her final days as troubled. Her best friend received alarming calls where Eileen expressed fear, saying "I need your help" and describing "horrific things." When advised to run, Eileen responded that she couldn't, suggesting she felt trapped.
For Eileen's sister Francesca, the murder brought renewed trauma. Having already lost both parents and become Eileen's legal guardian at a young age, she now faced another devastating loss. "I didn't understand why like it was given to me again like to handle another loss," she expressed.
The community continued to grapple with the reality that such violence had touched their peaceful corner of Florida, as prosecutors worked to understand the events that had led to such a tragic end in paradise.
Family Background
Eileen's Early Life Challenges
Eileen Siden, a 31-year-old woman from Miami, experienced significant trauma early in her life. At age 9, she lost her mother Mera to cancer, a loss that happened so quickly that neither she nor her sister had time to properly process it. Six years later, when Eileen was just 14, her father Frank—a successful furniture manufacturer with whom she shared a special bond—died suddenly from a heart attack.
These back-to-back tragedies left Eileen orphaned at a young age. The losses would have profound and lasting effects on her emotional development. Though she didn't immediately show signs of grief, the impact of losing both parents would eventually surface in her adult years.
Francesca's Role as Guardian
When their father died, Francesca Siden, then 22, faced an enormous decision about her 14-year-old sister's future. She signed legal papers to become Eileen's guardian, effectively transitioning from sister to parent overnight. "I became a parent. I had to take her to school, pick her up from school. I had to finish my own school. I was working," Francesca explained.
The responsibilities were overwhelming for the young woman who was simultaneously trying to establish her own life. Despite these challenges, Francesca fulfilled her duties as guardian for seven years until she moved to Los Angeles.
After Francesca's departure, Eileen, now in her twenties, remained in Miami where she built an independent life. She worked as a property manager, maintained her own apartment, and handled her finances independently. According to her best friend "Ally," Eileen was strong and self-sufficient.
In 2016, Eileen visited Francesca in Los Angeles for an extended stay. Looking back, Francesca would later wish her sister had never returned to Miami, as it was there that Eileen reconnected with Zachary Abel, a man she had known since their teenage years—a relationship that would ultimately lead to tragic circumstances.
Key Personal Connections
Francesca's Memories
Francesca Siden became her younger sister Eileen's legal guardian after their mother Mera died of cancer when Eileen was only 9 years old. Six years later, the sisters faced another tragedy when their father Frank, a successful furniture manufacturer who shared a special bond with Eileen, died suddenly from a heart attack.
"I signed the papers and I became her legal guardian," Francesca recalls. This meant taking on parental responsibilities while still young herself. "I had to take her to school, 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."
When Francesca moved to Los Angeles seven years later, Eileen, then in her twenties, finally began processing their parents' deaths. "She started to think a lot. She became more sensitive," Francesca noted, acknowledging the long-lasting effects of their shared trauma.
Friend's Perspective on Eileen's Independence
Eileen's best friend, identified only as Ally to protect her privacy, remembers a capable and self-sufficient young woman making her way in Miami.
"She worked as a property manager. She lived in a great apartment," Ally recalls. "She paid her own rent, she made her bills. She was very independent."
Francesca witnessed this independence firsthand when Eileen visited Los Angeles in 2016. Looking back after the tragedy, Francesca expressed profound regret: "100% I wish she had stayed with me, because whatever happened when she went back to Miami is when she reconnected with Zach."
The Fateful Connection with Zachary Abel
Zachary Abel was someone Eileen had known since their teenage years. Their relationship had a complicated beginning, as Eileen initially had reservations about him.
"I'm not sure if I had the best reputation in high school," Zach would later admit. Despite early hesitations, the two eventually began dating after reconnecting in Miami.
Ally observed the evolution of their relationship: "I think in the beginning Eileen found Zack fun, but I think it changed pretty quickly."
The connection to Zach would ultimately bring Eileen to the Sportsman's Lodge in Apalachicola, Florida—specifically to Room 15, where investigators would later find blood evidence related to her murder.
Key Suspects and Investigation
Zachary Abel's Background
Zachary Abel was a significant person of interest in the case. He and Eileen had known each other since their teenage years, though their initial relationship was complicated. Despite Eileen's initial hesitations about Zach, who self-admittedly didn't have "the best reputation" in high school, they eventually began dating after reconnecting in Miami following Eileen's return from visiting her sister in Los Angeles.
The investigation revealed that Zach had met Captain Mike Pett approximately seven years earlier at a bar. Mike described Zach as "very entertaining" and "extroverted," though he noted their relationship seemed troubled, stating there "weren't good times" and "always some issue."
Christina Araho and the Motel Connection
Christina Araho was Zach Abel's girlfriend of four years before he reconnected with Eileen. Investigators discovered that all three individuals—Zach, Eileen, and Christina—had been seen together in the Apalachicola area prior to the murder.
Crucial evidence emerged when authorities learned the trio had shared Room 15 at the Sportsman's Lodge Motel. This room became a key crime scene in the investigation. Lieutenant Ronnie Jones documented significant blood evidence on the bed that couldn't be missed, with luminol tests revealing extensive blood traces in the bathroom despite someone's attempts to clean the scene with vinegar. Forensic testing confirmed the blood belonged to Eileen.
The evidence painted a disturbing picture: "Three people entered and two came out carrying a body." A palm print and blood were found on the shower curtain rod, which investigators believed may have been used as a weapon during the attack.
Witness Accounts
Captain Mike Pette's Observations
Captain Mike Pette, who owned a 50-foot boat off the coast of Lauderdale, Florida, played a crucial role in the 2018 murder investigation of Eileen Siden. He had known both Eileen and her boyfriend Zach Abel for several years.
When reflecting on his interactions with Zach, Captain Pette described him as "very entertaining" and "extroverted." His acquaintance with Zach began approximately 7 years before the murder when they met by chance at a bar called Duffy's. Zach had approached him with a casual comment about liking his shirt.
Shortly after their initial meeting, Christina Araho joined them. She was Zach's girlfriend at the time, and they had been in a relationship for about 4 years. Captain Pette's recollections of his time with them were notably negative. "It's kind of weird trying to remember any good times," he stated, adding that "they just weren't there—was always some issue."
