ORANGE COUNTY, CA – A California fertility doctor has been found guilty of murdering his wife and attempting to cover it up as an accidental fall, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office reported on Tuesday. Dr. E. Scott Sills was convicted of killing his wife, Susann Sills in 2016 and is slated to face a prison sentence of up to 15 years to life. He had been arrested and charged in 2019.
In the initial report, Dr. Sills had called 911 on the morning of November 16, 2016, and claimed that his wife had appeared to have accidentally fallen down the stairs. But further investigation revealed evidence of strangulation and blood stains on a wall and curtains in a bedroom where Susann Sills had been sleeping in their San Clemente home, the district attorney’s office reported.
In his defense, Dr. Sills’ lawyer, Jack Earley, countered that Susann Sills had been suffering from migraines, leading her to sleep in a separate bedroom. He also argued that she had been taking painkillers after having not eaten, which could have made her disoriented and result in a fall.
However, as to how the fall occurred remained unclear. Earley has not responded to any requests for comments following Tuesday’s verdict.
Dr. Sills’ sentencing has been scheduled for March 15, according to the district attorney’s office.