An Orange County jury found E. Scott Sills, a 58-year-old fertility doctor, guilty of the second-degree murder of his wife, Susann Sills.
The conviction was handed down on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, for the crime that transpired more than seven years ago.
In November of 2016, Susann, 45, was found dead at the foot of the stairs in their San Clemente, California, home.
Prosecutors contended that Sills staged his wife’s death as an accident, following a strangulation incident. He now faces 15 years to life in prison and will be sentenced in March 2024.
Initially, Sills had reported to authorities that he discovered Susann’s lifeless body after she presumably fell down the stairs. However, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office highlighted evidence contradicting this claim. Blood stains and a clump of Susann’s hair were discovered in their daughter’s bedroom, where Susann was sleeping due to a migraine, pointing to a violent struggle in that location.
In a statement, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer remarked on the severity of the crime, noting the calculated planning involved in committing the murder and then attempting to stage it as an accidental fall. Spitzer emphasized the contrast between Sills’ professional role as a caregiver and the heinous nature of his crime.
The couple had co-founded the Center for Advanced Genetics, a fertility clinic in Carlsbad, California, the year before her death. The clinic gained recognition for its work in the field of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and infertility treatment.
Sills’ defense attorney, Jack Earley, presented an alternative narrative to the jurors. Earley suggested that Susann might have lost her footing on the stairs due to her health condition in the days leading up to her death. He noted that Susann had been suffering from a migraine, had not eaten, and was under the influence of Valium and the pain medication tramadol.
Text messages revealed during the trial indicated strains in the couple’s relationship. In one such message, Susann expressed feelings of entrapment and distress, stating, “You are killing me, don’t you see? … I just want out.” Prosecutors also mentioned a contentious issue between the couple involving a topless photo Susann had posted online after losing a bet.
E. Scott Sills, a graduate of Cornell University and a board-certified physician, has authored numerous books and is recognized as a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists.