Husband of missing Bucks County woman charged with murder
SELLERSVILLE, Pa. (CBS) -- A missing Sellersville woman was murdered by her husband, who prosecutors claim killed her in her sleep, dismembered her body and left the remains in a wooded area.
Stephen Capaldi has been charged with the third-degree murder of his wife, Beth Capaldi, the Bucks County District Attorney's Office said Thursday.
Court records reveal he strangled his wife Beth as she was sleeping, used a pillow to smother her and then moved her body to the basement of their High Street home in Sellersville.
Investigators say Capaldi then tried to cover it up by dismembering her body. They say he put some of her remains in a dumpster in Montgomery County and buried some on Hog Island Road in Delaware County near the Philadelphia International Airport.
Beth Capaldi was reported missing nearly two months ago from their Sellersville home.
Investigators negotiated with Capaldi in hopes to find her.
Capaldi helped law enforcement locate her remains.
"On Dec. 9, the defendant was transported by law enforcement, some of which you see here, to the Hog Island burial site," Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub said, "where he led law enforcement voluntarily to where he believed he had buried his wife's remains."
" If I had some magic time machine and I could turn back the clock to prior to Beth Capaldi's murder," Weintraub added, "I would do so every time, but that's not how our universe works."
A grand jury report says he Googled how to get away with murder.
More court documents reveal Capaldi caved during questions before the grand jury - and agreed to show detectives where he discarded his late wife’s remains - in a wooded, swampy area near the airport @CBSPhiladelphia pic.twitter.com/srdmj3YDui
— Joe Holden (@JoeHoldenCBS3) December 15, 2022
The DA said his goal is to bring Capaldi to justice and do their best to bring closure to the family.
"We will continue with our investigations and yes continue to look for Beth's remains until it is no longer feasible," Weintraub said. "Hopefully soon Beth Capaldi can rest in peace and her family can find peace as well."
Capaldi is being held at Bucks County Correctional Facility without bail.
Weintraub said he expects Capaldi to plead guilty and could be sentenced to 20 to 40 years.