Palm Beach County, FL – Richard Edmond Seith, a 53-year-old eye doctor, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of his ex-wife, Cynthia Lynn Sciarrone.
Sciarrone, 54, was found shot in the head outside her Greenacres condo on the morning of July 15, shortly after returning home from her job as a flight attendant.
The Murder and Investigation
Authorities responded to a “man down” call around 3:20 a.m. and found Sciarrone outside her vehicle, still wearing her Spirit Airlines flight attendant uniform. Surveillance footage from Sciarrone’s car revealed her arrival at the condo at 11:43 p.m. the night before, followed by the sound of a gunshot. The video captured a man in a baseball cap walking away from the scene.
Using cellphone data and license plate readers, investigators tracked Seith’s orange Jeep Wrangler near Sciarrone’s condo both before and after the shooting.
A witness also reported seeing Seith’s vehicle around the complex in the days leading up to the crime. Seith had also made internet searches to track Sciarrone’s flight schedule, further linking him to the crime.
The Motive: Divorce Settlement and Past Abusive Behavior
The murder occurred just two months after Seith and Sciarrone finalized their divorce on May 5. As part of the settlement, Seith was required to pay $285,000 to his ex-wife to settle the mortgage on a home she received. Authorities believe financial stress from the settlement may have played a role in the murder.
Seith’s behavior during the marriage was reportedly abusive. A witness, who had previously dated Seith and later became friends with Sciarrone, claimed that Seith exhibited a pattern of emotional and psychological abuse.
He allegedly demanded that Sciarrone participate in “swinging” with other sexual partners, a request Sciarrone was uncomfortable with. Seith reportedly promised to pay for dental work if she agreed.
In addition, Seith had expressed jealousy and control issues as Sciarrone sought financial independence by becoming a flight attendant. Police said he would become upset and drink excessively when Sciarrone was away, imagining what she might be doing.
History of Dysfunctional Behavior
The witness also revealed disturbing details about Seith’s actions toward others. Seith reportedly confessed to creating a fake Facebook account to stalk his ex-girlfriend and contacted her new partner, calling her a “gold digger.” Seith also allegedly sought professional help after expressing thoughts of killing his other ex-wife during their divorce.
Seith’s Denial and Arrest
When questioned by detectives on July 16, Seith denied any involvement in Sciarrone’s death. He claimed that the last time he saw her was at a court hearing in December and had no contact with her afterward. Despite his denials, Seith was arrested on July 21 after investigators pieced together evidence against him.
Seith, who works as an ophthalmologist and owns the Treasure Coast Eye Specialist in Stuart, is being held without bond in the Palm Beach County Jail.
