Pa. man accused of smothering missing wife, dismembering her, and dumping remains in 2 places

BUCKS COUNTY, Pa. (TCD) -- A 57-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of killing his missing wife, dismembering her body, and disposing of it in two different places.

Fifty-five-year-old Elizabeth "Beth" Capaldi was reported missing to the Perkasie Borough Police Department on Oct. 12 after her family had not heard from her in two days. Perkasie Borough Police said her wallet was gone, but her cellphone, car, and car keys were still at home.

On Thursday, Dec. 15, Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub announced Beth’s husband, Stephen Capaldi, was taken into custody in connection with her death and dismemberment. He has been charged with third-degree murder, possessing an instrument of crime, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, obstructing the law or other governmental function, and abuse of a corpse.

In a press conference, Weintraub said he believes Capaldi will plead guilty to the charges and be sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison.

According to Weintraub, on Oct. 10, Stephen Capaldi allegedly strangled Beth and smothered her with a pillow while she slept. After she died, he reportedly took her body to the basement of their Sellersville home and dismembered her.

Two days later, on Oct. 12, he allegedly disposed of some of her remains in a dumpster in Montgomery County. On Nov. 5, he reportedly buried the rest of her body along the Delaware River shoreline at Hog Island.

The Bucks County grand jury report says Capaldi turned his phone over to investigators, but only after he deleted some information on it. Forensics, however, reportedly recovered messages between Capaldi and a woman with whom he was allegedly having an affair, as well as internet searches for topics such as "how to get away with murder," "how to disappear and never be found," "how to control your dark impulses," and more.

He also reportedly looked up information about how to dispose of a body.

According to the grand jury report, Capaldi agreed to take a polygraph test and was asked if he killed his wife. He reportedly said he did not, but he "unquestionably failed that test."

While testifying in front of the grand jury, Capaldi "did agree that the evidence was overwhelming that he was involved and agreed that he doesn’t think this Grand Jury believes a word he has said."

On Dec. 9, Capaldi led authorities to Beth’s remains at Hog Island, which a cadaver dog helped uncover. Those remains were positively identified as Beth’s on Dec. 12.

If Capaldi does plead guilty to the charges, which the grand jury report says is part of an agreement, he will be eligible for parole when he is 77 years old.

MORE:

• Attempt to Locate, 10/14/2020 - Perkasie Borough Police Department
• HUSBAND CHARGED WITH KILLING ELIZABETH CAPALDI OF SELLERSVILLE, DA ANNOUNCES - Bucks County District Attorney's Office
• Grand Jury Report - Bucks County 
• Bucks DA Announces Arrest in Killing of Beth Capaldi - Bucks County District Attorney's Office