Pa. man sentenced to at least 22 years in prison for smothering and dismembering missing wife

BUCKS COUNTY, Pa. (TCD) -- A 57-year-old man pleaded guilty this week to killing his wife, dismembering her body, and scattering her remains in different places in late 2022.

On Tuesday, April 11, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office announced Stephen Capaldi entered a plea for third-degree murder, possessing an instrument of crime, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, obstructing the administration of law or other governmental function, and abuse of a corpse in connection with the death of Elizabeth "Beth" Capaldi.

As a result of the plea agreement, Capaldi will spend a minimum of 22 years in state prison and up to 44. He must also pay over $8,000 to his daughter in restitution for funeral expenses, undergo a mental health evaluation, and not communicate with his daughter unless she speaks to him first.

The District Attorney’s office said Capaldi "fully cooperated with investigators, told them what he did to his wife and led them to her remains, allowing her family to give her a proper burial."

Capaldi reported his wife missing to Perkasie Police in October, saying she was last seen at her home Oct. 10. The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office said Beth Capaldi "was not known to travel outside of the area alone and mainly stayed in or around the house, unless running errands or with family members."

According to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, $13,000 in cash, clothing, and other items were also reported missing from the Capaldi home around the time Beth disappeared.

Capaldi said he strangled and smothered his wife on Oct. 10. He reportedly moved her body to different bedrooms before dismembering her in the basement. He disposed of her remains two days later. The District Attorney’s Office said Capaldi "purchased items to carry out the disposal of his wife’s body."

According to Capaldi's grand jury report, Capaldi told investigators Beth was "unhappy in their marriage" and left him to "prove a point." He said Beth admitted to having an affair for three years, but the report said the grand jury did not believe that to be true. Capaldi was reportedly having an affair with another woman, and had been for about six months.

The report says investigators recovered deleted internet searches on Capaldi's phone, which included "how to get away with murder," "can a polygraph be skewed," "how to control your dark impulses," and "how to disappear and never be found."

At the sentencing hearing, Capaldi’s daughter said, "My mother is dead, and my father killed her. I have the love of friends, family, even strangers, but my own father took the person who loved me most."

MORE:

• HUSBAND PLEADS GUILTY TO KILLING ELIZABETH CAPALDI OF SELLERSVILLE; SENTENCED TO 22-44 YEARS IN STATE PRISON - Bucks County District Attorney's Office
• HUSBAND CHARGED WITH KILLING ELIZABETH CAPALDI OF SELLERSVILLE, DA ANNOUNCES, 12/15/2022 - Bucks County District Attorney's Office
• BUCKS DA, PERKASIE PD ANNOUNCE MISSING PERSON INVESTIGATION, 10/22/2022 - Bucks County District Attorney's Office
• Pa. man accused of smothering missing wife, dismembering her, and dumping remains in 2 places, 12/16/2022 - TCD