California fertility doctor, Eric Scott Sills found guilty of killing wife who he said had fallen down stairs

A doctor in California has been found guilty of murder after prosecutors claimed he strangled his wife and attempted to stage her death as an accidental fall down the stairs.

According to the Orange County District Attorney's Office, E. Scott Sills was convicted for the killing of his wife, Susann Sills, in 2016. If evidence proved, he could face up to 15 years to life in prison. 

Sills was arrested and charged in 2019. On the morning of November 16, 2016, Sills called 911, reporting that his wife seemed to have fallen down the stairs. 

According to the office, findings indicated that Susann Sills died due to strangulation. Moreover, blood stains were discovered on a wall and curtains in a bedroom within the San Clemente home where she had been sleeping.

During the trial, attorney Jack Earley, representing E. Scott Sills, presented an argument to the jurors. He explained that the victim, who suffered from migraines, had chosen to sleep in a separate bedroom. Earley also mentioned that she had not eaten and had taken painkillers, which could have caused disorientation as reported by the Los Angeles Times. The attorney further said that Susann Sills had fallen, but the exact circumstances leading to her fall remained uncertain. 

Earley's office did not provide an immediate response to a request for comment made after business hours on Tuesday evening. The district attorney's office said that the sentencing is planned for March 15. 

According to NBC News.