Man Kills Sleeping Wife, Dismembers Her, Buries Remains Near Airport

A man allegedly killed his sleeping wife, dismembered her body, and dumped part of the remains in a dumpster while burying the rest across the Greater Philadelphia area, Bucks County.

Stephen Capaldi, 57, of Sellersville, allegedly strangled his wife, 55-year-old Elizabeth "Beth" Capaldi, dismembered her body in their home, and disposed of her remains across the Greater Philadelphia area, Bucks County. He has been charged with third-degree murder, possession of an instrument of crime, tampering with evidence, obstruction of justice, and abuse of a corpse, People reported.

His charges were reduced as part of a negotiation agreement with authorities for assisting them in recovering a portion of her remains from a wooded area near Philadelphia International Airport.

Elizabeth was reported missing by a family member on Oct. 12. She was last seen on Oct. 10 at the home she shared with her husband. Her cell phone, keys, and car were found in the residence. Meanwhile, her purse, wallet, and $13,000 in cash were gone.

According to authorities, Capaldi killed his wife on the morning of Oct. 10 while she was asleep in their bed by strangling her and using a pillow to smother her. After killing his wife, Capaldi then moved his wife's body from the master bedroom to a back bedroom and then down to the basement, where he dismembered her and disposed of her remains on Oct. 12, NBC10 Philadelphia reported.

Capaldi disposed of some of her remains in an apartment complex dumpster in Lansdale, a Montgomery County borough, and buried the rest along the Delaware River in Tinicum Township, Delaware County.

The partial remains of Elizabeth were found last week near Philadelphia International Airport after Capaldi led police to the location. Investigators have not found the rest of Elizabeth's remains.

A motive for the killing was not immediately clear. Further investigation supported by messages investigators discovered in his cell phone revealed that Capaldi allegedly had a six-month affair with a woman. Several internet searches such as "how to get away with murder," "how to vanish and never be found," and "can a polygraph be skewed," were also found on his phone.

Stephen is being held at the Bucks County Correctional Facility without bail and is expected to plead guilty. If found guilty, he will be sentenced to between 20 and 40 years in state prison.