ATHENS, Georgia – In a shocking turn of events, Theresa Neubauer received a phone call at her workplace at a Georgia university five years ago. The call delivered the devastating news that her son-in-law, a well-known fertility doctor, had been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the mysterious death of her daughter, Susann Sills, 45. Susann’s body was discovered at the bottom of a staircase in the couple’s suburban Southern California home in 2016.
Until that moment in April 2019, Neubauer and her family were unaware that authorities were investigating Susann’s death as suspicious. She had believed her daughter’s husband, Scott Sills, to be a grieving widower who had lost his wife in a tragic accident. Neubauer viewed herself as an ally to Sills as he navigated the challenges of raising their twins alone.
During Sills’ murder trial, the prosecution argued that a violent struggle had culminated in him strangling his wife and staging the scene to resemble an accidental fall. However, Sills’ defense maintained that Susann’s death was a result of a tragic accident. Ultimately, Sills was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 15 years to life in prison in March.
On the morning of November 16, 2016, Sills made a distressing call to 911, reporting that he had found his wife’s lifeless body at the bottom of the stairs in their San Clemente home. Paramedics arrived shortly after, but Susann was pronounced dead at 6:35 a.m.
Throughout the investigation, suspicions grew as possible evidence emerged suggesting foul play. Detectives found bloodstains and hair in the bedroom where Susann had slept the night of her death, and a preliminary autopsy revealed numerous injuries, including defensive wounds. Additionally, Sills had a suspicious head injury and questionable explanations for the blood found in the bedroom.
Further revelations during the investigation, such as contentious text messages between the couple and a cryptic note in Sills’ office, painted a picture of a troubled relationship. When forensic testing confirmed that Susann’s death was a homicide, suspicions intensified, leading to Sills’ arrest on suspicion of murder in April 2019.
As the trial unfolded, Neubauer expressed relief upon hearing the guilty verdict, yet the absence of her daughter continued to weigh heavily on her. The trial’s conclusion marked the end of a harrowing journey for Neubauer and her family, bringing some closure but leaving a lasting void where Susann once stood.