By Joanna Putman
Police1
APALACHICOLA, Fla. — A Florida officer who helped to coordinate the arrest of his daughter for murder testified at her sentencing that he trusted the judicial system to deliver a just punishment, The Apalachicola Times reported.
Tony Araujo, a high-ranking officer with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, played a pivotal role in arresting his daughter Christina Araujo’s after learning she was involved in a homicide in 2018, according to the report. During an emotional hearing in Apalachicola, Florida, on Oct. 18, Araujo recounted how he acted swiftly to notify law enforcement when he discovered that his daughter was a suspect in the murder.
“My knees buckled,” he recalled in court.
Despite the heartbreak, Araujo, a 42-year law enforcement veteran, did not hesitate to assist in the investigation, according to the report.
“As heartbroken as I was, I did my duty without fail,” he told the judge.
Christina Araujo, 44, was sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty and being convicted of second-degree murder in the 2018 incident, according to the report. She had assisted co-defendant Zachary Abell in the killing of Aileen Seiden, as well as in disposing of the body.
In his statement, Tony Araujo expressed deep remorse on behalf of his family, offering condolences to the victim’s family.
“We offer our deepest and most reverent condolences to Aileen’s sister, family and friends. Our daughter will have to pay her penance, and we trust the court will issue a just and fair sentence,” he said. “Our daughter is deeply remorseful over her actions and will forever have to live with the memory of the unnatural death of someone she called friend.
He described the moment he informed his wife of the situation as the most heartbreaking of his life.
“We did not, and will not abandon our daughter, as well as never abandoning the memory of the victim in this case,” Araujo said.
Christina Araujo will serve her sentence with credit for time served, likely not seeing release until her early 60s, according to the report.
