SANTA ANA, Calif. – A 58-year-old fertility doctor was sentenced today to 15 years to life in state prison for fatally strangling his wife whose body was found at the foot of the stairs in a staged accident at their San Clemente home in November 2016.

E. Scott Sills of San Clemente was found guilty in December of one count of second-degree murder for killing his wife, 45-year-old Susann Sills.

On Nov. 13, 2016, Sills called 911 and said he awoke to find the lifeless body of his wife after she apparently fell down the stairs. Evidence presented at trial showed that she died due to strangulation and blood stains were found on a wall and curtains in their daughter’s bedroom where Susann was sleeping due to a migraine. A clump of her hair also was found in the room, indicating that there had been a violent struggle between the couple.

“Mr. Sills not only killed his wife but he went one step further and tried to cover up his horrific crime,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “His actions have irreparably torn apart his family as his children have to grapple with the immeasurable pain of losing their mother at the hands of their father. This was the ultimate betrayal by their father and now he will spend his remaining days in state prison.”

Senior Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Walker of the Homicide Unit prosecuted this case.