GREENACRES, Fla. (CBS12) — Richard Seith, a Stuart eye doctor and the ex-husband of Cynthia Seith, has been arrested on first-degree murder charges in connection to the shooting death of his ex-wife, a Spirit Airlines flight attendant.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) announced the arrest on Friday, revealing that Richard Seith was taken into custody after a search warrant was executed at his Jensen Beach residence. Investigators linked him to the homicide, which occurred on Tuesday when Cynthia Seith, 54, was found dead from a gunshot wound in the 4700 block of Lucerne Lakes Boulevard, near a sidewalk.
Detectives from the PBSO Violent Crimes Division conducted a thorough investigation at the scene, cordoning off the area with crime scene tape. Neighbors reported seeing a heavy law enforcement presence on the morning of the crime, and many were shocked by the tragic event.
Richard Seith was apprehended with the help of the PBSO’s Tactical Unit, U.S. Marshals, and the Martin County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO). After being interviewed by detectives, he was formally booked on a first-degree murder charge and transported to the Palm Beach County Jail.
Neighbors described Seith as a reserved man who kept to himself, with little interaction with others in the community. Richard Baird, a nearby neighbor, expressed his shock: “It’s a quiet neighborhood, and I didn’t expect anything like this.”
Cynthia Seith, who would have turned 55 on Thursday, was found just two days before her birthday. The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities working to uncover more details surrounding the tragic killing.
