Aurora, Ont. man convicted of manslaughter after wife's disappearance sentenced

An Aurora, Ont. man who has maintained his innocence despite being convicted of killing his wife learned his fate in a Newmarket courtroom on Wednesday.

John Sedo, 65, has been in custody since his arrest four years ago, charged with second-degree murder.

Helen Sedo disappeared in July 2020 at the age of 61. Her body has never been found.

A jury deliberated over two days before finding Sedo guilty of manslaughter in February this year.

During the trial, the defence highlighted to the jury there was no motive or proof without a body that Sedo murdered his wife, telling the seven women and five men on the jury that Helen simply vanished and her disappearance remains a mystery, urging them to acquit.

The defence had sought an eight-year sentence, less time served in custody, while the Crown argued for the 65-year-old man to spend another 13 to 14 years behind bars.

On Wednesday, Sedo was sentenced to nine years less time served in pre-sentence custody. Credited with six years for time served, Sedo will be released in about three years.

The Disappearance

The Crown's case relied heavily on circumstantial evidence and detailed a heated argument between Sedo and his wife of 35 years on the night it's believed he took her life.

Sedo claimed his wife left in a fit of rage after the argument, packed a bag and walked out.

He reported her missing two days after she disappeared and told the 911 dispatcher Helen could "flip very quickly from rage to everything normal." He said he had encouraged his wife to seek help but that she refused.

He told the dispatcher her absence was "just so weird."

Witness Testimony

While on the witness stand, the couple's son shared that it was uncharacteristic of his mother to storm off and not contact anyone in the family. Her cell phone and passport were later discovered at the couple's Aurora home.

Witnesses described to the court a troubled marriage on the brink of divorce. Helen's brother, Louie Goziotis, testified his sister expressed her unhappiness in the marriage and confided in him about marital issues two years before she vanished.

Helen and John Sedo are shown in this undated photo. (Supplied)

The Crown argued Sedo killed his wife, disposed of her body and went to great lengths to cover his tracks, calling him a "methodical man."

The prosecution accused Sedo of purposefully turning off his cell phone for 13 hours to avoid leaving a digital footprint of his actions when he went to the family's property in Huntsville to clear his head.

Helen's SUV was later found in a wooded area in Huntsville, destroyed by fire.

With files from CTV's Mike Arsalides