On a tragic Tuesday morning in Asbury Park, New Jersey, 51-year-old Tamara Seidle's life was cut short in a horrifying act of violence. On June 16, 2015, a heated chase through the city streets ended when her ex-husband, Philip Seidle, a sergeant with the Neptune Township Police Department, rammed his vehicle into hers. The collision brought her car to an abrupt stop, and what followed was a scene of terror that unfolded in broad daylight, forever altering the lives of their nine children.
With their 7-year-old daughter watching from the passenger seat of his SUV, Philip Seidle exited his vehicle and approached Tamara's car. He then fired multiple shots from his service weapon into the driver's side, killing her. Witnesses at the scene reported hearing him yelling about ongoing child custody disputes. The couple had finalized their divorce just weeks prior to the fatal encounter.
Previous court filings revealed a history of domestic turmoil, with Tamara having previously accused him of abuse.
After the initial shots, a tense standoff ensued as police officers, who had been nearby for an unrelated traffic incident, responded to the scene. Philip Seidle held his gun to his own head, pacing and shouting about his children and the courts. Officers were able to safely remove the young girl from her father's vehicle. After a standoff lasting about 30 minutes, during which he fired additional shots into Tamara's windshield, authorities convinced him to surrender. He was taken into custody and subsequently charged with murder, unlawful possession of a weapon, and endangering the welfare of a child.
Philip Seidle later pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter and child endangerment as part of a plea deal, which spared their children from having to testify at a trial. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the brutal killing of his ex-wife. During the sentencing, some of their children spoke of the years of abuse their mother had endured and the profound loss they now faced.
