Oct. 3, 2024
Elizabeth Sullivan: Missing and Then Murdered
In the quiet neighborhood of Liberty Station in San Diego, the disappearance and subsequent murder of Elizabeth Sullivan shocked the community and left lasting scars. Elizabeth's life, filled with complexity and contradiction, came to a brutal end, pieced together by diligent investigators, caring friends, and thorough court proceedings. Here, we delve deeper into her story, the investigation, and the courtroom drama that unfolded.
00:00 Elizabeth Sullivan, missing after relocating to California.
06:44 Elizabeth Sullivan found dead; husband primary suspect.
10:42 Jury finds husband guilty of wife's murder.
11:51 Husband's crime haunts victims despite possible parole.
CREDITS:
Created, Written, & Produced by John Reedburg
Hosted & Narrated by Samantha Paul
Production Company: John Reedburg Media
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
https://www.youtube.com/@NoTearsForBlacksGirls
facebook.com/notearsforblackgirls
instagram.com/notearsforblackgirls
tiktok.com/@notearsforblackgirls
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A cold breeze enveloped San
Diego that year, casting and
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haunting stillness over the
city.
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Elizabeth Sullivan, a young
mother known for her vibrant
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personality, had disappeared
without a trace.
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The authorities searched
diligently, but she remained
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unfound.
Her friends voiced their
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concerns, and her family
rejected the official
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explanations.
Where was Elizabeth Sullivan?
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Welcome to another episode of No
Tears for Black Girls.
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Today we examine the case of
Elizabeth Sullivan, a young
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mother who disappeared from
Liberty Station in San Diego in
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2014.
Elizabeth recently relocated to
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California with her Navy husband
Matthew, left a trail of
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disturbing clues.
As the San Diego Police
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Department investigated, details
of Elizabeth's troubled life
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surfaced.
Domestic abuse.
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Prescription drug use and a
secret affair highlighting a
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turbulent marriage, Her
husband's inconsistent
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statements, and odd behavior
added to the intrigue.
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Was Elizabeth seeking freedom,
or was something more sinister
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at play?
Join us as we explore the
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complexities of Elizabeth
Sullivan's disappearance, her
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husband's arrest, and the
discovery that led to his
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conviction for her murder.
This is the story of Elizabeth
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Sullivan, where love turned
fatal In the fall of 2014, the
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disappearance of Elizabeth
Sullivan sent shock waves
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through the quiet neighborhood
of Liberty Station in San Diego.
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The local police immediately
suspected foul play, and as days
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turned into weeks, their
suspicions only deepened.
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Despite pleas from her friends
and loved ones, there was little
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evidence to suggest what had
happened to the young mother of
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two.
Elizabeth was not your average
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housewife.
She was a fierce and intelligent
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woman who had recently relocated
to California from Virginia with
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her husband, Matthew, who was
serving in the US Navy.
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Though they were still adjusting
to life in a new state,
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Elizabeth had made a name for
herself in the community with
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her charm, wit, and creativity.
But on October 14th, everything
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changed when she went missing
from her spacious home.
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Her friend Nathan Character was
the first to raise the alarm
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after being unable to reach her
for days.
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He had a gut feeling that
something terrible may have
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happened and shared his concerns
with the San Diego Police
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Department.
Elizabeth's husband Matthew, who
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was back in town between
deployments, reported seeing her
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at home just the day before she
disappeared.
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What could have possibly
happened to this capable and
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well liked woman?
The SDPD vowed to find out.
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The SDPD Missing Persons Unit
was baffled by the disappearance
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of Elizabeth Sullivan.
Her car was still in the garage,
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but her family home was a mess.
As they combed through the
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clutter, they found nothing that
raised suspicion.
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However, a closer look showed
that one of the family's
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suitcases had gone missing,
along with over $1000 from their
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joint bank account.
Was this a sign that Elizabeth
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had chosen to leave on her own
accord?
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Desperate for answers,
investigators turn to
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Elizabeth's journals for insight
into her life and state of mind.
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What they discovered were
fictional stories filled with
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romance and adventure, mirroring
her own life with her husband,
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Matthew.
But as they delved deeper into
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her fantasies, they couldn't
ignore the parallels to her
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current situation, a woman
disillusioned with her white
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knight and seeking a fresh
start.
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When Elizabeth's phone went
silent after a text message sent
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on October 13th, it set off
alarm bells for her friends and
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family.
But Matthew was not surprised by
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his wife's absence.
He revealed to investigators
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that she had a tendency to
become emotionally unstable at
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times.
In fact, just days before
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reporting her missing, Elizabeth
had left the house after an
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argument with Matthew and never
returned.
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This behavior was not uncommon
for her, but it raised red flags
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for those closest to her.
Could there be more to her
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disappearance than meets the
eye?
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And could her strained
relationship with her
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mother-in-law have played a role
in her decision to vanish?
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These were just some of the
questions plaguing investigators
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as they searched for answers in
the mysterious case of Elizabeth
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Sullivan's disappearance.
Matthew paced back and forth,
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his mind racing with worry.
Elizabeth had always come home
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before, even after their biggest
fights.
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But this time was different.
He couldn't shake off the
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feeling that she wasn't coming
back.
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The investigators were skeptical
of Matthew's story.
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They combed through every detail
of Elizabeth's life, trying to
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piece together what had happened
to her.
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The more they dug, the more
disturbing their findings
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became.
They discovered that Elizabeth
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and Matthew had been living
separate lives for years.
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His time in the Navy had created
a rift between them that only
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grew wider with each long
absence.
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Despite their efforts to
maintain a facade of a happy
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marriage, friends and family
knew the truth.
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And it wasn't pretty.
Reports of domestic abuse and
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police visits to their home
painted a grim picture of their
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relationship.
But there was more.
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Elizabeth had turned to
prescription drugs to numb the
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pain and stress of her crumbling
marriage.
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And then there was her secret
affair with a man from Tinder, a
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stark contrast to her image as a
devoted wife and mother.
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As the pieces fell into place,
it became clear that Elizabeth
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Sullivan was not who she seemed.
She was leading a double life,
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one filled with danger and
deceit, And now she was gone
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without a trace.
The question remained was it by
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choice or foul play?
On October 19th, the police
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received a tip that Elizabeth
had been spotted at Liberty
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Station soccer fields, but two
days later she was reported
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missing.
The San Diego Police Department
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told the media that the sighting
had been made by two off duty
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deputies who had been watching
their child play soccer.
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They claimed to have spoken with
Elizabeth herself and noticed
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her disheveled appearance and
possible influence of drugs or
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alcohol.
She told them she hadn't been
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home the previous night and had
lost her phone, which they
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helped her search for to no
avail.
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A week later, there was yet
another sighting of Elizabeth
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near the San Diego International
Airport.
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However, this lead turned out to
be false.
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Despite this, investigators
continued to believe the initial
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eyewitness reports placing her
at the soccer fields.
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Her husband Matthew, gave an
emotional interview to People
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magazine in November 2014,
expressing his constant thoughts
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and concern for his wife and
their children.
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But friends of Elizabeth noticed
that while he claimed to be
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relying on the support of their
Navy community, he was also
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receiving support from a new
girlfriend, whom he would
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eventually move into their home
just months after Elizabeth's
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disappearance.
Despite ongoing searches and
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efforts from investigators,
there were still no signs of
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Elizabeth Sullivan 10 months
after her disappearance.
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Her case had gone cold, leaving
family and friends desperate for
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answers and clinging on to
fading hope that she would one
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day return home safely.
On October 4th, 2016, the body
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of Elizabeth Sullivan was found
floating in the channel near
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Liberty Station just days before
the two year anniversary of her
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disappearance.
The San Diego County Medical
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Examiner determined that she had
been brutally stabbed to death,
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and the case was handed over to
the SDPD Homicide Unit.
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As investigators delve deeper
into the case, they discovered
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that Elizabeth's husband,
Matthew Sullivan, had recently
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moved out of state with his new
girlfriend and their expected
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child.
But even more shocking was the
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discovery of a $1000 transfer
into Elizabeth's personal
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account right before her death,
which remained untouched.
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Further investigation revealed
that she had paid for a divorce
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attorney and had been having an
affair prior to her
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disappearance.
It became clear that tensions
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between Elizabeth and Matthew
had been rising for some time,
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with separate bedrooms and calls
to the police.
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When Elizabeth admitted to her
husband about her affair and
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they began discussing custody of
their children, Matthew feared
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she would falsely accuse him and
gain sole custody.
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On the day of her disappearance,
he even called 911 to express
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his concerns.
After searching the couple's
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former home multiple times,
police finally uncovered a
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military style folding knife
with Elizabeth's blood on it in
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the attic above what used to be
Matthew's bedroom.
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He was arrested in 2018 and
extradited back to California
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from Delaware.
However, one peculiar detail
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continued to baffle
investigators.
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Despite being missing for two
years, decomposition analysis
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showed that Elizabeth had only
been dead for two months.
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This discrepancy would later
become a key factor in the
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state's case against Matthew
Sullivan.
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The state of California had a
strong case against Matthew
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Sullivan for the murder of his
wife, Elizabeth.
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She had disappeared on October
13th, 2014, and her body was
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never found.
During the search of their home,
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cadaver dogs alerted to a
freezer that had been recently
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emptied.
Even though it seemed like an
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obvious clue, investigators
didn't find any concrete
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evidence linking Matthew to the
crime.
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However, as more details were
uncovered, it became clear that
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Matthew had been keeping
Elizabeth's body in the freezer
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for almost 2 years before
disposing of it just before his
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move to Delaware.
At his trial, Matthew's defense
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team argued that Elizabeth was
unpredictable and often
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disappeared without telling
anyone.
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They also claimed that there was
no real evidence of her ever
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being kept in the freezer.
Despite multiple searches of the
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home by law enforcement and even
living with his children,
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mother, partner and new
girlfriend, no one ever
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discovered Elizabeth's body.
There were also conflicting
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reports from off duty officers
who initially reported speaking
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with Elizabeth at a park after
she had gone missing, but later
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admitted they may have confused
dates.
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It was eventually confirmed that
she had spent the night at a
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homeless shelter before going
missing two days later.
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One potential suspect in
Elizabeth's disappearance was
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her boyfriend, Steve Sutton.
He initially refused to
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cooperate with police and even
hired a lawyer.
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But after being ruled out as a
suspect, he finally came forward
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with information about receiving
emails from someone claiming to
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be Elizabeth.
The writer knew personal details
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about their relationship that
only Elizabeth could have known.
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The state believed that
Elizabeth's affair with Steve
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and her plans to divorce Matthew
were the motive behind her
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murder.
Her closest friends testified
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about the state of her marriage
and communication with her
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husband leading up to her
disappearance.
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Despite overwhelming evidence,
Matthew Sullivan vehemently
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denied any involvement in the
death of his wife, Elizabeth
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throughout the entire trial.
It was ultimately left to the
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jury to determine if there was
enough proof to find him guilty
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of her murder.
Elizabeth had been at home on
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that fateful night while her
husband Matthew knew about her
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affair and their impending
divorce.
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His anger and jealousy towards
her boiled over into a violent
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rage.
Forensic teams discovered traces
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of blood throughout the house,
with luminol testing revealing a
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large stain under the carpet
where it was believed Elizabeth
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had been hiding from her
attacker.
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Further investigation revealed
that Matthew had purchased
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carpet cleaner the day after the
murder, trying to cover up his
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crime.
The prosecution argued that
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Matthew repeatedly stabbed his
wife in a fit of fury, then went
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to great lengths to hide the
evidence and clean up the scene.
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Despite his defense lawyers
pleas for leniency based on his
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military service and awards, the
jury found him guilty and he was
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sentenced to 16 years to life in
prison for second degree murder.
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For those who knew and loved
Elizabeth, no amount of justice
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could bring back their beloved
friend and family member.
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And even though Matthew will be
eligible for parole in just a
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few years, the memory of his
heinous actions will never be
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forgotten by those affected by
this tragic case.
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This is the story of Elizabeth
Sullivan's untimely and brutal
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death at the hands of her own
husband.
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00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:10,960
Thank you for tuning in to No
Tears for Black Girls.
230
00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:14,160
This series is skillfully
crafted by acclaimed writer and
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00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:18,240
producer Jon Reedberg with the
guidance of unapologetic host
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00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:21,640
Samantha Paul.
Catch new episodes every Tuesday
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00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:24,520
and Thursday on all major
podcast platforms.
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00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:28,800
You can listen anywhere, anytime
and if you truly enjoy our
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00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:32,240
content, please leave a five
star rating and positive review.
236
00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:36,320
Remember to stay loved, stay
blessed, and stay safe.
00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,920
A cold breeze enveloped San
Diego that year, casting and
2
00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:05,720
haunting stillness over the
city.
3
00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:09,800
Elizabeth Sullivan, a young
mother known for her vibrant
4
00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:12,640
personality, had disappeared
without a trace.
5
00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:16,400
The authorities searched
diligently, but she remained
6
00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:19,920
unfound.
Her friends voiced their
7
00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:22,840
concerns, and her family
rejected the official
8
00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:26,200
explanations.
Where was Elizabeth Sullivan?
9
00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:30,320
Welcome to another episode of No
Tears for Black Girls.
10
00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:34,560
Today we examine the case of
Elizabeth Sullivan, a young
11
00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:37,640
mother who disappeared from
Liberty Station in San Diego in
12
00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:41,840
2014.
Elizabeth recently relocated to
13
00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:45,200
California with her Navy husband
Matthew, left a trail of
14
00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:48,520
disturbing clues.
As the San Diego Police
15
00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:51,840
Department investigated, details
of Elizabeth's troubled life
16
00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:54,000
surfaced.
Domestic abuse.
17
00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:57,880
Prescription drug use and a
secret affair highlighting a
18
00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:01,320
turbulent marriage, Her
husband's inconsistent
19
00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:04,000
statements, and odd behavior
added to the intrigue.
20
00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:08,440
Was Elizabeth seeking freedom,
or was something more sinister
21
00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:11,840
at play?
Join us as we explore the
22
00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:15,200
complexities of Elizabeth
Sullivan's disappearance, her
23
00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:18,120
husband's arrest, and the
discovery that led to his
24
00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:22,720
conviction for her murder.
This is the story of Elizabeth
25
00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:28,920
Sullivan, where love turned
fatal In the fall of 2014, the
26
00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:31,840
disappearance of Elizabeth
Sullivan sent shock waves
27
00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:34,960
through the quiet neighborhood
of Liberty Station in San Diego.
28
00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:39,840
The local police immediately
suspected foul play, and as days
29
00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:43,080
turned into weeks, their
suspicions only deepened.
30
00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:47,280
Despite pleas from her friends
and loved ones, there was little
31
00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:49,840
evidence to suggest what had
happened to the young mother of
32
00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:52,840
two.
Elizabeth was not your average
33
00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:55,560
housewife.
She was a fierce and intelligent
34
00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:59,480
woman who had recently relocated
to California from Virginia with
35
00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:02,600
her husband, Matthew, who was
serving in the US Navy.
36
00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:06,800
Though they were still adjusting
to life in a new state,
37
00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:10,639
Elizabeth had made a name for
herself in the community with
38
00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:16,080
her charm, wit, and creativity.
But on October 14th, everything
39
00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:18,800
changed when she went missing
from her spacious home.
40
00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:22,960
Her friend Nathan Character was
the first to raise the alarm
41
00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:25,440
after being unable to reach her
for days.
42
00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:28,800
He had a gut feeling that
something terrible may have
43
00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:32,200
happened and shared his concerns
with the San Diego Police
44
00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:35,920
Department.
Elizabeth's husband Matthew, who
45
00:02:35,920 --> 00:02:39,120
was back in town between
deployments, reported seeing her
46
00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:41,760
at home just the day before she
disappeared.
47
00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:45,320
What could have possibly
happened to this capable and
48
00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:49,160
well liked woman?
The SDPD vowed to find out.
49
00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:53,280
The SDPD Missing Persons Unit
was baffled by the disappearance
50
00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:56,480
of Elizabeth Sullivan.
Her car was still in the garage,
51
00:02:56,760 --> 00:03:00,280
but her family home was a mess.
As they combed through the
52
00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:03,000
clutter, they found nothing that
raised suspicion.
53
00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:06,520
However, a closer look showed
that one of the family's
54
00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:10,800
suitcases had gone missing,
along with over $1000 from their
55
00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:14,560
joint bank account.
Was this a sign that Elizabeth
56
00:03:14,560 --> 00:03:16,720
had chosen to leave on her own
accord?
57
00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:20,600
Desperate for answers,
investigators turn to
58
00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:23,880
Elizabeth's journals for insight
into her life and state of mind.
59
00:03:24,920 --> 00:03:27,920
What they discovered were
fictional stories filled with
60
00:03:27,920 --> 00:03:32,120
romance and adventure, mirroring
her own life with her husband,
61
00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:35,400
Matthew.
But as they delved deeper into
62
00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:38,720
her fantasies, they couldn't
ignore the parallels to her
63
00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:42,200
current situation, a woman
disillusioned with her white
64
00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:44,280
knight and seeking a fresh
start.
65
00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:49,200
When Elizabeth's phone went
silent after a text message sent
66
00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:52,840
on October 13th, it set off
alarm bells for her friends and
67
00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:56,440
family.
But Matthew was not surprised by
68
00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:59,920
his wife's absence.
He revealed to investigators
69
00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:03,040
that she had a tendency to
become emotionally unstable at
70
00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:06,280
times.
In fact, just days before
71
00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:09,600
reporting her missing, Elizabeth
had left the house after an
72
00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:11,800
argument with Matthew and never
returned.
73
00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:16,600
This behavior was not uncommon
for her, but it raised red flags
74
00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:19,600
for those closest to her.
Could there be more to her
75
00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:21,360
disappearance than meets the
eye?
76
00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:23,920
And could her strained
relationship with her
77
00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:27,240
mother-in-law have played a role
in her decision to vanish?
78
00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:31,760
These were just some of the
questions plaguing investigators
79
00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:34,920
as they searched for answers in
the mysterious case of Elizabeth
80
00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:39,480
Sullivan's disappearance.
Matthew paced back and forth,
81
00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:43,440
his mind racing with worry.
Elizabeth had always come home
82
00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:46,000
before, even after their biggest
fights.
83
00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:49,840
But this time was different.
He couldn't shake off the
84
00:04:49,840 --> 00:04:51,640
feeling that she wasn't coming
back.
85
00:04:52,280 --> 00:04:55,160
The investigators were skeptical
of Matthew's story.
86
00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:59,680
They combed through every detail
of Elizabeth's life, trying to
87
00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:01,640
piece together what had happened
to her.
88
00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:05,280
The more they dug, the more
disturbing their findings
89
00:05:05,280 --> 00:05:07,800
became.
They discovered that Elizabeth
90
00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:10,560
and Matthew had been living
separate lives for years.
91
00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:14,680
His time in the Navy had created
a rift between them that only
92
00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:17,440
grew wider with each long
absence.
93
00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:20,840
Despite their efforts to
maintain a facade of a happy
94
00:05:20,840 --> 00:05:23,880
marriage, friends and family
knew the truth.
95
00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:28,200
And it wasn't pretty.
Reports of domestic abuse and
96
00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:31,720
police visits to their home
painted a grim picture of their
97
00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:34,600
relationship.
But there was more.
98
00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:38,040
Elizabeth had turned to
prescription drugs to numb the
99
00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:40,280
pain and stress of her crumbling
marriage.
100
00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:44,520
And then there was her secret
affair with a man from Tinder, a
101
00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:47,720
stark contrast to her image as a
devoted wife and mother.
102
00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:51,960
As the pieces fell into place,
it became clear that Elizabeth
103
00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:56,640
Sullivan was not who she seemed.
She was leading a double life,
104
00:05:56,920 --> 00:06:01,640
one filled with danger and
deceit, And now she was gone
105
00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:05,760
without a trace.
The question remained was it by
106
00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:10,480
choice or foul play?
On October 19th, the police
107
00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:13,440
received a tip that Elizabeth
had been spotted at Liberty
108
00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:17,640
Station soccer fields, but two
days later she was reported
109
00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:20,880
missing.
The San Diego Police Department
110
00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:23,960
told the media that the sighting
had been made by two off duty
111
00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:26,960
deputies who had been watching
their child play soccer.
112
00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:30,960
They claimed to have spoken with
Elizabeth herself and noticed
113
00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:34,680
her disheveled appearance and
possible influence of drugs or
114
00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:37,680
alcohol.
She told them she hadn't been
115
00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:41,200
home the previous night and had
lost her phone, which they
116
00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:42,800
helped her search for to no
avail.
117
00:06:44,280 --> 00:06:47,160
A week later, there was yet
another sighting of Elizabeth
118
00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:49,440
near the San Diego International
Airport.
119
00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:52,280
However, this lead turned out to
be false.
120
00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:56,640
Despite this, investigators
continued to believe the initial
121
00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:59,400
eyewitness reports placing her
at the soccer fields.
122
00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:02,800
Her husband Matthew, gave an
emotional interview to People
123
00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:07,040
magazine in November 2014,
expressing his constant thoughts
124
00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:09,320
and concern for his wife and
their children.
125
00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:13,120
But friends of Elizabeth noticed
that while he claimed to be
126
00:07:13,120 --> 00:07:16,520
relying on the support of their
Navy community, he was also
127
00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:19,360
receiving support from a new
girlfriend, whom he would
128
00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:22,920
eventually move into their home
just months after Elizabeth's
129
00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:26,240
disappearance.
Despite ongoing searches and
130
00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:29,120
efforts from investigators,
there were still no signs of
131
00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:31,880
Elizabeth Sullivan 10 months
after her disappearance.
132
00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:36,200
Her case had gone cold, leaving
family and friends desperate for
133
00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:39,640
answers and clinging on to
fading hope that she would one
134
00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:46,160
day return home safely.
On October 4th, 2016, the body
135
00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:49,040
of Elizabeth Sullivan was found
floating in the channel near
136
00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:52,960
Liberty Station just days before
the two year anniversary of her
137
00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:56,080
disappearance.
The San Diego County Medical
138
00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:59,280
Examiner determined that she had
been brutally stabbed to death,
139
00:07:59,960 --> 00:08:03,440
and the case was handed over to
the SDPD Homicide Unit.
140
00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:08,200
As investigators delve deeper
into the case, they discovered
141
00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:11,800
that Elizabeth's husband,
Matthew Sullivan, had recently
142
00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:15,120
moved out of state with his new
girlfriend and their expected
143
00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:18,280
child.
But even more shocking was the
144
00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:22,000
discovery of a $1000 transfer
into Elizabeth's personal
145
00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:25,800
account right before her death,
which remained untouched.
146
00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:29,600
Further investigation revealed
that she had paid for a divorce
147
00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:32,280
attorney and had been having an
affair prior to her
148
00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:35,120
disappearance.
It became clear that tensions
149
00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:38,480
between Elizabeth and Matthew
had been rising for some time,
150
00:08:38,799 --> 00:08:41,080
with separate bedrooms and calls
to the police.
151
00:08:41,799 --> 00:08:45,000
When Elizabeth admitted to her
husband about her affair and
152
00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:48,680
they began discussing custody of
their children, Matthew feared
153
00:08:48,680 --> 00:08:52,000
she would falsely accuse him and
gain sole custody.
154
00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:56,760
On the day of her disappearance,
he even called 911 to express
155
00:08:56,760 --> 00:08:59,640
his concerns.
After searching the couple's
156
00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:02,960
former home multiple times,
police finally uncovered a
157
00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:06,400
military style folding knife
with Elizabeth's blood on it in
158
00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:09,160
the attic above what used to be
Matthew's bedroom.
159
00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:13,200
He was arrested in 2018 and
extradited back to California
160
00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:16,360
from Delaware.
However, one peculiar detail
161
00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:18,360
continued to baffle
investigators.
162
00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:22,520
Despite being missing for two
years, decomposition analysis
163
00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:25,320
showed that Elizabeth had only
been dead for two months.
164
00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:29,040
This discrepancy would later
become a key factor in the
165
00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:31,120
state's case against Matthew
Sullivan.
166
00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:34,640
The state of California had a
strong case against Matthew
167
00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:36,960
Sullivan for the murder of his
wife, Elizabeth.
168
00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:42,040
She had disappeared on October
13th, 2014, and her body was
169
00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:45,000
never found.
During the search of their home,
170
00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:48,400
cadaver dogs alerted to a
freezer that had been recently
171
00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:50,760
emptied.
Even though it seemed like an
172
00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:54,360
obvious clue, investigators
didn't find any concrete
173
00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:56,360
evidence linking Matthew to the
crime.
174
00:09:56,960 --> 00:10:01,000
However, as more details were
uncovered, it became clear that
175
00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:03,840
Matthew had been keeping
Elizabeth's body in the freezer
176
00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:07,880
for almost 2 years before
disposing of it just before his
177
00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:12,040
move to Delaware.
At his trial, Matthew's defense
178
00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:15,960
team argued that Elizabeth was
unpredictable and often
179
00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:18,000
disappeared without telling
anyone.
180
00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:22,640
They also claimed that there was
no real evidence of her ever
181
00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:27,400
being kept in the freezer.
Despite multiple searches of the
182
00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:30,920
home by law enforcement and even
living with his children,
183
00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:34,560
mother, partner and new
girlfriend, no one ever
184
00:10:34,560 --> 00:10:38,160
discovered Elizabeth's body.
There were also conflicting
185
00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:41,320
reports from off duty officers
who initially reported speaking
186
00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:45,040
with Elizabeth at a park after
she had gone missing, but later
187
00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:47,080
admitted they may have confused
dates.
188
00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:50,520
It was eventually confirmed that
she had spent the night at a
189
00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:53,560
homeless shelter before going
missing two days later.
190
00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:57,320
One potential suspect in
Elizabeth's disappearance was
191
00:10:57,320 --> 00:11:00,920
her boyfriend, Steve Sutton.
He initially refused to
192
00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:03,160
cooperate with police and even
hired a lawyer.
193
00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:07,560
But after being ruled out as a
suspect, he finally came forward
194
00:11:07,560 --> 00:11:10,440
with information about receiving
emails from someone claiming to
195
00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:13,480
be Elizabeth.
The writer knew personal details
196
00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:16,480
about their relationship that
only Elizabeth could have known.
197
00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:19,840
The state believed that
Elizabeth's affair with Steve
198
00:11:19,840 --> 00:11:23,160
and her plans to divorce Matthew
were the motive behind her
199
00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:25,840
murder.
Her closest friends testified
200
00:11:25,840 --> 00:11:28,120
about the state of her marriage
and communication with her
201
00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:30,560
husband leading up to her
disappearance.
202
00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:35,200
Despite overwhelming evidence,
Matthew Sullivan vehemently
203
00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:38,760
denied any involvement in the
death of his wife, Elizabeth
204
00:11:39,040 --> 00:11:42,880
throughout the entire trial.
It was ultimately left to the
205
00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:46,480
jury to determine if there was
enough proof to find him guilty
206
00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:50,040
of her murder.
Elizabeth had been at home on
207
00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:53,200
that fateful night while her
husband Matthew knew about her
208
00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:55,520
affair and their impending
divorce.
209
00:11:56,280 --> 00:11:59,800
His anger and jealousy towards
her boiled over into a violent
210
00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:03,040
rage.
Forensic teams discovered traces
211
00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:06,480
of blood throughout the house,
with luminol testing revealing a
212
00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:09,680
large stain under the carpet
where it was believed Elizabeth
213
00:12:09,680 --> 00:12:11,280
had been hiding from her
attacker.
214
00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:14,960
Further investigation revealed
that Matthew had purchased
215
00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:18,320
carpet cleaner the day after the
murder, trying to cover up his
216
00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:21,160
crime.
The prosecution argued that
217
00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:24,960
Matthew repeatedly stabbed his
wife in a fit of fury, then went
218
00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:28,440
to great lengths to hide the
evidence and clean up the scene.
219
00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:32,920
Despite his defense lawyers
pleas for leniency based on his
220
00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:37,320
military service and awards, the
jury found him guilty and he was
221
00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:41,720
sentenced to 16 years to life in
prison for second degree murder.
222
00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:47,480
For those who knew and loved
Elizabeth, no amount of justice
223
00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:50,120
could bring back their beloved
friend and family member.
224
00:12:50,560 --> 00:12:53,400
And even though Matthew will be
eligible for parole in just a
225
00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:57,120
few years, the memory of his
heinous actions will never be
226
00:12:57,120 --> 00:13:00,040
forgotten by those affected by
this tragic case.
227
00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:03,960
This is the story of Elizabeth
Sullivan's untimely and brutal
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00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:06,680
death at the hands of her own
husband.
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Thank you for tuning in to No
Tears for Black Girls.
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This series is skillfully
crafted by acclaimed writer and
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producer Jon Reedberg with the
guidance of unapologetic host
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Samantha Paul.
Catch new episodes every Tuesday
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and Thursday on all major
podcast platforms.
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You can listen anywhere, anytime
and if you truly enjoy our
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content, please leave a five
star rating and positive review.
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Remember to stay loved, stay
blessed, and stay safe.
