Suvechha Sarkar
Elizabeth Michelle Sullivan, fondly known as Liz, was a devoted mother with a vibrant personality. However, her life came to an abrupt halt in October 2014 when she went missing from her home in San Diego, California. Despite the best efforts of authorities and her loved ones, her remains were not found until nearly two years later. NBC’s ‘Dateline: Secrets by the Bay’ revisits the case, piecing together the circumstances leading up to her disappearance and how the long investigation revealed the killer to be someone close to her. Through interviews with her loved ones and the officials, the episode also sheds light on the unsettling clues that pointed to the killer.
Elizabeth Sullivan Was a Devoted Family Woman
Elizabeth Michelle Ricks, lovingly known as Liz, arrived as a ray of sunshine in the lives of her father, Tony Ricks, and mother. She was born and raised in Hampton, Virginia, surrounded by unwavering support and love. Her friends often described her as an “unacknowledged genius” with a bright personality. In 2001, Liz graduated from Kecoughtan High School. Despite her bright nature, she reportedly struggled with regulating her emotions and was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Liz was living in Norfolk, Virginia, when she met Matthew Sullivan, AKA Matt, who was in the Navy and stationed at that location. They began dating, and when he was reassigned to San Diego, California, he proposed to Liz, and they tied the knot.
When Liz and Matt moved to San Diego, the former was already pregnant. During that time, Matt was deployed overseas, and Liz gave birth to their daughter, Ryan, alone. Matt returned for a short while, and by the time he was deployed again, Liz had given birth to their second daughter, Grier. Her life usually revolved around her daughters, but because she felt lonely in the house as the only adult, she soon took a small job. When Matt returned, the family settled at Liberty Station in San Diego, California. However, her beautiful life changed forever on October 13, 2014. Liz met her close friend, Nathan Caracter, on October 10, and had promised to call him. When the call never came, he called Matt, who claimed that he hadn’t heard from her the previous day. He mentioned that he had allegedly presumed Liz was upset about his family moving in with them.
Elizabeth’s Remains Were Found Along a Shoreline Two Years Later
The news concerned Nathan, and he called 911 to report Liz missing on October 14, 2014. Officials initially learned about her impulsive decision-making. They went to her home three days later when she was still not located. Upon searching her home, detectives found her car and an empty freezer in the garage and saw nothing unusual. Matt claimed she walked out, but one of their suitcases was missing. He also handed over Liz’s journals to them for further inspection and admitted that they had marital problems. On October 19, 2014, police got a report that she was allegedly spotted at a soccer field, with another tip coming in that one month after her disappearance, she was spotted near San Diego airport. Despite the relentless search, Liz was not found anywhere.
Almost two years later, on October 4, 2016, an officer discovered the remains of a woman on the shoreline rocks in the area of San Diego Bay, which was half a mile from Liz’s home. When investigators arrived at the scene, they found that it was a woman wearing blue jeans, one brown boot, and a top. Upon checking the dental records, they identified her as Liz. The autopsy uncovered four stab wounds in the area of her ribs, and she had a fractured nasal bone and jaw. They also found a cut on her cheek consistent with a knife injury. Liz’s cause of death was determined to be from the multiple sharp force injuries. However, the medical examiners noted that her remains were likely in the water for no more than a 30-60 day period, considering the decomposition. They also noted that the decomposition could have been slowed down by refrigeration.
Texts and Financial Records Revealed Clues About Elizabeth’s Disappearance
During the initial investigation, Matt denied knowing anything and claimed that he presumed she had just gone to clear her head due to their tumultuous marriage. He took a polygraph test, which he reportedly passed. They soon found out about Liz’s reported drug abuse, and her journals indicated that she might’ve left the house to start a new life. However, it did not eliminate the possibility of her trying to end her own life, owing to her mental state. They further discovered that her debit card was active after her disappearance. Detectives learned that due to her strained marriage, Liz was on an online dating app, and she reportedly had a boyfriend, Steven Sutton. He initially refused to speak to the police, but later reached out via his attorney. He claimed that he received an email from Liz one month after she disappeared.
Steven alleged it came from a different email address, but he claimed to have deleted it. They further discovered that Matt became aware of her affair, but he claimed not to be bothered by it. However, that statement was contradicted when officials checked Steven’s text messages, where Matt frequently texted him about how he knew about him and Liz speaking on calls and texts. Around a week before she went missing, Matt texted Steven that he would soon cut Liz off financially. Investigators learned from Nathan that Matt was allegedly physically abusive towards her. He informed them that he learned during his last meeting with Liz that she planned to meet a divorce attorney on October 13. They traced a transaction on Matt’s credit card, which Liz had made near the lawyer’s office on the same day.
The investigation uncovered that Matt made a 911 call that day, alleging that Liz was trying to get him arrested because he had gone through her emails and journals. He again called, alleging that she transferred all his money to her account. Officials checked his card details and found a purchase of a carpet cleaner on October 13, which he claimed was to clean up because his mother was coming. A month later, he again purchased a carpet cleaner and a roll of big plastic wrap, which he claimed was to put some things in storage for his mother. Moreover, just two months after Liz’s disappearance, his new girlfriend moved in with him. Police found that Liz’s debit card activity happened before she was reported missing. Additionally, there was a date mishap by the individuals who reported spotting Liz on October 19, 2014.
Repeated Searches of Elizabeth’s Home Brought the Killer to Justice
Things changed two years later when Liz’s remains were found. Officials learned that around four days later, on October 8, 2016, Matt moved out of his home in San Diego and moved to Maryland with his girlfriend, their child, and his and Liz’s daughters. On October 12, their house was again searched, and Liz’s room was tested with Luminol. It revealed the presence of blood in her bathroom, the walls, the closet area, and most importantly, under the carpet on the floor. In the garage, they noted an odor, likely from something decomposing, but could not find its origin. Liz’s best friend, Calandra Duckett, had reportedly informed the police during the initial investigation that Liz had called her shortly before she vanished in a panicked manner and had said that Matt was going to kill her.
Calandra explained that Liz then hung up the call, which was the last time she heard from her. Although initially it was not confirmed, in October 2016, they learned that Liz had made the call on WhatsApp on October 13, 2014. On November 9, 2017, police again searched the home, and they found a foldable knife hidden behind the insulation in the attic. The lab results revealed that it contained Liz’s blood and DNA from both Liz and Matt. Ultimately, he was arrested on January 31, 2018, and charged with first-degree murder. Officials believed that he kept Liz’s remains in the freezer spotted in his garage during the initial investigation, and disposed of them when he moved out. His trial began in February 2020, and he was ultimately convicted of second-degree murder. On March 12, 2021, he was sentenced to 16 years to life in prison, resulting in his first parole suitability hearing to be set for July 2028.
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