Naman Shrestha
When Elizabeth Sullivan disappeared without a trace in October 2014, the entire community of San Diego got concerned about her whereabouts, and her loved ones did everything they could to locate her. While her husband, Matthew Sullivan, was suspected of being involved in the crime, the authorities failed to find any incriminating evidence against him until her remains surfaced two years later in the San Diego Bay. NBC’s ‘Dateline: Secrets by the Bay’ chronicles the case and the intricate details of the investigation that ensued, showcasing how Matthew was apprehended and brought to justice.
Matthew Sullivan Managed to Evade the Police For About Four Years After Killing Elizabeth Sullivan
Born around 1985, Matthew “Matt” Sullivan of Minnesota was a US Navy sailor when he crossed paths with Elizabeth Michelle “Liz” Ricks, a vibrant young woman. As they connected romantically, they began dating, and a few months later, they got engaged. Soon, the couple took the next step in their relationship and exchanged marital vows, too. After their marriage, the newlyweds relocated to San Diego, California, as Matthew was stationed there at the time. Right when they learned that Liz was pregnant, he got transferred abroad, leaving her to take care of herself and their daughter. Not long after, they welcomed yet another daughter into the world. Although Matthew eventually returned and settled down with his family in Liberty Station, the damage to their marriage was already done.
While the couple struggled with maintaining their marriage, Liz reportedly went on Tinder and started dating Steven Sutton in secret. When Matthew found out the truth about her affair, he claimed that he didn’t make a big deal out of it as they were already leading separate lives. However, the truth was darker as he had exchanged text messages with Steven, taunting him in a condescending tone. Meanwhile, he also reportedly argued with Liz regarding the custody of their two young daughters, resorting to violence at times. When she disappeared on October 13, 2014, from her San Diego, California, residence, the authorities zeroed in on both Matthew and Steven. While the latter was uncooperative with them and hired a lawyer, Matthew cooperated with them and even allowed them to search the house. He also passed a polygraph test.
Naturally, the detectives suspected Steven of being responsible for Liz’s disappearance. However, the truth was that Matthew had stabbed her to death between October 13 and October 14, using a knife. Over the course of the next two years, the investigators looked into the possibility of her walking away to start afresh or taking her own life. Meanwhile, Matthew had reportedly kept her remains hidden in a freezer until he disposed of them in San Diego Bay right before he moved out of town. That’s when her remains were discovered floating in the bay about a half-mile away from their house on October 6, 2016. On the same day, he was moving to Maryland with his new girlfriend. It took more than a year for the authorities to gather enough evidence against him. Finally, on the morning of January 31, 2018, he was arrested right outside his house in Wyoming, Delaware, and extradited to San Diego.
Matthew Sullivan is Currently Incarcerated at a California Prison Facility
On February 21, 2020, Matthew Sullivan’s murder trial got underway. During the trial, the prosecution claimed that Liz’s extramarital affair with Steven Sutton was the motive behind the killing. The prosecutor stated, “He had lots of motives, he had the means, he had the opportunity. The crime scene was in her bedroom. The murder weapon was in the attic over his bedroom.” They also presented the murder weapon, a knife, that the defendant used to commit the crime. On the other hand, the defense argued that Matthew was trying his best to keep his marriage from falling apart.
After an intense trial, the jury deliberated and returned with a shocking verdict. Although they found him not guilty of first-degree murder, they convicted him of second-degree murder in connection with Elizabeth Sullivan’s brutal killing. The following year, on March 12, 2021, his sentencing hearing took place. One of Liz’s close friends, Nathan Caracter, took the stand and addressed the convict. He stated, “This man killed my dear friend, and you can imagine how this affected me. But a longer sentence won’t make the pain go away, nor will my recanting of the sorrow I have gone through these past six years make this man feel differently than he does now.”
Matthew also took the stand and said, “The only issue I had about trial was I believe I was not allowed to call in relevant witnesses to my defense. I thoroughly believe their testimony would’ve thoroughly changed the verdict in this trial.” Ultimately, he was sentenced to 16 years to life in prison for killing his wife. As of today, the 40-year-old killer is serving his sentence at California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi, California, with his parole eligibility date scheduled for July 2028.
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