GUILTY CA - Elizabeth Sullivan, 31, San Diego, 13 Oct 2014 *Arrest*

[TexasTiger]

Sounds like you might know Kayla personally? I can understand why you have a lot of unanswered questions. It would have helped if we could've watched the trial Live.

IMO, this Kayla must know something more, or maybe she just believed everything Matthew told her. She thinks he's innocent? Wow, denial.

LE did a horrible job in the beginning in investigating the missing Elizabeth. They let Matthew get away with it for those years, IMO. She was dead, and LE allowed the public to entertain the idea she was only missing. She wasn't spotted in some park...she was dead. LE missed all that blood evidence and didn't go back to find it for a long time! There was a few news articles mentioning the freezer, in the garage at one time. Matthew must have moved the body back into it after LE left ...maybe he had a storage unit or left it in the garage with stuff piled on it, or perhaps a friend had the freezer. I'm convinced someone else knew. I don't see how Kayla could not know something, but that's just my own opinion.

Wish we could get more info about what's going on in that courtroom.

I don’t know her personally, but I know people who know her, so I’ve kind of followed this story since the beginning. I’m really just a crime junkie and since I know people who know her, that kind of intrigued me even more. And no there have been no more posts from her about the case that I know of.

 

[TexasTiger]

I think the one thing that still gets me is that there was a confirmed sighting of her after she went missing. I know the freezer and time frame is sketchy, but this fact can’t be ignored. And she was known to have drug issues and was dating other people, so it’s possible someone else stored her body and dumped it once Matthew moved in order to bring attention to him? Just saying that there are things that don’t add up

 

[Curious Me]

I think the one thing that still gets me is that there was a confirmed sighting of her after she went missing. I know the freezer and time frame is sketchy, but this fact can’t be ignored. And she was known to have drug issues and was dating other people, so it’s possible someone else stored her body and dumped it once Matthew moved in order to bring attention to him? Just saying that there are things that don’t add up

Welcome TexasTiger. Glad you are taking part here. We're all kind of crime junkies wanting to see Justice for victims. I respect your attempt to see things from different angles. I'm a local and didn't know any of the people involved, but followed this case extensively. Here's what I think is important to consider.

I know the Defense wants to use how unstable Elizabeth was during the time the marriage was falling apart, but there's also other people who said she was a devoted mother.

MOO, any sightings of Elizabeth after the day she saw a divorce attorney never were officially confirmed, as far as I know. People she trusted never heard from her again. After she went home that day, she disappeared from all her close friends and family, and she ended up dead in the bay two years later around the time husband left town. Kayla might have known the gory details or maybe not.

It's important to note she was looking ahead to getting a divorce and having a new life. She might have had a bf and did some drugs, but so what, LE deems her death after investigation a murder connected to Matthew. I think you'll find other evidence to support the fact that she was killed by Matthew that night in their home. LE found the knife he used hidden in their home in the attic space over one of the bedrooms.

Who had the most to gain by making her dead? Who was she afraid of? Witnesses say she was afraid of Matthew. Why would someone else hide her body then dump it to make Matthew look bad?

 

[TexasTiger]

I agree with what you're saying, he definitely looks like the easiest and most probable suspect here. I really want to know where this freezer went and who had it plugged in. I wonder if Matthew maybe rented any other properties where he could've stored it to get it away from his house because lets face it, it was plugged in somewhere. This whole case has me mind boggled. I wish I knew what was said in court, so we could see more of the evidence, or even know what the defenses claims were. I am not local, so the information isn't big where I am.

 

[Curious Me]

I agree with what you're saying, he definitely looks like the easiest and most probable suspect here. I really want to know where this freezer went and who had it plugged in. I wonder if Matthew maybe rented any other properties where he could've stored it to get it away from his house because lets face it, it was plugged in somewhere. This whole case has me mind boggled. I wish I knew what was said in court, so we could see more of the evidence, or even know what the defenses claims were. I am not local, so the information isn't big where I am.

You have some great questions about that freezer. Yes, had to be plugged in someplace. This case goes back to 2014, and a lot of details were glossed over at the time and now the link to many articles don't link. MOO, I remember being upset thinking how unfair it was to make Elizabeth look like the one who left her children and was traipsing around the neighborhood and partying when all along Matthew had blood on his hands while misleading investigators.

I hope the Jurors are getting the full facts and details from the investigation. Don't want them to have any unreasonable doubt. Will they talk about the freezer they think Elizabeth's body was kept in for two years? What can Prosecution tell us about that?

I believe Matthew's mother did come to stay with him and maybe help out with the children for awhile. I'm curious then if Kayla moved in within two months … then was it during that same time his Mom was around? Did Matthew say, "Yes, there's a freezer plugged in, but don't ever open it?" It's gruesome, and something you'd never want the children to stumble upon. So, maybe you're right, he got it out of the house. ​

 

[Curious Me]

They discuss the discovery of her body here in more detail.

Former Navy Service Member Arrested for San Diego Wife’s Murder

Former Navy Service Member Arrested for San Diego Wife’s Murder
By Monica Garske and Rory Devine
Published January 31, 2018 Updated on February 1, 2018 at 3:09 pm

Had to go back to Page 10 to find an article from that time period of when they found Elizabeth's body 2016 and when Matthew was arrested in 2018. To ease your mind, this article says sightings of Elizabeth never panned out or could be confirmed by LE. Matthew put a lot of his suggestions in place to make LE and people think Elizabeth was the one acting out.

I know there was another article about LE noticing the freezer upon the initial visit to the home, but I don't know if they located the freezer later or found out where he hid the body for two years. Jurors will be hearing the autopsy report and from the M.E. probably. I had always thought he strangled her, but he used a knife in the bedroom, not thought out I'd say, which left blood evidence there that LE found years later along with the hidden knife. Got to say, he managed to mislead to his advantage for a long time.

"In February 2017, police reports obtained by NBC 7 showed that Matthew, a Navy service member at the time, had called 911 on the same day Elizabeth vanished. He reported his wife was “going to frame him and have him arrested,” and also claimed she had made a mess at their home."

Former Navy Service Member Arrested for San Diego Wife’s Murder

"On Wednesday, Holden said investigators believe Elizabeth was murdered around the time of her disappearance in 2014. When Elizabeth’s body was discovered, it was in an advanced stage of decomposition but investigators believe it had not been in the bay since her death.

At this point, it is unclear where her body was from the time she was killed until the time she was found in the bay."

News article quotes BBM

 

[ASiAM]

I found this from 2019, which tells me Matt left the freezer, but moved the body. I cringe to think he possibly kept her in there while their children were living in the home.

Also suspicious, and mentioned below, is that he closed her email account. If his wife was missing, why would he close the account? Wouldn't he want it open in case any clues related to her "disappearance" arose? I think I read somewhere, or perhaps it was in the video of the opening remarks, that an email was sent from her account shortly after her disappearance. He probably sent it himself to make it look like she was still alive.
San Diego Community News Group - Matthew Sullivan ordered to trial in wife s murder

Detective Kim Collier testified a cadaver dog reacted to an area in the garage, where there were an empty refrigerator and freezer that were plugged in even though there was nothing in them.

In response to questions from Deputy District Attorney Jill Lindberg, Collier said Matthew Sullivan purchased carpet cleaner the day after his wife vanished and he closed his wife's e-mail account later that month.

 

[Curious Me]

I found this from 2019, which tells me Matt left the freezer, but moved the body. I cringe to think he possibly kept her in there while their children were living in the home.

Also suspicious, and mentioned below, is that he closed her email account. If his wife was missing, why would he close the account? Wouldn't he want it open in case any clues related to her "disappearance" arose? I think I read somewhere, or perhaps it was in the video of the opening remarks, that an email was sent from her account shortly after her disappearance. He probably sent it himself to make it look like she was still alive.
San Diego Community News Group - Matthew Sullivan ordered to trial in wife s murder

Detective Kim Collier testified a cadaver dog reacted to an area in the garage, where there were an empty refrigerator and freezer that were plugged in even though there was nothing in them.

In response to questions from Deputy District Attorney Jill Lindberg, Collier said Matthew Sullivan purchased carpet cleaner the day after his wife vanished and he closed his wife's e-mail account later that month.

San Diego Community News Group - Matthew Sullivan ordered to trial in wife s murder

You found it! Thank You. Wow, cadaver dog reacted to an area in the garage near that freezer. He might have left the empty freezer in the house when he dumped the remains and moved away? Sick. I wish I could hear explanation about why her remains were in the condition they were, only 40-49 lbs. by then. Why was there decomp? MOO, she wasn't out there in the bay long. It's a populated area and a Marshall Deputy found the body walking his dog. She wasn't out there long, and might have been in a freezer, but there was decomp.

 

[Curious Me]

Here's a newer article about the Trial.
Tomorrow, then the Verdict Watch!

"The trial is ahead of its schedule as the seven-man, five-woman jury with four alternates were told it would last until March 20."

and

"Harutunian told jurors the trial would not be in session on March 9 and 10 and they would return March 11 to hearing closing arguments and instructions before they start deliberations."

Read more: San Diego Community News Group - Testimony ended in Point Loma Navy man s murder trial

(I want to explain that every year they have a Sleep Outside Event there to raise awareness for the Homeless. So, if and maybe Elizabeth was at that event, it would be days before her disappearance. IMO, it's not that important, maybe she didn't want to be home with abusive Matthew, but Defense used it to make her look bad like a loose woman out of control.)

"The last witness March 6 was Ronald Agustin, who worked for the city’s park and recreation department and who said there was a group on Oct. 10-12, 2014 who had a permit to sleep outside in the park where deputies said they saw Elizabeth Sullivan."

 

[Curious Me]

"Deputy District Attorney Jill Lindberg has suggested that Sullivan kept the body in a garage freezer or in the attic as the medical examiner determined she had been dead for some time when she was found on the shoreline by a man walking his dog."

Read more: San Diego Community News Group - Testimony ended in Point Loma Navy man s murder trial

All news article quotes BBM

 

[Niner]

Wednesday, March 11th:
*Trial continues (Day 12)-Closing Arguments (@ 9am PT) – CA – Elizabeth Sullivan (31) (reported missing Oct. 14, 2014, San Diego; found Oct. 4, 2016 in San Diego Bay) – *Matthew Scott Sullivan (29 @ time of crime/33/now 35) “husband” arrested (1/31/18 in Wyoming, Delaware, extradited 2/9/18), charged & arraigned (3/4/19) with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $2M bond.
Trial began on 2/18/20 with jury selection, trial started on 2/21/20. Trial expected to last to 3/20/20. Jury: 7 men/5 women & 4 alternates.
Jury Selection from 2/10/20 thru 2/20/20 reference post #313 here:
Found Deceased - CA - Elizabeth Sullivan, 31, San Diego, 13 Oct 2014 *Arrest*
2/21/20 Friday Day 1 of Trial: Opening statements by Deputy District Attorney Jill Lindberg & by Defense attorney Marcus DeBose. State witnesses: Mr. Ricks (Elizabeth’s father). Calandra Harris (Elizabeth's best friend). Trial continues on 2/24.
2/24/20 Monday Day 2 of Trial: No info available yet. Trial continues on 2/25. 2/25/20 Tuesday Day 3 of Trial: No info available yet. Trial continues on 2/26. 2/26/20 Wednesday Day 4 of Trial: No info available. Trial continues on 2/27. 2/27/20 Thursday Day 5 of Trial: No info available. Trial continues on 2/28. 2/28/20 Friday Day 6 of Trial: Not sure IF court was in session, as CA. courts are usually dark on Fridays. No info available. Trial continues on 3/2. 3/2/20 Monday Day 7: No info available. Trial continues on 3/3. 3/3/20 Tuesday Day 8: No info available. Trial continues on 3/4. 3/4/20 Wednesday Day 9: No info available. Trial continues on 3/5. 3/5/20 Thursday Day 10: No info available. Trial continues on 3/6.
3/6/20 Friday Day 11: State rests their case. Defense witnesses: 2 Sheriff Officers. Ronald Agustin (works for City Parks & Recreation). Sullivan did not testify. Closing arguments & jury instructions before they start deliberations will begin on 3/11.

 

[Yippee]

Closing arguments today it looks like?? Then the jury will deliberate I presume?? It would be nice to hear the witnesses and everything. He just sounds so suspect

 

[Niner]

Yes, it would be nice if we could hear what was going on! Not even any tweets to keep us updated.

And yes, closing arguments & jury deliberations - hopefully a quick GUILTY verdict!

 

[Curious Me]

Just need to vent as we go into Verdict Watch. Everything I say here now is just my own perceptions and opinions. Praying for smart jurors able to reach a guilty verdict quickly.

I will post as soon as it's available-- News8 covered some of the Closing today calling it basically a "circumstantial" case, but the knife did have both Matthew's and Elizabeth's blood DNA on it. Clip showed Prosecution saying Elizabeth was stabbed, then stabbed again, then stabbed again...

Defense is trying to say Elizabeth was a cutter and hid the knife in the attic herself. Seriously? Are we to believe she stabbed herself and hid her own body for two years? It's a preposterous defense, IMO.

More men than women jurors. MOO, as far as I can tell, the Defense has tried to use the emotionally unstable woman, self destructive cutter, wildly running around on her husband and not watching her children. Defense suggests she brought this on herself. It's a Defense Ploy, IMO. I hope all those Jurors can see through it. Elizabeth deserves Justice.

 

[Curious Me]

Here it is. Please watch the video. What do you think?

Closing arguments delivered in trial of San Diego Navy man accused of stabbing wife, hiding body

 

[Niner]

Here it is. Please watch the video. What do you think?

Closing arguments delivered in trial of San Diego Navy man accused of stabbing wife, hiding body

Dang - I can't see it over here in Europe...

Did the jurors start deliberations?? TIA!

 

[Curious Me]

Dang - I can't see it over here in Europe...

Did the jurors start deliberations?? TIA!

Oh, wish you could see the video. I imagine they'll be deliberating tomorrow. Hope we can get news of a verdict.

 

[Niner]

Ah - found an article I can access:

Did a San Diego man murder his wife, whose body was found in the bay? A jury will decide

 

[Curious Me]

DBM

 

[Niner]

Thursday, March 12th:
*Trial continues (Day 13)-Verdict Watch! (@ 9am PT) – CA – Elizabeth Sullivan (31) (reported missing Oct. 14, 2014, San Diego; found Oct. 4, 2016 in San Diego Bay) – *Matthew Scott Sullivan (29 @ time of crime/33/now 35) “husband” arrested (1/31/18 in Wyoming, Delaware, extradited 2/9/18), charged & arraigned (3/4/19) with 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $2M bond.
Trial began on 2/18/20 with jury selection, trial started on 2/21/20 and ended on 3/11/20. Trial expected to last to 3/20/20. Jury: 7 men/5 women & 4 alternates.
Jury Selection from 2/10/20 thru 2/20/20 & Trial (Day 1-10) 2/21/20 to 3/6/20 reference post #371 here:
Found Deceased - CA - Elizabeth Sullivan, 31, San Diego, 13 Oct 2014 *Arrest*
3/11/20 Wednesday Day 12: Closing Arguments. Judge gave jury instructions. Jury started deliberations late afternoon. Jury continues deliberations on 3/12.