>>> TONIGHT ON "DATELINE" --
>> SHE WAS FREE SPIRITED. SHE JUST LOVED LIFE.
>> Reporter: WHAT WERE THE CHANCES SHE WOULD EVER WALK AWAY
FROM THAT FAMILY? >> THERE WEREN'T ANY CHANCES.
LIZ WOULD HAVE NEVER LEFT HER CHILDREN.
>> THE MISSING PERSONS UNIT DID NOT SEE ANY SIGNS OF FOUL PLAY.
>> I WAS LIKE, "LOOK, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST THE FRIEND.
I JUST FEEL THAT SOMETHING'S WRONG."
>> I VERY, VERY, VERY MUCH BELIEVED THAT MY FRIEND WAS IN
DANGER. >> Reporter: DID YOU GET THE
IMPRESSION THAT YOU WERE ON A LIST OF POSSIBLES?
>> DEFINITELY. >> THE HUSBAND,U(áHU'DER
SUSPICION BASICALLY IMMEDIATELY. THERE WERE SEARCHES OF HIS HOME.
>> THE HUSBAND WAS COOPERATIVE. THE BOYFRIEND WAS NOT.
>> WE GOT A WARRANT FOR HIS HOME, HIS PHONE, HIS COMPUTER.
>> THIS WAS A VERY COMPLICATED CASE.
ELIZABETH MATTERED. SHE NEEDED TO GET JUSTICE.
>> A YOUNG MOTHER VANISHES AND DARK SECRETS BEGIN TO SURFACE.
>> I HAD GOTTEN A CALL SAYING, "YOU'LL NEVER BELIEVE THIS."
YOU'RE LIKE, "THIS IS IT." >> I'M LESTER HOLT, AND THIS IS
"DATELINE." HERE'S KEITH MORRISON WITH
"SECRETS BY THE BAY." >> Reporter: IT WAS JUST A
PICTURE, SHOWED UP ONE DAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA BACK IN 2014.
IT WAS AN EARLY OFFERING IN OUR "MISSING IN AMERICA" SERIES.
AND THAT BRIGHT, OPEN FACE. THE QUESTIONS THAT BEGGED FOR
ANSWERS. WHO WAS ELIZABETH SULLIVAN?
>> COMPLETELY BRILLIANT. SHE WAS ALMOST AN UNACKNOWLEDGED
GENIUS. >> I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO
DESCRIBE IT. IT WAS LIKE THIS TORNADO MOM
THAT WAS DISHEVELED, AND SHE WAS FLIGHTY, AND SHE WOULD TALK HERE
AND HERE AND GO ALL OVER THE PLACE.
>> Reporter: THEY KNEW HER WELL, THESE TWO.
AND SO THEY KNEW THAT IN OCTOBER OF 2014, SOMETHING VERY SERIOUS
WAS GOING ON. >> I HAD NEVER SEEN HER -- HER
SO NERVOUS. SHE -- SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO
DO. >> Reporter: THEIR BEST FRIEND
SEEMED TO BE ON THE VERGE OF DOING SOMETHING DRASTIC.
>> SHE WAS ANGRY. SHE WAS -- I DON'T WANNA CALL IT
FRANTIC, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT GIVES YOU COLD SWEATS.
WE NEEDED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HER.
>> Reporter: WAS SHE ALIVE? WAS SHE DEAD?
WE COULDN'T KNOW THAT. THERE WAS A STORY HERE.
THAT WE COULD SEE. WE DIDN'T KNOW THEN THAT
FOLLOWING THE MYSTERY SURROUNDING THIS WOMAN ALL THESE
YEARS WOULD TAKE US TO PLACES AS STRANGE AS FICTION.
>> Reporter: THEN AGAIN, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, "ORDINARY"
WAS NOT THE SORT OF WORD YOU'D USE TO DESCRIBE LIZ SULLIVAN.
"SMART," MAYBE. "FUNNY," PERHAPS.
"VIBRANT," "WELL READ," "A LITTLE OCD."
>> WHEN I FIRST SAW HER, I THOUGHT SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL.
AND I THOUGHT SHE WAS FASHIONISTA.
AND WE STARTED TALKING. IT WAS -- I JUST NEEDED TO KNOW
MORE. >> Reporter: LIZ WAS IN HER 20s
WHEN SHE MET CALANDRA DUCKETT. BUT SOON THEY WERE LIKE
TEENAGERS. >> OH, IT WAS INFECTIOUS, KEITH.
I'LL TELL YOU. THERE WERE OFTEN TIMES WHERE WE
SPENT THREE, FOUR HOURS, MAYBE A BOTTLE OF WINE, GETTING READY TO
GO OUT, TO NEVER MAKE IT ANYWHERE.
>> Reporter: THING WAS, THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT LIZ.
HER FRIEND CALANDRA KNEW AND UNDERSTOOD.
>> I THINK THAT, IF THE WORLD IN ITSELF WERE A LITTLE MORE
INTROSPECTIVE, WE WOULD FIGURE OUT THAT WE ALL HAVE A LITTLE
SOMETHING. AND WE WOULDN'T JUDGE OTHERS FOR
THEIR LITTLE SOMETHING. >> Reporter: LIZ'S LITTLE
SOMETHING WAS SHE HAD TROUBLE REGULATING HER EMOTIONS.
WHICH MIGHT HELP EXPLAIN HOW TANGLED HER LOVE LIFE EVENTUALLY
BECAME. IT MIGHT ALSO HAVE EXPLAINED HER
UNIQUE FLAIR, HER SOMETIMES MANIC ENTHUSIASMS.
>> SHE WAS EXPLORING BEING A DANCER.
SHE WAS EXPLORING BEING A WRITER.
>> Reporter: AND THOUGH IT SOMETIMES ALSO MADE HER
UNPREDICTABLE OR ANXIOUS, SHE WASN'T SO DIFFERENT, SAID
CALANDRA. >> SOMETIMES YOU CAN HAVE A
PERFECTIONISTIC PERSONALITY THAT LEADS PEOPLE TO THINK THAT YOU
ARE DISORGANIZED. >> Reporter: AND IN HER CASE?
>> IN HER CASE, SHE WAS VERY INFECTIOUS.
ELIZABETH HAD A VERY ECLECTIC PERSONALITY.
>> Reporter: LIZ AND CALANDRA LIVED NEAR NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.
BIGGEST NAVAL STATION IN THE COUNTRY IS IN NORFOLK.
IN THE WHOLE WORLD, IN FACT. AND SOMEWHERE IN THAT BIG
CAULDRON OF ROMANTIC POSSIBILITIES, LIZ ENCOUNTERED
HIM. HER PERFECT GUY.
MATTHEW SULLIVAN. MINNESOTA KID IN THE NAVY.
KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR. SO THEN IT BECAME A LOVE STORY.
COULD YOU SEE THAT LITTLE SPARKLE IN HER EYE THAT SHE WAS,
YOU KNOW, INFATUATED WITH THE GUY?
>> YOU COULD SEE IT WHEN THEY WERE AROUND EACH OTHER.
THEY SPARKED UP REALLY QUICKLY. I THINK SHE SAW SO MUCH
POTENTIAL. LIZ SAW A LOT OF POTENTIAL IN
EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING HAD POTENTIAL.
>> Reporter: MATT SEEMED TO PROMISE PERMANENCE, STABILITY.
HE WASN'T JUST A HANDSOME FACE. HE WAS A TICKET TO SOMETHING
BETTER. WHAT DID SHE SEE THAT HE COULD
DO FOR HER? >> SHE SAW STABILITY AND
OPPORTUNITY. AND THEN POSSIBLY A STABLE,
LOVING RELATIONSHIP LIKE HER GRANDPARENTS, LIKE, YOU KNOW,
LONG HAUL. >> Reporter: AH.
BUT -- IT'S A STORY AS OLD AS WAR.
THE NAVY LOVES LOVE AS MUCH AS ANY INSTITUTION DOES.
BUT MAYBE NOT SO MUCH WHERE IT COMES TO PERSONAL MATTERS LIKE
ACTUALLY SPENDING TIME WITH THE ONE YOU LOVE.
MATT WAS REASSIGNED ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO SAN DIEGO,
CALIFORNIA. BUT HE JUST WASN'T READY TO SAY
GOODBYE TO THE MOST EXCITING WOMAN HE'D EVER KNOWN.
AND SO A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER THEY MET, MATT PROPOSED, AND LIZ
SAID YES. >> I THINK THEY GOT MARRIED SO
FAST BECAUSE HE WAS HAVING A GOOD TIME.
SHE WAS HAVING A GOOD TIME. IT SEEMED LIKE A PERFECT MATCH,
PERFECT OPPORTUNITY. >> Reporter: SO THEN THINGS WERE
VERY BUSY, INDEED, AS THEY BUSTLED AROUND TO GET READY FOR
THEIR MOVE OUT TO THE BIG NAVAL BASE IN SAN DIEGO.
AND RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT PREPARATION -- SURPRISE,
SURPRISE. >> SHE CALLED ME AND -- EXCUSE
MY FRENCH -- SHE WAS LIKE, "HOLY -- I THINK THERE'S A KID
IN HERE." >> Reporter: LIZ WAS PREGNANT
AND A BIT OVERWHELMED. >> IT WAS THIS ENTIRE PERIOD
WHERE WE COULD NOT SAY "STROLLER" 'CAUSE SHE COULD NOT
BREATHE. >> Reporter: COULDN'T BELIEVE IT
WAS ACTUALLY HAPPENING TO HER? >> COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
>> Reporter: TERRIFYING. >> COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
SHE WAS OUR PERMANENT ROCK STAR. SHE DID NOT SEE THAT COMING.
>> Reporter: NO, SHE DIDN'T. A NEW TOWN TO DEAL WITH, A NEW
HUSBAND, A NEW BABY. BUT ALSO, SOME OLD DEMONS THAT
WEREN'T DONE WITH HER JUST YET. >>> COMING UP --
SUDDEN NEWS FROM LIZ'S HUSBAND, MATT.
>> IT PUT HER ON RED ALERT AND FREAKED HER OUT LIKE NOTHING.
>> AND A CONCERNED CALL TO THE POLICE.
>> I WAS LIKE, "LOOK, YOU KNOW, I KNOW I'M JUST THE FRIEND.
BUT SHE SHOULD'VE CHECKED IN WITH ME.
I JUST FEEL THAT SOMETHING'S WRONG."
>> Reporter: ELIZABETH SULLIVAN'S STORY WAS LIKE THAT
OF MANY A MILITARY WIFE -- SNATCHED OUT OF IMMATURITY,
LEAVING EVERYTHING BEHIND TO FOLLOW HER HUSBAND ACROSS THE
COUNTRY. THE NEWLYWEDS LEFT NORFOLK,
MOVED TO SAN DIEGO, BUT BARELY HAD TIME TO UNPACK BEFORE MATT
WAS DEPLOYED OVERSEAS. >> SHE WAS STILL PREGNANT, SO IT
WAS A STRUGGLE BEING ALONE. >> Reporter: MATT WAS FAR, FAR
AWAY WHEN THEIR DAUGHTER WAS BORN.
HE CAME HOME FOR LONG ENOUGH FOR LIZ TO GET PREGNANT A SECOND
TIME -- BUT SOON WAS AWAY AGAIN. RAISING HER KIDS IN A TOWN AND
STATE COMPLETELY FOREIGN TO HER, LIZ FELT ISOLATED.
HER ONLY CONTACT WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY WAS ON THE PHONE.
>> SHE WAS BY HERSELF, YOU KNOW, SO IT -- THERE CAME A TIME WHERE
SHE GOT A LITTLE JOB SO THAT SHE COULD MEET PEOPLE, BE OUT IN THE
PUBLIC, YOU KNOW. >> Reporter: THEN, ONE DAY, LIZ
WALKED INTO AN EYEWEAR STORE WHERE NATHAN CARACTER WORKED.
>> SHE, UH -- SHE HAD THIS PLAID SHIRT ON THAT WAS, LIKE, TWO
SIZES TOO BIG. AND SHE WAS CARRYING THIS --
THIS -- UH, DOUBLE STROLLER. AND I WAS JUST LIKE, "OH, NO."
I WAS LIKE, "WHAT DOES THIS WOMAN WANT?"
LIKE, UM, AND SHE CAME IN, AND SHE WAS JUST A FLURRY.
SAYING, "OH, I'M SORRY. I DON'T NORMALLY LOOK LIKE
THIS," AND BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
AND, UM, WE JUST STARTED TALKING UNTIL THE STORE CLOSED.
>> Reporter: BUT SHE WAS KIND OF LIKE A LITTLE FORCE OF NATURE
THAT CAME INTO YOUR STORE -- >> NOT A LITTLE FORCE OF NATURE.
SHE WAS A HUGE FORCE OF NATURE. >> CHEERS!
>> Reporter: YES, SHE WAS. AND COMPLICATED FOR REASONS
NATHAN WOULD DISCOVER HIMSELF SOON ENOUGH.
WHY DID YOU LIKE HER AS MUCH AS YOU DID?
>> THE FIRST THING THAT DREW ME TO HER WAS HER SENSE OF HUMOR.
AND -- AND SHE WAS SMART. YOU KNOW, I LIKED THAT.
SHE WENT TO SCHOOL. BUT EVENTUALLY --
[ SIGH ] EVENTUALLY I REALLY BEGAN TO
LOVE LIZ BECAUSE I DIDN'T FEEL THAT I HAD TO HIDE ANYTHING OF
MYSELF FROM HER. AND SHE WOULDN'T JUDGE ME
BECAUSE WE BOTH KNEW THAT WE HAD OUR FLAWS.
AND IT WAS THE FIRST PERSON THAT I FELT REALLY COMFORTABLE
ADMITTING STUFF LIKE THAT TO. YOU KNOW?
>> Reporter: THAT'S A PRETTY RARE THING.
>> YEAH. YEAH.
>> Reporter: SO LIZ AND NATHAN CONFIDED THINGS, VERY PERSONAL
THINGS, TO EACH OTHER. LIKE LIZ'S MARRIAGE.
MATT WAS BACK, BUT WASN'T GOING WELL.
SHE AND MATT HAD MOVED TO LIBERTY STATION, A RESIDENTIAL
DISTRICT IN WHAT USED TO BE SAN DIEGO'S NAVAL TRAINING
CENTER. >> SHE GOT SETTLED INTO A
ROUTINE WHERE SHE WAS BASICALLY A SINGLE MOTHER.
MATT DIDN'T KNOW THE KIDS AND -- AND SHE HAD A PARTICULAR ROUTINE
AND -- AND WAY.
AND THAT REALLY GOT DISRUPTED -- >> Reporter: WHEN HE CAME BACK.
>> -- WHEN HE CAME BACK AND -- AND WAS BACK FOR A WHILE.
>> Reporter: AND THE MORE LIZ AND MATT GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER,
THE MORE THEY SEEMED TO BE LEAGUES APART, SAID CALANDRA
WHEN WE FIRST INTERVIEWED HER BACK IN 2020.
>> I REMEMBER A VERY PREVALENT ISSUE WAS THAT MATT DID NOT HAVE
A DRIVER'S LICENSE. SO IF SOMETHING NEEDED TO BE
DONE OR SOMEONE NEEDED TO GET SOMEWHERE, INCLUDING HIM TO
WORK, IT WAS LIZ WAKING UP EARLY, TAKE HIM TO WORK.
SHE WOULD HAVE TO DO THE GROCERY SHOPPING.
IF THEY HAD APPOINTMENTS, THAT'S HER ALSO.
HONESTLY, I THINK THAT MATT WAS ALSO DISAPPOINTMENT THAT HE LOST
HIS GOOD TIME WIFE THAT HE THOUGHT HE WAS TAKING TO
CALIFORNIA WITH HIM. AND THEY BOTH WALKED SLAM INTO A
WHOLE LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY. >> Reporter: BUT IT WASN'T JUST
THE WEIGHT OF DAILY LIFE DRIVING A WEDGE.
>> SHE WOULD TRY TO EXCITE HIM ABOUT THINGS.
"LET'S DO THIS. LET'S GO OUT HERE.
WE HAVE THESE TWO DAUGHTERS." SHE SAW ALL THESE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR HER AND THEM. UM, AND HE --
[ SIGH ] HE -- HE WAS CONTENT WHERE HE
WAS IN LIFE. YOU KNOW, HE DIDN'T REALLY WANT
TO EXPLORE OR DO MUCH OUTSIDE OF WORK, GO HOME.
>> Reporter: SIT IN FRONT OF THE
TELEVISION. >> EXACTLY.
>> Reporter: HAVE A BEER. THAT'S THAT.
>> PRETTY MUCH. YEAH.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WASN'T CUTTING IT FOR LIZ.
>> Reporter: WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU ASK A GUY TO STEP UP, AND HE
DOESN'T STEP UP. MUST'VE MADE HER MAD.
>> I CAN'T SAY MAD. IT WAS FRUSTRATING.
I THINK IT WAS MORE DISAPPOINTING.
"WELL, NOW WHAT? YOU KNOW, I CAME OUT HERE
BECAUSE YOU'RE SO RESPONSIBLE, AND WE'RE ABOUT TO BE
RESPONSIBLE TOGETHER AND BUILD THIS LIFE.
AND IT'S ME BUILDING." >> Reporter: "AND YOU NOT DOIN'
MUCH OF WHAT YOU NEED TO DO." >> RIGHT.
>> Reporter: ON TOP OF THAT, MATT HAD JUST ANNOUNCED THAT HIS
FAMILY, HER IN-LAWS, WERE ABOUT TO MOVE IN WITH THEM.
HE'D ALREADY MADE THE ARRANGEMENT.
THEY WERE ON THEIR WAY. >> IT PUT HER ON RED ALERT AND
FREAKED HER OUT LIKE NOTHING. I HAD NEVER SEEN HER SO NERVOUS.
>> Reporter: MATT'S MOTHER WAS COMING.
AND NOT JUST HER. HER PARTNER AND MATT'S SISTER,
TOO. AND LIZ DID NOT LIKE THEM ONE
BIT. TOLD NATHAN MATT'S MOM DIDN'T
APPROVE OF HER OR HER MARRIAGE TO MATT.
>> THERE WERE QUALITIES IN THE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT LIZ DID NOT
WANT AROUND HER DAUGHTERS, DEFINITELY.
>> Reporter: WHEN LIZ CALLED NATHAN, SHE SOUNDED DESPERATE
FOR A WAY OUT OF THAT ARRANGEMENT.
DID SHE THEN ASK IF SHE COULD COME TALK THROUGH THIS?
>> YEAH. WELL, IT WAS --
[ LAUGH ] IT WASN'T AN ASK.
IT WAS, "I'M IN THE CAR ON MY WAY OVER NOW."
>> Reporter: LIZ SPENT THE NIGHT AT NATHAN'S VENTING.
AND THE NEXT DAY, FEELING SOMEWHAT BETTER, IF STILL WARY,
WENT BACK HOME. BUT WHEN NATHAN SPOKE TO HER THE
FOLLOWING DAY, SHE SOUNDED TENSE.
>> SHE WAS VERY HURRIED TO GET OFF THE PHONE.
IT WAS LIKE, "I HAVE TO GO. BYE."
DONE. >> Reporter: BEFORE SHE HUNG UP,
LIZ TOLD NATHAN SHE'D CALL HIM THE NEXT DAY, A MONDAY.
BUT MONDAY CAME AND WENT. >> IT WASN'T UNTIL I WENT TO
WORK ON TUESDAY AROUND LUNCHTIME, AND I STILL HADN'T
HEARD FROM HER. AND I KNEW THE PLANE WAS GONNA
LAND WITH HER IN-LAWS. >> Reporter: OH, BOY.
>> SO THAT'S WHEN I THOUGHT IT WAS WEIRD.
>> Reporter: SO HE CALLED MATT. >> HAS HE HEARD FROM LIZ.
NO. NO.
HE HASN'T HEARD FROM HER SINCE YESTERDAY.
>> Reporter: MATT KNEW LIZ WAS UPSET ABOUT HIS FAMILY MOVING
IN -- THEY HAD JUST ARRIVED THAT MORNING -- AND FIGURED SHE WAS
TRYING TO PUT OFF DEALING WITH THEM.
IT WOULDN'T BE THE FIRST TIME LIZ HAD GONE OFF ON HER OWN
WITHOUT SAYING WHERE OR WITH WHOM.
SHE COULD BE IMPULSIVE, AS MATT AND NATHAN BOTH KNEW.
BUT NATHAN COULDN'T SHAKE A NAGGING FEELING THAT THIS TIME,
THERE WAS MORE TO IT. AND SOMEWHAT RELUCTANTLY, HE
MADE ONE MORE CALL. >> I CALLED THE POLICE.
>> I STRESSED THE FACT. I WAS LIKE, "LOOK, YOU KNOW, I
KNOW I'M JUST THE FRIEND. BUT SHE SHOULD'VE CHECKED IN
WITH ME. I JUST FEEL THAT SOMETHING'S
WRONG." AND THE OFFICER KIND OF BLEW IT
OFF. >> Reporter: BUT THEN, ANOTHER
DAY WENT BY. AND THEN A THIRD.
LIZ'S DAUGHTERS WAITED. MATT WAITED.
THE IN-LAWS SETTLED IN. EVERYBODY WONDERED, "WHERE IS
SHE?" THAT'S WHEN SAN DIEGO POLICE PUT
THE WORD OUT. THE YOUNG MOTHER OF TWO WAS
OFFICIALLY MISSING. >>> COMING UP --
I FEEL LIKE SHE'S IN TROUBLE. WE AREN'T GOING TO LET THIS GO.
>> A PUBLIC PLEA FROM LIZ'S DAD. >> THE MISSING PERSONS UNIT DID
NOT SEE ANY SIGNS OF FOUL PLAY. >> WAS SHE MISSING OR HIDING?
>> SHE WAS SPOTTED IN A SOCCER FIELD 1,000 FEET FROM HER HO
>> Reporter: THREE DAYS AFTER NATHAN CARACTER CALLED THE
POLICE TO REPORT HIS FRIEND LIZ SULLIVAN WAS MISSING,
INVESTIGATORS DROPPED BY LIZ' HOUSE.
THEY MET MATT AND THE KIDS AND THE IN-LAWS, AND TOOK A
POLICE-TYPE TOUR OF THE PLACE EYES WIDE OPEN.
>> THE MISSING PERSONS UNIT HAD LOOKED OVER IT FAIRLY WELL AND
DID NOT SEE ANY SIGNS OF FOUL PLAY.
>> Reporter: THAT'S DETECTIVE KIM COLLIER.
SHE DIDN'T KNOW BACK THEN HOW MUCH THIS CASE WOULD MEAN TO
HER. WASN'T EVEN THERE THE DAY
MISSING PERSONS TOOK THEIR LOOK AROUND.
AND WHAT DID THEY FIND? NOTHING VERY ILLUMINATING.
LIZ HADN'T TAKEN HER CAR, IT WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, SOME TRASH
AND A PARKING RECEIPT WERE INSIDE.
AND NEXT TO HER CAR, THE USUAL GARAGE STUFF.
A BIG BROKEN MIRROR AND A STAND-ALONE FREEZER LIKE THIS
ONE, WHICH THEY OPENED. IT WAS EMPTY.
DID THEY SEARCH HER ROOM IN THE HOUSE THAT SHE SHARED WITH MATT?
>> YES. >> Reporter: OUTSIDE OF IT BEING
A LITTLE MESSY, THERE WAS NOTHING OF NOTE.
EXCEPT, SAID MATT, ONE OF THEIR SUITCASES WAS MISSING.
>> HE FELT THAT SHE MIGHT'VE LEFT WITH HER COMPUTER AND HER
LAPTOP AND A PHONE. BUT HE WASN'T SURE.
BUT HE COULDN'T FIND THOSE ITEMS.
>> Reporter: SEEMED COOPERATIVE THOUGH?
>> YES. >> Reporter: MATT TOLD THE
DETECTIVES HE'D FOUND HER PRIVATE JOURNALS.
AND HE TURNED THOSE OVER. AND SOMETHING ELSE -- IT WAS A
PRETTY BIG DEAL. HE HAD DISCOVERED THAT LIZ HAD
TRANSFERRED ALL THE MONEY IN THEIR JOINT CHECKING ACCOUNT --
$1,072 -- TO HER INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNT BEFORE SHE DISAPPEARED.
SO THE COPS CALLED LIZ'S CREDIT UNION, AND THE PEOPLE THERE
CONFIRMED THERE WAS ACTIVITY ON HER DEBIT CARD AFTER SHE WAS
REPORTED MISSING. WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN YOU
HEARD THAT? >> I WAS VERY HOPEFUL.
I WAS REALLY EXCITED, UM -- BECAUSE THAT MEANS, YOU KNOW,
LIZ WAS SOMEWHERE. SHE WASN'T DEAD.
>> Reporter: STILL, THEY POSTED FLYERS AROUND TOWN.
HER PHOTO WAS ALL OVER THE NEWS. >> 31-YEAR-OLD ELIZABETH
SULLIVAN WENT MISSING ON OCTOBER 13th, 2014.
>> Reporter: AND THAT PRODUCED A RESPONSE.
PEOPLE THOUGHT THEY RECOGNIZED THE WOMAN ON TV.
>> SHE WAS SPOTTED TWICE. SO SHE'S GONE A WEEK.
AND SHE WAS SPOTTED IN A SOCCER FIELD 1,000 FEET FROM HER HOUSE.
>> Reporter: WHO SAW HER? >> IT WAS AN OFF-DUTY POLICE
OFFICER. >> Reporter: IN FACT, AN
OFF-DUTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY AND HIS WIFE SAID THEY SAW AND
TALKED TO LIZ SIX DAYS AFTER SHE WENT MISSING.
THEY SAID SHE APPEARED DISORIENTED, WAS LOOKING FOR HER
PHONE, AND TOLD THEM SHE HAD SLEPT IN THE PARK THE NIGHT
BEFORE. THEN DAYS LATER, ANOTHER
REPORTED SIGHTING, THIS ONE NEAR THE SAN DIEGO AIRPORT.
BUT, AFTER THAT, A MONTH PASSED WITH NO SIGN OF LIZ.
MATT GAVE AN INTERVIEW TO PEOPLE MAGAZINE, SAID HE WAS "AT THE
END OF HIS ROPE." "I'M RUNNING ON FUMES RIGHT NOW,
I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO LOOK." LIZ HAD LEFT HOME BEFORE, HE
SAID, BUT THOSE TIMES IT WAS JUST FOR A NIGHT.
NOT LIKE THIS. >> WE AREN'T GONNA LET THIS GO.
>> Reporter: LIZ'S DAD CAME FROM VIRGINIA TO HELP LOOK FOR HIS
DAUGHTER, AND BE WITH MATT AND THE GIRLS.
HE WAS INTERVIEWED BY NBC STATION KNSD AND PLEADED WITH
THE PUBLIC FOR HELP. >> I FEEL LIKE SHE'S IN TROUBLE.
IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU, AND WHEN IT DOES, IT GETS VERY PERSONAL.
AND YOU GET A STRENGTH LIKE YOU NEVER HAD BEFORE, BECAUSE THAT'S
MY DAUGHTER. I'M BRINGING HER HOME.
>> Reporter: AS SAN DIEGO DETECTIVES DOVE IN TO THEIR
INVESTIGATION, THEY WONDERED IF SOME PEOPLE KNEW MORE ABOUT
LIZ'S WHEREABOUTS THAN THEY WERE LETTING ON.
THEY QUESTIONED HER FRIEND NATHAN, FOR ONE.
NATHAN, WHO'D CALLED IN THE MISSING PERSONS REPORT.
DID YOU GET THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU WERE ON
A LIST OF POSSIBLES? >> DEFINITELY.
>> Reporter: HOW'D THEY MAKE THAT APPARENT?
>> THEY SHOWED UP AT MY JOB. VERY AWKWARD -- VERY, VERY
AWKWARD. AND I WAS SHORT WITH THEM, AND
SAID I COULD MEET THEM AT THIS TIME.
AND WE DID AND WE MET, AND IT WAS VERY INTERROGATORY.
>> Reporter: DIDN'T THEY ASK YOU TO TAKE A POLYGRAPH?
>> YEAH. >> Reporter: WHAT'D YOU SAY?
>> WELL, I WANTED TO THINK ABOUT IT FIRST.
>> Reporter: NATHAN WASN'T THE ONLY ONE POLICE LEANED ON.
THEY QUESTIONED MATT, TOO, OF COURSE -- REPEATEDLY.
>> LIKE, I NEVER HEARD OF HIM GETTING A LAWYER.
IN FACT, IT SEEMED HE WAS HELPFUL.
>> Reporter: YEAH. >> YOU KNOW, TO THE POLICE.
>> Reporter: MATT TOLD THEM GO AHEAD SEARCH HIS HOUSE, WHICH
THEY DID SEVERAL TIMES. AND HE CONSENTED TO HAVING BOTH
OF HIS DAUGHTERS' DNA COLLECTED, JUST IN CASE THE WORST HAPPENED
AND THEY NEEDED TO I.D. A BODY. DID YOU ASK HIM TO TAKE A
POLYGRAPH BY ANY CHANCE? >> YES.
>> Reporter: HOW'D HE SCORE? >> WELL, HE DID PRETTY WELL.
>> Reporter: WHAT WAS HIS SUGGESTION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED
TO HER? >> HE ENDED UP SAYING THAT SHE
HAD JUST LEFT AND WALKED OUT WITH A BAG AND HE DIDN'T KNOW
WHERE SHE WAS GOING. >> Reporter: BY NOW, DETECTIVES
HAD AN IDEA OR TWO TO FOLLOW. THEY'D BEEN LOOKING OVER THOSE
JOURNALS MATT HAD GIVEN THEM. AND WELL, THE THINGS PEOPLE
WRITE WHEN THEY THINK NO ONE WILL LOOK --
MAYBE LIZ SULLIVAN'S LIFE WAS MORE COMPLICATED THAN ANYONE
KNEW. MAYBE SHE DIDN'T WANT TO BE
FOUND. >>> COMING UP --
SECRETS SPILL OUT! LIZ ON A DATING APP?
>> ONE DAY, SHE HAD TINDER. >> Reporter: AND PRIVATE
WRITINGS. >> IT WAS A STORY ABOUT SOMEBODY
THAT IS MISSING. >> Reporter: LEAVES HER KIDS AND
RUNS AND LEAVES IT ALL BEHIND? >> RIGHT.
>> Reporter: IT DIDN'T TAKE VERY LONG.
WHEN SAN DIEGO INVESTIGATORS ASKED FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO TELL
THEM ABOUT THE MISSING LIZ SULLIVAN, THEY RAN INTO IT
RIGHT AWAY. SHE WAS A COMPLICATED PERSON,
RIGHT? >> OH.
OH, YEAH. [ LAUGH ]
YEAH. SHE WAS VERY COMPLICATED.
>> Reporter: COMPLICATED. LIZ HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH
BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER, WHICH MAY SOUND LIKE A BIG DEAL,
BUT IT ISN'T SO UNCOMMON. MILLIONS OF PEOPLE DEAL WITH IT.
AND IN LIZ'S CASE, HER JOURNALS, PRIVATE, SOMETIMES TORTURED
THOUGHTS, MADE IT CLEAR THAT FOR ALL HER SPUNK AND LUST FOR LIFE,
SHE'D BEEN BATTLING DEEP SEATED ISSUES FOR YEARS.
LIZ OPENED UP TO FRIENDS ABOUT HER DRUG USE, BOTH RECREATIONAL
AND PRESCRIBED. SHE TOOK PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION
LIKE ADDERALL. BUT AT TIMES SHE OVERMEDICATED.
DID SHE TALK MUCH ABOUT THAT? >> OH, YEAH.
YEAH. LIZ TALKED VERY FREELY ABOUT IT.
LIZ HAD ALWAYS BEEN UNDER THE CARE OF PSYCHIATRISTS.
UM. AND SHE HAD HER STASH OF
PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION THAT SHE NEEDED, BUT THAT SHE ALSO LIKED
AS WELL. AND SHE KNEW HOW TO WORK THE
SYSTEM TO GET -- TO GET THE MEDICATION SHE WANTED.
>> Reporter: SO, KIND OF, PARTIALLY SELF-MEDICATED.
>> YEAH. EXACTLY.
>> Reporter: AND WHEN MEDICATION WASN'T ENOUGH, LIZ SOMETIMES
RESORTED TO ALTERNATE WAYS OF FINDING RELIEF.
>> SHE WAS A CUTTER. SO IT WAS A WAY FOR HER TO KIND
OF RELEASE ANY TYPE OF ANXIETY. >> Reporter: WHAT KIND OF
CUTTING ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? WERE THEY DEEP CUTS?
LITTLE SCRATCHES? WHAT?
>> NO. FOR THE MOST PART, THEY'RE, YOU
KNOW, SUPERFICIAL WOUNDS. CAUSE YOU A LITTLE PAIN AND HAVE
YOU BLEED A LITTLE BIT. BUT NOTHING THAT WOULD SEND YOU
TO THE HOSPITAL. SHE KNEW THAT SHE HAD PROBLEMS,
AND SHE DID WHATEVER SHE COULD AND -- AND SHE TRIED SO HARD TO
CIRCUMVENT THOSE ISSUES THAT SHE HAD.
SHE -- >> Reporter: MORE HURDLES THAN
MOST PEOPLE. >> YEAH.
>> Reporter: WHEN THINGS WERE GOING WRONG IN HER MARRIAGE, LIZ
DID WHAT SHE WOULD OFTEN DO. SHE WROTE ABOUT IT, AS IF
WRITING FICTION. SHE SHOWED IT TO NATHAN.
>> IT HAD SOME VERY REAL, ACTUAL EVENTS IN THE STORY.
>> Reporter: THE WOMAN IN LIZ'S STORY HAD BEEN RESCUED FROM HER
LIFE'S TROUBLES BY A MAN NAMED BROOKS, HER WHITE KNIGHT.
THEY MOVED TO CALIFORNIA, HAD A LITTLE GIRL.
AND THEN THINGS WENT BAD. "I'M A FAILURE, A LIFETIME
MOVIE. A LIFETIME MOVIE THAT RETAINS
SUCH SACCHARIN, SWEET, MAUDLIN PREDICTABILITY THAT I LEFT.
I LEFT BROOKS. I LEFT MY LITTLE GIRL AND WALKED
OUT OF THAT NIGHTMARE. I WALKED OUT OF MY LIFE."
>> Reporter: THE PARALLELS TO LIZ'S REAL LIFE, AS NATHAN TOLD
THE DETECTIVES, WERE SO OBVIOUS. WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN YOU READ
IT? >> WELL, IT MADE IT HARD BECAUSE
IT WAS A STORY ABOUT WHAT WE WERE DEALING WITH, SOMEBODY THAT
IS MISSING. AND IF SHE ACTED OUT THAT STORY
IN REAL TIME, THEN IT WOULD'VE ALIGNED.
>> Reporter: LEAVES HER KIDS AND RUNS AND LEAVES IT ALL BEHIND?
>> RIGHT. >> Reporter: MAYBE.
BUT LIZ'S STORY ALSO OFFERED A SECOND POSSIBILITY.
"I AM SO SICK OF EVERYONE. BUT MOSTLY COMPLETELY AND
ENTIRELY SICK OF MYSELF. MAYBE EVERYONE IS BETTER OFF IN
MY ABSENCE." DID YOU EVER THINK THAT SUICIDE
WAS A POSSIBILITY? >> IT WAS SOMETHING THAT
UNFORTUNATELY WAS IN THE BACK OF MY MIND.
>> Reporter: AND, TO THOSE POSSIBILITIES, ADD YET ANOTHER.
MONTHS BEFORE SHE DISAPPEARED, LIZ CREATED AN ONLINE DATING
PROFILE. >> WHEN SHE GOT ON THE APP, IT
WASN'T, YOU KNOW, TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AT ALL.
>> Reporter: SHE TOLD CALANDRA ALL ABOUT IT.
>> IT WAS A, UM, ESCAPE HATCH FOR JUST A COUPLE HOURS, YOU
KNOW? >> Reporter: RIGHT.
MORE OF A FANTASY THING? >> SURE.
>> Reporter: "I'M IN THIS BAD SPOT.
I'M GONNA LOOK AT WHAT'S OUT THERE."
>> SURE. AND I BELIEVE THAT WHEN YOU GET
IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS THAT AFFECT YOUR SELF-ESTEEM,
SOMETIMES IT'S EASIER TO HAVE SOMEONE ELSE TELL YOU, YOU KNOW,
THE THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO HEAR JUST FOR THAT MOMENT.
>> Reporter: YEAH, YEAH. >> JUST FOR THAT MOMENT.
>> Reporter: NATHAN THOUGHT IT WAS MORE SERIOUS THAN THAT.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF I INTRODUCED HER TO THIS APP ON THE PHONE OR
IF SHE FOUND IT ON HER OWN. I CAN'T REMEMBER.
UM. BUT ONE DAY, SHE HAD TINDER.
>> Reporter: MM-HM. >> AND I DIDN'T JUDGE HER FOR
IT. >> Reporter: MAYBE NOT.
BUT SUDDENLY THE INVESTIGATORS WERE DEALING WITH A BIG PROBLEM.
WAS SHE SEEING SOMEONE? HAD SHE TAKEN OFF WITH HIM,
WHOEVER IT WAS? OR DID SOME MAN DO SOMETHING TO
MAKE LIZ SULLIVAN DISAPPEAR? >>> COMING UP --
NEW MEN IN HER LIFE. AND POSSIBLY, NEW LEADS IN THE
CASE. >> STEPHEN, YEP.
STEPHEN WAS THE BOYFRIEND. HE HAD ASPIRATIONS AND GOALS,
AND HE WAS ALL THE THINGS THAT WHAT HAPPENED HERE?
THE TRUE CRIME ORIGINAL, DATELINE FRIDAYS AND SUNDAYS.
>> Reporter: ELIZABETH SULLIVAN HAD BEEN GONE ABOUT TWO MONTHS
WHEN THE MISSING PERSONS UNIT ASKED DETECTIVE KIM COLLIER AND
HER PARTNERS TO GET INVOLVED. THING WAS, DETECTIVE COLLIER
WORKED HOMICIDE CASES. AND THIS ONE -- THEY DIDN'T KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS. >> IT REALLY MADE THEM WORRY
THAT THIS WAS MORE THAN JUST SOMEBODY THAT HAD WALKED AWAY
FROM THEIR LIFE. >> Reporter: BY THEN MISSING
PERSONS HAD DONE THEIR SEARCHES AND TALKED TO THE HUSBAND MATT,
WHO TOLD THEM ABOUT LIZ'S PSYCHIATRIC ISSUES, TOLD THEM
SHE COULD BE UNPREDICTABLE, IMPULSIVE.
AND THEY HAD INTERVIEWED PEOPLE WHO REPORTED SEEING HER AFTER
SHE WENT MISSING. AND PEOPLE WHO SAID THEY WERE
JUST WORRIED, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, HER FRIEND NATHAN.
WAS HE EVER CONSIDERED A SUSPECT AT ALL?
>> THINK THE MISSING PERSONS UNIT IN THE BEGINNING, MIGHT'VE
WANTED TO BRING HIM IN. I NEVER FELT THAT HE WAS
SUSPECT, NO. >> Reporter: YOU HAD A FEELING
ABOUT IT, AN INSTINCT? >> OH YEAH, YEAH.
I MEAN, IT KINDA COMES WITH THE JOB.
>> Reporter: IN FACT, NATHAN, IT TURNED OUT, WAS A KIND OF
ENCYCLOPEDIA WHERE IT CAME TO LIZ.
TO HIM, SHE'D CONFIDED JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.
>> I HEARD ALL OF HER LIFE STORY.
EVERYTHING. AND I THINK SHE NEEDED SOMEBODY
TO TELL IT TO. SHE WAS A FULL-TIME MOM, AND SO
SHE DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE TO TALK TO, TO LET ALL THIS OUT.
>> Reporter: AND, OVER THE COURSE OF THEIR FRIENDSHIP,
NATHAN BECAME VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEMS PLAGUING LIZ'S
RELATIONSHIP WITH MATT. BUT HE'D ALSO SEEN THEM BOTH
MAKE A REAL EFFORT TO MEND THEIR MARRIAGE.
>> SHE WAS RAISED CATHOLIC AND, I REMEMBER ONE INSTANCE OR ONE
PERIOD SHE DECIDED, "YOU KNOW WHAT, NATHAN?
I'M JUST GONNA -- I'M REALLY GONNA FOCUS ON MY FAMILY.
I'M GONNA MAKE THIS WORK. YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN HARD ON MY
HUSBAND, BUT HE, YOU KNOW, PROVIDES FOR ME AND THE CHILDREN
AND I NEED TO BE MORE APPRECIATIVE AND RESPECTFUL OF
THAT." AND I REMEMBER HER REALLY,
REALLY, PUTTING HER ALL INTO IT. >> Reporter: THAT WAS ABOUT THE
TIME NATHAN HAD THEM OVER FOR THANKSGIVING THE YEAR BEFORE SHE
DISAPPEARED. HOW WERE THEY THEN?
>> THEY WERE DOING GREAT. I HAD NEVER SEEN THEM SO HAPPY
AND TALKING AND CONVERSING. IT WAS REALLY GOOD TO SEE 'EM
LIKE THAT. IT REALLY WAS.
THEN COME THAT CHRISTMAS, SHE CAME OVER TO THE HOUSE WITH THE
GIRLS BUT NO MATT. YOU COULD SEE THE DYNAMIC HAD
CHANGED ALREADY, AND IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG.
>> Reporter: AND BY SUMMER LIZ WAS SPENDING TIME WITH OTHER MEN
SHE MET ON TINDER. NOW, INVESTIGATORS HAD TO EXPAND
THEIR LIST OF POTENTIAL SUSPECTS.
WHO WAS MARCUS HODGES? >> HE WAS ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS
THAT WE KNOW THAT SHE HAD CONNECTED WITH.
>> Reporter: THEY'D PULLED HIS RECORD.
HE'D BEEN ARRESTED FOR CHOKING HIS THEN WIFE DURING AN
ARGUMENT. THE CHARGES WERE LATER DROPPED.
DID THAT FACTOR INTO YOUR THINKING AT ALL?
>> IT WAS PART OF THE REASON WE WERE MORE CONCERNED.
IT PLAYED A FACTOR IN US PAYING A LITTLE MORE ATTENTION TO HIM.
>> Reporter: BUT THE MARCUS/LIZ RELATIONSHIP TURNED OUT TO HAVE
BEEN BRIEF AND CASUAL. IT WAS A DEAD END.
EXCEPT MARCUS WASN'T THE ONLY ONE.
THERE WAS ANOTHER MAN, GUY NAMED STEVEN SUTTON.
AND MAYBE HE WAS THE REAL DEAL. >> I THINK THAT ONCE SHE FOUND
STEVE, STEVE WAS KIND OF IT FOR HER.
AND THAT WHATEVER OTHER CONTACTS SHE HAD MADE DURING THAT TIME
WERE NOT IMPORTANT TO HER ANYMORE.
>> Reporter: AS LIZ CONFIDED TO NATHAN.
>> STEVEN. YEAH, STEVEN WAS THE BOYFRIEND.
>> Reporter: WHAT DID SHE SAY ABOUT STEVEN?
>> SHE SHOWED ME HIS PICTURE. HE WAS A GOOD LOOKING GUY.
HE HAD ASPIRATIONS AND GOALS AND, LIKE, YOU KNOW, HE WANTED
TO BETTER HIMSELF AND HE WAS EDUCATED AND THEY COULD TALK AND
IT WAS ALL THE THINGS THAT MATT WASN'T.
>> Reporter: PERHAPS HE WAS. HE WAS ALSO THE LAST PERSON LIZ
DATED BEFORE SHE DISAPPEARED. SO NATURALLY, DETECTIVES WANTED
TO TALK TO HIM. BUT THEY HAD A PROBLEM.
STEVE DIDN'T WANT TO TALK TO THEM.
>> THE HUSBAND WAS COOPERATIVE. AND THE BOYFRIEND WAS NOT.
>>> COMING UP -- >> LIZ FELT BAD.
SHE DID. >> Reporter: TRUE CONFESSIONS --
LIZ IS FORCED TO REVEAL HER AFFAIR.
SHE'S ABOUT TO BE CAUGHT. >> YEAH, AND SO SHE CALLED ME UP
AND SHE SAID WHAT AM I G >>> SHE WOULD NOT HAVE WALKED
AWAY FROM THOSE CHILDREN. >> Reporter: CALANDRA DUCKETT
KNEW LIZ SULLIVAN. AND SHE ALSO KNEW THIS WHOLE
SITUATION JUST WASN'T RIGHT. >> I VERY MUCH BELIEVED -- I
VERY, VERY, VERY MUCH BELIEVED THAT MY FRIEND WAS IN DANGER.
SHE WAS NOT OUT GALLIVANTING THE WORLD, EXPLORING WITHOUT ME,
WITHOUT HER GIRLS, WITHOUT EVEN A PHONE CALL.
THAT WAS NOT ELIZABETH. THAT WAS NOT HER.
>> Reporter: BUT MORE THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER LIZ DISAPPEARED,
THERE WAS NOTHING. NOT A WORD.
OFFICIALLY, IT WAS STILL A MISSING PERSONS CASE.
BUT REALLY, IT WAS THE HOMICIDE UNIT, DET. COLLIER AND HER
PARTNERS, WHO WANTED TO TALK TO STEVEN SUTTON, THE MAN LIZ
STARTED SEEING BEFORE SHE DISAPPEARED.
BUT STEVE DIDN'T WANT TO TALK TO THEM.
>> HE ENDED UP GETTING AN ATTORNEY.
SO, UM, WE WERE KIND OF DONE, AT THAT POINT, BEIN' ABLE TO TALK
TO HIM WITHOUT MORE INFORMATION. >> Reporter: SO THEY TRIED TO
PIECE TOGETHER THAT PART OF LIZ'S LIFE WITHOUT HIS HELP AND
DISCOVERED THAT, ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE LIZ DISAPPEARED, HER
AFFAIR WITH STEVE IMPLODED IN SPECTACULAR FASHION.
>> I DO KNOW THAT LIZ ENJOYED BEING OVER THERE WITH STEVE AND
HIS ROOMMATE, AND THEY ENJOYED HAVING HER OVER.
>> Reporter: THE ROOMMATE'S GIRLFRIEND, HOWEVER, NOT SO
MUCH. SHE SAW CHILD SEATS IN THE CAR
AND ASSUMED, INCORRECTLY, THAT LIZ HAD LEFT THE KIDS HOME
ALONE. AND SO SHE CALLED CPS.
>> I DON'T WANT TO DISPARAGE THAT YOUNG LADY'S ACTIONS,
BECAUSE THOSE ACTIONS DO SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE.
IT JUST DIDN'T APPLY TO THIS SITUATION.
>> Reporter: TOO LATE NOW. >> THAT'S WHAT SPARKED
EVERYTHING, THAT PHONE CALL TO CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES.
UM. >> Reporter: YEAH.
THAT'S GETTING REAL NOW. >> YEAH.
>> Reporter: CPS TURNED UP AT LIZ'S HOUSE, ASKED SOME
DIFFICULT QUESTIONS, BUT FOUND NOTHING TO INDICATE SHE WAS AN
UNFIT MOTHER. EXCEPT --
>> AND THEN CPS SAID, "WELL, AS PART OF PROCEDURE, WE HAVE TO
NOTIFY THAT WE GOT THIS CALL TO THE OTHER PARENT."
>> Reporter: SHE'S ABOUT TO BE CAUGHT.
>> YEAH. AND MATT WAS AT WORK AT THE
TIME. AND SO SHE CALLED ME UP AND SHE
SAID, "THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED. YOU KNOW, WHAT -- WHAT -- WHAT
AM I GONNA DO?" >> Reporter: NOTHING LEFT TO DO,
SAID NATHAN, BUT TELL MATT THE TRUTH.
SO THAT NIGHT, LIZ TOLD HER HUSBAND EVERYTHING.
ANY IDEA HOW HE REACTED IN THE MOMENT?
>> BASED ON HIS INTERVIEW, UH, WHILE SURPRISED, I DON'T THINK
HE WAS -- HE DIDN'T COME ACROSS AS THAT BOTHERED BY IT BECAUSE
THEY HAD BEEN LIVING SEPARATE LIVES IN THEIR OWN HOME FOR A
COUPLE YEARS. >> Reporter: SEPARATE LIVES?
MATT TOLD THE DETECTIVES HE AND LIZ SLEPT IN SEPARATE BEDROOMS.
SO HE WAS PRESENTING A MARRIAGE WHERE THEY WERE BOTH MOVING ON.
THEY JUST HAPPENED TO LIVE IN THE SAME HOUSE.
>> RIGHT. >> Reporter: WOULD THAT BE FAIR?
>> YES. >> Reporter: LIZ, ON THE OTHER
HAND, WAS RACKED WITH GUILT, ACCORDING TO MATT, WHO SAID SHE
CUT HERSELF USING A PIECE OF THAT BROKEN MIRROR.
YES, THE ONE INVESTIGATORS SAW WHEN THEY CONDUCTED THAT FIRST
SEARCH OF HIS HOUSE AND GARAGE. LIZ HAD CUT HERSELF BEFORE.
BUT NATHAN WAS AFRAID THIS TIME MIGHT BE DIFFERENT.
>> LIZ FELT BAD. SHE DID.
SHE SAID, "IT'S BAD WITH MATTHEW," AND SHE HAD CUT
HERSELF. AND SHE THOUGHT THAT SHE HAD
GONE A LITTLE TOO DEEP. AND WHEN I SAW HER, I MEAN, SHE
HAD HER ARMS BANDAGED. UM, I DIDN'T SEE THE WOUND, BUT
I WAS -- I WAS -- I WAS REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT IT.
>> Reporter: STEVE'S REACTION TO THE WHOLE THING?
HARD TO SAY BECAUSE HE WASN'T TALKING.
WHEN INVESTIGATORS ASKED HIM TO TAKE A POLYGRAPH, HE REFUSED.
AND THAT ONLY HEIGHTENED DETECTIVES' SUSPICIONS, SO THEY
KEPT DIGGING. WHY DID YOU CONDUCT A SEARCH AT
A LAKE? >> UH, THERE WAS A SEARCH, UM,
THAT WAS DONE BY, UM, SEARCH AND RESCUE.
AND WE HAD THEM GO OUT TO A PLACE WHERE WE KNEW WAS CLOSE TO
HIS HOME. >> Reporter: CLOSE TO STEVE'S
HOME, AND A PLACE THEY KNEW HE HAD ONCE TAKEN LIZ.
A TEAM OF MORE THAN 50 SEARCHED IN AND AROUND THE AREA.
AND THEY FOUND SOMETHING. SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING -- A
SHALLOW GRAVE. AND IN PLACE OF A HEADSTONE,
SOMEONE HAD LEFT A HIGH HEELED SHOE.
>>> COMING UP -- A MYSTERIOUS EMAIL TO STEPHEN.
WAS IT FROM LIZ? >> Reporter: WHAT DID HE DO WITH
THIS EMAIL? >> HE DELETED IT.
>> AND NEW REVELATIONS ABOUT THE DAYS BEFORE LIZ VANISHED.
>> Reporter: DID SHE FEEL TRAPPED SOMEHOW?
>> OH, GOSH. YES.
YES.
>> Reporter: IT WAS LIKE
SOMETHING OUT OF A MOVIE. A SHALLOW GRAVE MARKED WITH A
HIGH HEELED SHOE. SOMETHING DOWN THERE, OR
SOMEONE. MAYBE THEY'D FINALLY FOUND LIZ
SULLIVAN. THE INVESTIGATORS BRACED
THEMSELVES, DUG UP THE GRAVE. AND IT WAS NOT HER.
IT WASN'T EVEN HUMAN. >> APPARENTLY, THEY HAD BURIED
AN ANIMAL AND IT DIDN'T HAVE A CONNECTION TO ELIZABETH.
>> Reporter: IT WAS JUST WEIRD. THEY'D FOUND THE GRAVE NEAR THE
HOME OF STEVE SUTTON, THE UNCOOPERATIVE EX-BOYFRIEND WHO'D
BECOME A FOCUS OF THE INVESTIGATION.
IF HE KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT LIZ'S DISAPPEARANCE, HE WASN'T SAYING.
SO LIZ'S FATHER DID WHAT ANY PARENT, DESPERATE TO FIND A
DAUGHTER, WOULD DO. >> THE FATHER WAS BASICALLY KIND
OF BEGGING STEVE, "I WANNA KNOW. IS THERE ANY SIGNS OF LIFE?
DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MY DAUGHTER?"
KEPT KIND OF BEGGING HIM TO PROVIDE SOMETHING.
>> Reporter: AND THROUGH HIS ATTORNEY, HE DID, SORT OF.
STEVE SAID HE RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM LIZ MORE THAN A MONTH AFTER
SHE DISAPPEARED. BUT IT WAS FROM AN EMAIL ACCOUNT
HE DIDN'T RECOGNIZE -- BADLYDRAWNGIRL@GMAIL.COM.
>> STEVE WASN'T EVEN CONVINCED THAT WHOEVER HE HAD GOTTEN THIS
EMAIL FROM WAS FROM HER. SO HE HAD ASKED A KIND OF CODED
QUESTION. >> Reporter: HIS QUESTION, HE
SAID, WAS WHAT DID LIZ GIVE HIM FOR HIS BIRTHDAY?
AND BADLY DRAWN GIRL RESPONDED A GUMBY KEYCHAIN.
THE ANSWER WAS CORRECT. SO WAS SHE STILL ALIVE, AND JUST
HIDING SOMEWHERE? THE DETECTIVES ASKED STEVE TO
TURN OVER THE EMAIL. BUT HE SAID HE COULDN'T, EVEN IF
HE WANTED TO. WHAT DID HE DO WITH THAT EMAIL?
>> HE DELETED IT. >> Reporter: A RATHER ODD THING
TO DO. A BAD BREAK FOR THE
INVESTIGATION, BECAUSE THE BADLY DRAWN GIRL EMAIL, IF IT WAS
REAL, WAS JUST ABOUT THE ONLY REMAINING SIGN THAT LIZ MIGHT
STILL BE ALIVE. ONE BY ONE THE OTHERS HAD
FIZZLED OUT. PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT THEY SAW HER
AT THE PARK, IT TURNED OUT THEY HAD THEIR DATES MIXED UP.
THE MONEY SHE'D TRANSFERRED TO HER BANK ACCOUNT JUST SAT THERE
UNSPENT. THE DEBIT CARD ACTIVITY THAT
POPPED UP AFTER SHE DISAPPEARED? DETECTIVES FOUND OUT THE ACTUAL
PURCHASES HAD BEEN MADE BEFOREHAND.
>> THOSE THINGS DID HAPPEN, BUT THEY HAPPENED BEFORE SHE WENT
MISSING SO THAT WAS -- THAT WAS A HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT.
>> Reporter: IF LIZ WAS NOT ALIVE, DETECTIVES HAD TO FIGURE
OUT WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE. ONE BY ONE, THEY'D CLEARED
NATHAN, AND THEN THAT EARLY SUSPECT MARCUS HODGES, AND
FINALLY, AFTER MONTHS OF INVESTIGATION, STEVEN SUTTON.
>> AFTER WE EXECUTED THE SEARCH WARRANTS AT STEVE'S, HE DID NOT
APPEAR TO BE INVOLVED. >> Reporter: BUT STEVE, SAID THE
DETECTIVES, HAD MANAGED TO DRAG OUT THE INVESTIGATION.
I MEAN, HE WAS PROTECTING HIMSELF, BUT ACTUALLY HE WAS
MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR HIMSELF.
>> YEAH. I MEAN, THAT'S YOUR RIGHT.
BUT IT WOULD'VE DEFINITELY MADE THE INVESTIGATION EASIER.
>> Reporter: AND THE DEEP DIVE INTO STEVE'S RECORDS WASN'T A
TOTAL DEAD-END. >> IN FACT, IT KIND OF OPENED
THE DOOR TO LOOK MORE AT MATTHEW AT THAT POINT.
>> Reporter: MATTHEW THE HUSBAND.
BECAUSE AS THEY SEARCHED THROUGH STEVE'S PHONE RECORDS, THEY
FOUND SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING.
MULTIPLE TEXT MESSAGES FROM MATT.
>> THIS IS WHERE WE START NOTICING MATTHEW, WHO WAS
TELLING US THAT HE DIDN'T CARE THAT MUCH, IT BECOMES MORE CLEAR
THAT HE CARED MORE THAN HE LET ON.
>> Reporter: IN LATE SEPTEMBER, SHORTLY AFTER STEVE AND LIZ
STOPPED SEEING EACH OTHER, MATT TEXTED STEVE -- "LIZ WILL NEED A
PLACE TO STAY SOON." "I FORGOT TO MENTION EARLIER I
WORK AT A HOSPITAL IF YOU NEED HELP GETTING THAT STD CLEARED
UP." >> I GUESS THE BEST WAY TO PUT
IT WOULD BE BADGERING OR POKING AT STEVE WITH TEXT MESSAGES.
>> Reporter: AND MATT SEEMED TO KNOW WHENEVER STEVE AND LIZ
TALKED ON THE PHONE. "GLAD YOU GOT TO TALK TO HER
TODAY." AND A FEW DAYS LATER -- "GOOD
CHAT EARLIER." ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE LIZ WENT
MISSING MATT TEXTED STEVE -- "SORRY TO TROUBLE YOU YET AGAIN,
BUT I AM GOING TO CUT HER OFF FINANCIALLY SOON.
IF YOU DO CARE, THEN PLEASE TAKE ACTION AND SUPPORT HER."
>> AS MUCH AS SHE TRIED AFTER HE FOUND OUT ABOUT STEVEN, IT JUST
DIDN'T GET BETTER. >> Reporter: SO HER LIFE WAS A
MESS AGAIN. >> YEAH, BUT MORE SO THAN IT HAD
EVER BEEN. >> Reporter: YEAH.
>> YOU KNOW, THERE WAS NO HIDING THE PROBLEMS IN THE MARRIAGE
ANYMORE. THERE'S NO SWEEPING IT UNDER THE
CARPET. YOU COULDN'T PRETEND.
>> Reporter: DID SHE FEEL TRAPPED SOMEHOW?
>> OH, GOSH. YES, YES, YES, YES.
>> Reporter: REMEMBER THE LAST TIME SHE WAS OVER AT NATHAN'S
WHEN THE IN-LAWS WERE COMING AND LIZ SEEMED SO DESPERATE?
NATHAN KNEW IT WASN'T JUST ABOUT THE IN-LAWS.
LIZ HAD TOLD HIM THAT MATT WAS PHYSICALLY ABUSIVE, AND SHE
WANTED TO END THE MARRIAGE. >> SHE CONTACTED A DIVORCE
ATTORNEY. TOLD HER WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS,
AND THIS DIVORCE ATTORNEY GAVE HER A SOLUTION TO IT AND IT
SOUNDED PRETTY GOOD. >> Reporter: WHICH WAS WHAT?
>> WELL, BECAUSE THERE WERE ISSUES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN
THE PAST LIZ WOULD GET A RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST MATT.
BUT THEN AFTER THAT, IT WOULD BE VERY NECESSARY TO BEGIN THE
DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS. >> Reporter: SO SHE LEFT YOUR
PLACE WITH A PLAN? >> OH, YEAH.
>> Reporter: WHAT WERE YOUR EXPECTATIONS?
THAT THIS IS ALL GONNA WORK OUT? >> YEAH, WHEN SHE LEFT MY PLACE,
I, YOU KNOW, I TOLD HER, "JUST KEEP IT COOL.
YOU KNOW, JUST WAIT TILL YOU MEET WITH THE DIVORCE ATTORNEY."
I WAS VERY PROUD FOR HER FOR REALLY TAKING CONTROL OF HER
LIFE AND DOING SOMETHING PROACTIVE.
>> Reporter: LIZ SPENT THAT FOLLOWING MONDAY PLANNING FOR A
FUTURE WITHOUT MATT, AND MATT DIDN'T SEEM TO LIKE THAT AT ALL.
>> SAN DIEGO POLICE, THIS IS MELANIE.
>> HI, I HAVE CONCERNS MY WIFE IS TRYING TO TAKE MY CHILDREN
AWAY FROM ME. >>> COMING UP --
>> THERE WAS AN ARTICLE RELEASED BY PEOPLE MAGAZINE WHERE HE WAS
SO CONCERNED. >> Reporter: CONCERNED OR
CALCULATING? MATT SULLIVAN, UNDER THE
MICROSCOPE! WHAT WERE YOUR IMPRESSIONS OF
HIM? >> HE ALWAYS SEEMED TO HAVE AN
ANSWER F >> Reporter: LIZ SULLIVAN WANTED
OUT. A FEW DAYS AFTER SHE TOLD HER
FRIEND NATHAN HER MARRIAGE WAS IRRETRIEVABLY BROKEN, LIZ MET
WITH A DIVORCE ATTORNEY. PAID THE ATTORNEY'S FEE WITH HER
HUSBAND'S CREDIT CARD. REMEMBER THAT PARKING RECEIPT
DETECTIVES FOUND IN LIZ'S CAR DURING THEIR INITIAL SEARCH?
IT WAS FOR A LOT NEAR THE LAWYER'S OFFICE.
THE DATE ON THE RECEIPT WAS OCTOBER 13th, 2014.
THE LAST DAY LIZ WAS SEEN ALIVE. THAT SAME DAY, INVESTIGATORS
LATER DISCOVERED, HUSBAND MATT MADE A RATHER UNUSUAL PHONE
CALL. >> SAN DIEGO POLICE.
THIS IS MELANIE. >> Reporter: HERE'S MATT, ON THE
PHONE WITH 911. >> HI, I HAVE CONCERNS MY WIFE
IS TRYING TO HAVE ME -- I DON'T KNOW, EVICTED OR ARRESTED FROM
MY HOUSE AND TAKE MY CHILDREN AWAY FROM ME.
>> OH, OKAY. >> I MEAN, SHE TOOK MY PERSONAL
CREDIT CARD, USED IT TO HIRE A LAWYER AGAINST ME AND --
>> Reporter: HE SAID HE WAS WORRIED LIZ WAS GOING TO REPORT
HIM FOR HAVING GONE THROUGH HER EMAILS AND JOURNALS.
>> I HAVEN'T BEEN SERVED WITH ANY PAPERS YET, BUT I KNOW SHE'S
CALLED YOUR DEPARTMENT, UM, EARLIER THIS MORNING, AND I
THINK THAT'S WHERE SHE'S HEADED NOW TO TRY TO GET ME DETAINED.
>> Reporter: ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER, MATT CALLED POLICE
AGAIN AFTER HE'D NOTICED SOMETHING.
>> AND SHE SAID THAT SHE TOOK ALL THE MONEY OUT OF YOUR SHARED
BANK ACCOUNT? >> I JUST CHECKED, AND IT'S ALL
GONE. THERE'S ONLY --
THERE'S MAYBE 15 CENTS LEFT. I'M STILL HERE WITH MY CHILDREN,
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE'S DOING.
>> Reporter: MATT SOUNDED WORRIED.
>> IF SHE COMES BACK AND THERE'S SOME PROBLEMS, OR -- YOU CAN
CALL US BACK WHEN SHE'S THERE. >> OKAY.
>> Reporter: BUT MATT NEVER CALLED THE POLICE AGAIN.
AND LIZ VANISHED. AND, QUITE SOON, CALANDRA
NOTICED ODD BEHAVIORS. >> THERE WAS AN ARTICLE RELEASED
BY "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE WHERE HE WAS SO CONCERNED.
>> Reporter: YEAH. >> BUT IN THAT SAME WEEK, HE
DELETED ALL POSTS REGARDING ELIZABETH FROM FACEBOOK.
HE UNFRIENDED ME AND SEVERAL OTHER OF HER FRIENDS.
>> Reporter: AND THEN HE SHUT OFF LIZ'S CELL PHONE.
>> I WAS IRRITATED BECAUSE IF SHE WAS MISSING AND TRYING TO
GET BACK, WHY WOULD YOU TAKE HER SERVICE AWAY FROM HER?
>> Reporter: THEN, LESS THAN THREE MONTHS AFTER LIZ
DISAPPEARED, ANOTHER WOMAN MOVED IN WITH MATT.
>> HE FIRST SAID WAS JUST SOMEBODY THAT HAD COME OUT THAT
WAS A MUTUAL FRIEND OF THEIRS. AND SHE WAS SIMPLY GONNA HELP
WATCH THE KIDS. >> Reporter: WATCH THE KIDS?
WELL. IT WAS A LITTLE MORE THAN THAT.
A LOT MORE. MATT HAD MOVED ON.
REALLY MOVED ON. >> HE SWITCHED HIS FACEBOOK
ACCOUNT NAME, AND HE STATED THAT HE WAS IN A RELATIONSHIP.
OH, I'M DONE FOR NOW. I'M -- I MEAN, I'M BOO-HOO
CRYING. I'M JUST SURE THAT THIS IS NOT
RIGHT. WHO IS THIS LADY?
>> Reporter: WHAT WERE YOUR IMPRESSIONS OF HIM, HIS
APPROACH, HIS DEMEANOR? >> HE ALWAYS SEEMED TO HAVE AN
ANSWER FOR EVERYTHING. HE WAS A VERY DIFFICULT PERSON
TO INTERVIEW 'CAUSE HE WAS VERY SLOW IN HIS DELIVERY.
>> Reporter: BUT THEY GRADUALLY PULLED DETAILS OUT OF
SLOW-TALKING MATT. LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, TWO SPECIFIC
CREDIT CARD CHARGES. ONE OF THEM THE DAY NATHAN
REPORTED LIZ MISSING. >> WE NOTICED THAT HE HAD GONE
TO ACE HARDWARE AND HE BOUGHT CARPET CLEANER.
>> Reporter: WHAT WAS HIS ANSWER FOR IT?
>> HIS ANSWER WAS THAT HIS MOTHER WAS COMING INTO TOWN.
AND HE WANTED TO GET THAT CLEANED UP BEFORE SHE GOT THERE
BECAUSE IT LOOKED DIRTY. >> Reporter: PERFECTLY
REASONABLE? >> REASONABLE, BUT SUSPICIOUS.
>> Reporter: THE SECOND CHARGE, A MONTH LATER, MORE CARPET
CLEANER AND A ROLL OF PLASTIC WRAP.
>> I DON'T MEAN THE LITTLE KIND YOU USE FOR YOUR KITCHEN.
BUT, LIKE -- >> Reporter: BIG, INDUSTRIAL
STUFF. >> YES.
>> Reporter: DID HE HAVE AN EXPLANATION FOR THAT?
>> YES. HE SAID WHEN HIS MOM WAS COMING
OUT THAT HE NEEDED TO, UM, WRAP UP SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SHE
HAD BROUGHT AND PUT 'EM IN STORAGE.
>> Reporter: ANOTHER PERFECTLY REASONABLE ANSWER.
SO, FOR ALL THEIR SUSPICION, THEY COULDN'T PROVE MATT DID
ANYTHING OR THAT LIZ DIDN'T JUST RUN OFF ON HER OWN.
AND SO IT WENT UNTIL DETECTIVE COLLIER AND HER TEAM HAD
EXHAUSTED ALL THEIR LEADS. AND SOON --
>> ELIZABETH SULLIVAN, CLOUDIA LESLIE WELLS,
JAHI TURNER, MARLANE KOUE. >> Reporter: -- LIZ'S NAME WAS
ANOTHER IN A LONG LIST OF MISSING PEOPLE PROFILED BY SAN
DIEGO'S NBC 7 INVESTIGATES. >> JUST NAMES TO US, BUT TO
FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS. THEY ARE MOTHERS, FATHERS, SONS,
DAUGHTERS. >> Reporter: TWO YEARS WENT BY.
MATT'S FAMILY MOVED OUT WHEN HIS NEW GIRLFRIEND MOVED IN.
AND, ABOUT A YEAR LATER, THE COUPLE WELCOMED A BABY OF THEIR
OWN. AND TIME MOVED ON, AS IF TO
SWALLOW UP THE PUBLIC'S MEMORY OF LIZ SULLIVAN.
AND THEN, ONE DAY, DET. COLLIER WAS ON VACATION.
CELL PHONE RANG. OFFICE CALLING.
>> "YOU'LL NEVER BELIEVE THIS, BUT THERE'S A BODY THAT'S SHOWN
UP OVER AT LIBERTY STATION." >>> COMING UP --
A BODY IN THE WATER. AND FEAR AMONG FRIENDS.
>> I HAD A FRIEND CALL ME AND SAID, "HEY, DO YOU THINK IT
COULD BE LIZ?" AND I WAS LIKE, "WHY?
NO. NO.
NO." >> I SCREAMED.
I CRIED FOR DAYS. >> Reporter: IT WAS OCTOBER,
ABOUT A WEEK SHY OF THE TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF LIZ SULLIVAN'S
DISAPPEARANCE. AN OFF-DUTY U.S. MARSHAL WENT
FOR HIS USUAL LATE-AFTERNOON STROLL ON A WALKING PATH THAT
HUGS THE SAN DIEGO BAY. >> AND IT HAS ROCKS THAT KIND OF
CASCADE DOWN THE EDGES. AND THE DOG, OF COURSE, WALKED
OVER IN THAT DIRECTION, WAS CURIOUS ABOUT SOMETHING.
>> Reporter: AS HIS DOG PULLED HIM TOWARD THE BANK, THE MARSHAL
SAW WHAT LOOKED LIKE SOME NASTY HALLOWEEN PRANK.
SOMETHING, STUCK AMONG THE SHORELINE ROCKS.
>> AND THEN HE REALIZED THERE WAS A BODY THERE.
>> Reporter: THE BODY WAS WEARING JEANS, A KNIT SWEATER,
AND A SINGLE BROWN BOOT. >> A BIG MYSTERY TONIGHT IN THE
WATERS OF SAN DIEGO BAY. >> POLICE FOUND A WOMAN'S BODY
ON THE SHORE OF THE LIBERTY STATION CHANNEL.
NBC 7'S DAVE SUMMERS WAS THERE --
>> I HAD A FRIEND CALL ME, AND SAID, "HEY, YOU KNOW, THEY --
THEY FOUND A BODY IN LIBERTY STATION.
THEY HAVEN'T IDENTIFIED IT. DO YOU THINK IT COULD BE LIZ?"
AND I WAS LIKE, "WHY? NO, NO, NO, NO, NO."
AND I, YOU KNOW, WENT ONLINE. I CHECKED WHERE IT WAS AND I WAS
LIKE, "OH, IT'S REALLY CLOSE TO LIZ'S PLACE."
>> Reporter: LESS THAN A HALF MILE, IN FACT.
THEY HAD TO USE DENTAL RECORDS TO GET A PROPER ID.
AND THEN THE SEARCH WAS OVER, IT WAS ELIZABETH SULLIVAN.
>> I'M BROKEN. I SCREAMED, I CRIED FOR DAYS.
I HAD UH, I TOLD YOU SO MOMENTS. I KNEW IT THE WHOLE TIME
MOMENTS. WHY DIDN'T ANYBODY LISTEN TO ME?
WHY DIDN'T ANYBODY KNOW HER? AND KNOW THAT THIS WASN'T
NORMAL. >> YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THERE
WAS, KIND OF, THAT NUMBNESS, THAT SHOCK, AND THEN, GOSH,
WHOEVER TOLD ME -- IT WAS LIKE, "WELL, YOU KNOW, AT
LEAST YOU HAVE SOME CLOSURE." AND I WAS LIKE, "YEAH.
BUT IF I HAVE CLOSURE, YOU LOST HOPE.
I THINK I'D RATHER HAVE THE HOPE THAN THE CLOSURE."
>> Reporter: THE AUTOPSY SHOWED LIZ TESTED POSITIVE FOR HER
PRESCRIBED AMPHETAMINE, ALSO FOR FENTANYL, AND CANNABINOIDS.
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT KILLED HER. THE MEDICAL EXAMINER NOTED A
NUMBER OF ELLIPTICAL-SHAPED CUTS THAT SEEMED TO HAVE PIERCED HER
CLOTHES, HER SKIN, AND HER RIBS. THE CAUSE OF DEATH, HOMICIDE.
SHARP FORCE TRAUMA. >>> ESSENTIALLY, SHE HAD BEEN
STABBED WITH A SHARP OBJECT ENOUGH TO CAUSE DAMAGE TO SOME
OF HER BONES. >> SOMEBODY STABBED HER AGAIN,
AND AGAIN, AND AGAIN? >> YES.
>> Reporter: SHE ALSO HAD A FRACTURED JAW.
SO STABBED AND BEATEN. INVESTIGATORS HAD LONG BELIEVED
LIZ DID NOT RUN OFF ON HER OWN. THAT SHE WAS MURDERED THE VERY
OCTOBER NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED. BUT WHEN HER BODY WAS FOUND,
COLLIER KNEW IMMEDIATELY THAT SOMETHING DIDN'T ADD UP.
>> I'M, LIKE, "THERE'S NO WAY SHE'D BE IN THE WATER FOR TWO
YEARS AND BE IN ONE PIECE." >> Reporter: SURE ENOUGH, THE
PATHOLOGIST WHO CONDUCTED THE AUTOPSY ESTIMATED THAT LIZ WAS
KILLED ONLY ONE MONTH, TWO AT THE MOST, BEFORE HER BODY WASHED
UP AT LOW TIDE. SURPRISE WOULD BE AN
UNDERSTATEMENT. SHE'D BEEN MISSING ALMOST TWO
YEARS. A WHOLE NEW PUZZLE NOW.
WHICH, JUST LIKE THAT, JOLTED THE CASE BACK TO LIFE.
>> SO WHAT HAPPENED TO THE INVESTIGATION AFTER THE
DISCOVERY OF THE BODY? >> WELL, WE RAN FULL STEAM AHEAD
AT THAT POINT BECAUSE NOW WE KNEW WE HAD A MURDER.
>> SO YOU'D WANNA TALK TO WHO RIGHT AWAY?
>> OH, MATTHEW. >> BUT?
>> HE HAD MOVED. >> Reporter: THREE DAYS AFTER
LIZ'S BODY WAS FOUND, WITHOUT A WORD TO DETECTIVES, MATT SLIPPED
AWAY TO JOIN HIS GIRLFRIEND IN MARYLAND.
AND, DETECTIVE COLLIER LEARNED THAT OCTOBER 4th.
THE VERY MORNING LIZ'S BODY WAS DISCOVERED, THE MOVERS ARRIVED
AT MATT'S HOUSE. >> TO PACK UP HIS WHOLE HOUSE,
ESSENTIALLY, AND, YOU KNOW, PUT IT IN A CONTAINER SO THEY COULD
SHIP IT BACK EAST. >> Reporter: MATT SENT HIS
GIRLFRIEND THIS PHOTO, WITH THE MESSAGE "MOVERS ARE WORKING."
>> WHAT FASCINATING TIMING. >> YES.
>> COULDN'T QUITE SAY IT WOULD PROVE ANYTHING, BUT IT CERTAINLY
WAS SUGGESTIVE. >> IT'S VERY SUGGESTIVE, IN MY
OPINION. >> Reporter: OVER THE YEARS,
DETECTIVE COLLIER HAD BEEN KEEPING AN EYE ON MATT'S
FACEBOOK PAGE. WHEN SHE SAW MATT AND HIS
GIRLFRIEND WERE EXPECTING A BABY SHE FIGURED THEY MIGHT NEED A
BIGGER PLACE. >> AND IT WAS ALWAYS IN THE BACK
OF MY MIND THAT IF THEY DID MOVE OUT, THAT I WANTED TO GO IN AND
DO A, A COMPLETE FORENSIC EXAMINATION OF THEIR PLACE
BEFORE IT WAS RENTED TO SOMEBODY ELSE.
>> WAS THAT SOMETHING THAT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN DONE WHILE HE WAS
LIVING IN THE HOUSE? >> WELL, BASED ON THE FACT THAT
HE HAD ALLOWED US SO MANY CONSENT SEARCHES AND WE DIDN'T
HAVE MORE TO GO ON2c!Q BEEN HARD TO BE THAT INTRUSIVE
WITHOUT MORE PROBABLE CAUSE. >> Reporter: NOW, IT SEEMED,
MATT HAD LEFT THE DOOR WIDE OPEN.
SO, A FEW DAYS LATER, SHE AND A TEAM OF INVESTIGATORS SET OUT TO
SEARCH MATT AND LIZ'S HOME FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.
REALLY TEAR THE PLACE APART THIS TIME.
AND WHAT THEY FOUND -- WELL WELL.
>>> COMING UP. >> SHE CALLED ME AND SHE SOUNDED
FRANTIC. >> Reporter: A PHONE CALL FROM
LIZ BECOMES A CRUCIAL NEW CLUE. AND HIDDEN IN THE ATTIC,
ANOTHER. >> YOU WORK A CASE THAT LONG AND
YOU'RE, LIKE, "THIS IS IT." SO IT WAS A VERY GOOD MOMENT FOR
>> Reporter: THEY GOT IN ABOUT A WEEK AFTER LIZ'S BODY TURNED UP
IN THE SHALLOW WATER OF LIBERTY STATION.
GOT INTO THE SULLIVANS' NOW VACANT HOME, THAT IS.
A PROPER SEARCH THIS TIME. AND RIGHT AWAY, THEY COULDN'T
HELP BUT NOTICE -- >> THERE WAS AN ODOR IN THE
GARAGE. IN OUR OPINIONS, AN ODOR THAT
SHOULD BE FOLLOWED UP ON. >> Reporter: LIKE THE ODOR OF
DEATH? >> RIGHT.
>> Reporter: A LOOK AROUND DID NOT REVEAL WHAT CAUSED IT.
BUT THAT COULD WAIT. FIRST, DETECTIVES WANTED TO
FOLLOW A LEAD THEY'D FOUND BURIED DEEP IN THE CASE FILE.
>> THE MISSING PERSONS UNIT FOUND OUT ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW,
FAIRLY SOON. I WANNA SAY IN THE FIRST MONTH
MAYBE OF THE INVESTIGATION. >> Reporter: THE STORY WAS
THIS -- AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE
INVESTIGATION, LIZ'S FRIEND CALANDRA TOLD POLICE ABOUT AN
ALARMING PHONE CALL, FROM LIZ. >> SHE CALLED ME AND SHE SOUND
ED FRANTIC. THEY WERE ARGUING.
AND SHE SAID, "THIS -- HE'S TALKIN' ABOUT HE'S GONNA KILL
ME." AND I WAS HALF ASLEEP.
BUT I KNOW THAT I TOLD HER, "LOCK YOURSELF IN YOUR ROOM.
WE JUST HAVE TO GET TO MORNING." AND SHE SAID, "HOLD ON A SEC.
HOLD ON. I THINK HE'S COMING."
>> Reporter: LIZ HUNG UP. AND CALANDRA WAITED TO HEAR FROM
HER. WHY DIDN'T YOU CALL HER THE NEXT
DAY? >> I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE HE WAS.
IF THEY WERE ARGUING AND I'M CALLING HER, EVEN IF SHE CHOSE
NOT TO ANSWER, THE PHONE RINGING COULD HAVE BECOME AN AGGREGATE
TO THE SITUATION. I DID NOT WANNA MAKE THINGS ANY
WORSE. >> Reporter: SHE NEVER HEARD
FROM LIZ AGAIN. THE CALL SOUNDED OMINOUS, THAT'S
FOR SURE. PROBLEM WAS CALANDRA COULDN'T
REMEMBER WHAT NIGHT IT WAS. AND WHEN DETECTIVES GOT LIZ'S
PHONE RECORDS THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE IT HAD EVEN HAPPENED.
>> THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION FOR A PERIOD OF TIME UNTIL LATER
DOWN THE ROAD WE DISCOVERED SHE HAD MOST LIKELY CALLED CALANDRA
ON WHATSAPP. >> Reporter: SO, MUCH LATER,
COLLIER CIRCLED BACK ASKED CALANDRA FOR HER PHONE RECORDS.
AND BINGO, THEY REVEALED LIZ HAD NOT ONLY CALLED CALANDRA, SHE
CALLED HER THE NIGHT OF OCTOBER 13TH -- THE VERY SAME NIGHT SHE
WENT MISSING. WHICH MADE ONE DETAIL CALANDRA
REMEMBERED POTENTIALLY VERY IMPORTANT.
>> I JUST TOLD HER, YOU KNOW, "LOCK YOURSELF IN YOUR ROOM.
>> Reporter: AND THAT VERY THING, THE CRY FOR HELP, THE
ADVICE FROM CALANDRA NOW BECAME A KIND OF MAP FOR THE SEARCH IN
MATT'S HOUSE. WHICH LED THEM STRAIGHT UPSTAIRS
TO LIZ'S ROOM. THEY SWABBED HER BATHROOM DOOR
WITH LUMINOL -- IT LIT UP. AND THEN THEY CUT OUT A SECTION
OF RUG OUTSIDE THE BATHROOM, PULLED IT BACK AND FOUND A LARGE
STAIN. >> WE ENDED UP FORENSICALLY
EXAMINING IT WITH LUMINOL. >> Reporter: IT LIT UP TOO.
MEANING BLOOD, LOTS OF IT. >> THE BLOOD STAIN FROM THAT HAD
TO LEAK INTO THE PADDING AND THEN BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THE
PADDING ONTO THE SUB FLOOR. AND THE SUB FLOOR STAIN ITSELF
WAS AT LEAST A FOOT. >> Reporter: MM-HMM.
>> AND SATURATED. >> Reporter: THOUGH NOT ON THE
SURFACE OF THE CARPET, MUST'VE BEEN CLEANED WITH THAT CARPET
CLEANER MATT BOUGHT? MAYBE?
THE DNA, NO SURPRISE, MATCHED LIZ.
WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN YOU GOT THOSE RESULTS?
>> I THOUGHT, "HERE WE GO," YOU KNOW?
>> Reporter: OR MAYBE NOT. WHEN DETECTIVES PRESENTED THEIR
CASE TO THE D.A., THEY WERE TOLD THEY JUST DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH.
SO DETECTIVE COLLIER GOT ON A PLANE, FLEW TO MARYLAND AND
KNOCKED ON MATT'S DOOR. TELL ME ABOUT THAT.
>> AGAIN, A VERY LONG, PAINFUL INTERVIEW.
I MEAN, AT THAT POINT, I DEFINITELY KNEW WE HAD THE RIGHT
PERSON. THERE WASN'T ANY DOUBT IN MY
MIND. BUT HE DIDN'T CONFESS.
>> Reporter: ONCE AGAIN, THE CASE HAD HIT A WALL.
AND YET ANOTHER YEAR WENT BY. NOT A SINGLE LEAD.
BUT THEY COULDN'T JUST GIVE UP. >> WE ALL SAT DOWN AND
COLLECTIVELY DECIDED THAT WE WANTED TO GO BACK IN THE HOUSE
BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME THINGS THAT WE NEEDED MORE OF.
>> Reporter: DURING THE PREVIOUS SEARCH, THEY'D NOTICED SOME
WOODEN SLATS IN THE ATTIC WERE BROKEN, AS IF SOMEONE HAD BEEN
CLIMBING AROUND UP THERE. SO WHEN THEY RETURNED IN OCTOBER
2016, THAT IS WHERE THEY WENT LOOKING.
>> I STARTED JUST PULLING UP ALL THE INSULATION IN THE WHOLE
ATTIC AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING WAS LOOKED UNDER AND
THROUGH. >> Reporter: AND UP IN THE
ATTIC, UNDER THE INSULATION, SHE FOUND IT -- A MILITARY STYLE
FOLDING KNIFE. WHAT WAS THAT MOMENT LIKE?
>> FOR ME, KIND OF THRILLING BECAUSE I FELT LIKE IT
DEFINITELY MEANT SOMETHING. I MEAN, IT WAS HIDDEN IN A
FASHION THAT WAS NOT LIKE IT FELL OUT OF YOUR POCKET OR
SOMETHING. >> Reporter: COULD IT BE THAT
THIS WAS THE MURDER WEAPON? THE LAB RESULTS WERE
CONCLUSIVE -- LIZ'S BLOOD ON THE INNER WORKINGS OF THE KNIFE, AND
ON THE HANDLE A MIX OF DNA FROM BOTH LIZ AND MATT.
DETECTIVE COLLIER WORKED THREE LONG YEARS FOR THIS.
WHAT DID YOU DO FIRST AFTER THAT?
>> WELL, I ACTUALLY CRIED. YOU KNOW, YOU WORK A CASE THAT
LONG AND YOU'RE, LIKE, "THIS IS IT."
SO IT WAS A VERY GOOD MOMENT FOR ME.
>> Reporter: YEAH. >> SORRY.
>> Reporter: IT MATTERS. NO, NO, NO.
YOU'VE BECOME THAT YOUNG WOMAN'S REPRESENTATIVE ON THIS EARTH.
AND HERE WAS THE THING YOU REALLY NEEDED TO DEFEND HER,
SUPPORT HER, DO SOMETHING. >> RIGHT.
>> Reporter: WHAT DID THE D.A. HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT?
>> GO GET HIM. >> Reporter: SO SHE DID.
BUT LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IN THIS CASE, IT WASN'T QUITE AS SIMPLE
AS SHE'D HOPED. >>> COMING UP --
MATT SULLIVAN ON TRIAL. AND THE KEY FOR THE DEFENSE?
HIS WIFE'S TIME OF DEATH. >> ALMOST TWO FULL YEARS AFTER
SHE GOES MISSING. >> ALL I HAVE IS AN ALLEGATION
THAT HE DID SOMETHING IN OCTOBER 2014 AND FORENSIC SCIENCE SAYING
THAT SHE DIED IN 2016. >>> HAVE YOU EVER HEARD THE TERM
"MINNESOTA NICE"? >> Reporter: YEAH.
[ LAUGH ] OF COURSE, SURE.
YEAH. >> THAT'S WHAT HE IS.
>> Reporter: THIS IS MARCUS DeBOSE, MATT SULLIVAN'S DEFENSE
ATTORNEY. >> HE'S BORN AND RAISED IN A
SUBURB OF MINNEAPOLIS. YOU KNOW, PLAYED SOCCER, DID BOY
SCOUTS, WENT FISHING. NO SORT OF RUN-INS WITH THE LAW
OR ANGRY GIRLFRIENDS, NOTHIN'. UM, NO SORT OF EARLY INDICIA
OF -- OF ANYTHING THAT MIGHT LEAD TO THE SITUATION THAT HE
FINDS HIMSELF IN NOW. >> Reporter: AH, YES, "THE
SITUATION." FIVE YEARS AFTER
ELIZABETH SULLIVAN DISAPPEARED, HER HUSBAND MATT WENT ON TRIAL
FOR MURDER. DETECTIVE COLLIER HAD RETIRED BY
THEN, BUT SHE WASN'T ABOUT TO SIT THIS ONE OUT.
>> I WAS THERE EVERY DAY BECAUSE I WANTED TO PARTICIPATE 'CAUSE
IT MEANT A LOT TO ME. >> SEPARATE BEDROOMS.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. INFIDELITY.
FINANCIAL ISSUES. THESE ARE THE HALLMARKS OF A
MARRIAGE IN CRISIS. >> Reporter: DEPUTY D.A.
JILL LINDBERG TOLD THE JURY MATT'S MARRIAGE WASN'T
"MINNESOTA NICE" AT ALL. THAT MATT WAS A VIOLENT MAN.
THE KEY TESTIMONY CAME FROM LIZ'S BEST FRIENDS.
>> WHAT WAS ELIZABETH'S GENERAL TONE OF VOICE WITH YOU DURING
THIS TIME FRAME, WHEN YOU WOULD TALK WITH HER?
>> UM, INCREASINGLY SUBMISSIVE. SHE BECAME VERY QUIET.
WE WHISPERED A LOT. >> THERE WAS A COUPLE INSTANCES
THAT SHE TOLD ME MATTHEW HAD BECOME PHYSICAL WITH HER.
>> LIZ CALLED ME, AND SHE INFORMED THAT, YOU KNOW, MATT
HAD GRABBED HER, YOU KNOW, BY HER SHOULDERS AND SHOVED HER
AGAINST THE REFRIGERATOR AND STARTED SCREAMING AT HER.
AND IT SCARED HER. >> Reporter: AND WHEN LIZ MADE
PLANS TO LEAVE HIM, SAID THE PROSECUTOR, MATT KILLED HER AND
LEFT BEHIND EVIDENCE. THE LARGE BLOOD STAIN ON THE
CARPET. THE CARPET CLEANER.
THE PLASTIC WRAP. THE KNIFE HIDDEN IN THE ATTIC.
AND ON THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED, LIZ'S DESPERATE
PHONE CALL TO CALANDRA. >> SHE SAID THAT SHE AND MATT
HAD HAD SOME KIND OF DISAGREEMENT.
IT WAS REALLY SERIOUS, AND THAT SHE WAS AFRAID.
>> SHE SAID, "HOLD ON A SEC," AND THEN SHE SAID "GOTTA GO,"
QUIETLY. I DIDN'T HEAR FROM HER ANYMORE.
>> AND THAT WAS YOUR LAST CONVERSATION WITH ELIZABETH?
>> YES, MA'AM. >> Reporter: THERE WAS MORE
EVIDENCE IN THE FORM OF MATT'S OWN WORDS.
>> SAN DIEGO POLICE, THIS IS MELANIE.
>> HI. >> Reporter: DET. COLLIER AND
THE PROSECUTORS HAD GONE BACK AND LISTENED TO THE CALL MATT
MADE TO POLICE WHEN LIZ DISAPPEARED, AND THEY NOTICED
SOMETHING. >> SO IN THE CALL, THE
DISPATCHER ASKED WHAT ELIZABETH WAS WEARING.
>> DO YOU KNOW WHAT SHE'S WEARING TODAY?
>> I DON'T KNOW. SHE RAN OUT OF HERE IN A HURRY.
I KNOW SHE'S WEARING BLUE JEANS. UM, SOME, UM, BROWN BOOTS.
>> AND WHEN ELIZABETH'S BODY WAS FOUND ALMOST TWO YEARS LATER,
SHE WAS WEARING JEANS AND A BROWN BOOT, WHICH TIED IN
EXACTLY WITH HOW HE DESCRIBED HER THE DAY HE MURDERED HER.
>> MY GUESS IS THAT HE GOT IN THE BEDROOM AND STABBED HER AND
THEN CLEANED UP THAT BEDROOM. AND I THINK HE PUT HER OUT IN
THE WATER, HOPING THAT SHE WOULD JUST WASH OUT TO SEA.
>> Reporter: A CIRCUMSTANTIAL CASE, YES, BUT A STRONG ONE.
AND THEN, MATT'S LAWYER MARCUS DeBOSE WENT TO WORK ON
REASONABLE DOUBT. >> YOU ARE NOT GOING TO SEE ONE
PIECE OF EVIDENCE IN THIS CASE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THAT IS
INCONSISTENT WITH THE IDEA OF A CUTTER MARRIED TO A NAVAL MAN
WHO HAD A SECRET LIFE AND WHO MADE ERRATIC DECISIONS.
>> Reporter: THE PROSECUTION'S EVIDENCE?
THERE WERE OTHER, QUITE REASONABLE EXPLANATIONS, SAID
THE DEFENSE. LIKE THE BLOOD STAIN ON THE
UNDERSIDE OF THE CARPET. THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED WHEN
LIZ CUT HERSELF AND THEN TRIED TO CLEAN IT UP.
>> WHEN YOU POUR LIQUID ON A STAIN -- AND EXPERIENCE TELLS
YOU -- WHAT HAPPENS? THE STAIN SPREADS.
SO TO SAY THAT, OKAY, ONE WAY TO GET A DOUBLE WATERMELON SIZED
BLOODSTAIN IS TO BLEED A LOT. ANOTHER WAY IS TO TAKE A SMALLER
STAIN AND, OVER TIME, WIPE IT LARGER AND LARGER.
>> Reporter: AS FOR THE KNIFE IN THE ATTIC?
IT WAS STANDARD NAVY ISSUE. NOTHING SUSPICIOUS ABOUT IT.
THE BLOOD AND DNA EVIDENCE ON THE KNIFE?
WELL, THAT WAS SIMPLE. >> HE GOES OUT.
HE GOES OVERSEAS. GETS HIS SWEAT DNA ALL OVER THE
HANDLE OF THAT KNIFE. HE THEN COMES HOME.
AND THAT BECOMES HER CUTTING TOOL.
>> Reporter: AND, MATT'S ATTORNEY ASKED, IF MATT HAD USED
THE KNIFE TO KILL HIS WIFE, WHY WOULDN'T HE HAVE THROWN IT IN
THE OCEAN? >> I'VE NEVER KILLED ANYBODY.
I IMAGINE IF I DID, IT WOULD WEIGH ON ME.
AND THAT TRYING NOT TO GET CAUGHT WOULD WEIGH ON ME.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I MIGHT THINK TO MYSELF IS, "HM,
MAYBE I SHOULD GET RID OF THE MURDER WEAPON."
>> Reporter: HE GOT LIZ'S FRIEND NATHAN TO ADMIT SHE THOUGHT
ABOUT RUNNING AWAY. >> DID ELIZABETH EVER EXPRESS TO
YOU, UH, HER DESIRE TO -- TO LEAVE HER FAMILY AND TO LEAVE
HER KIDS? >> YES.
>> AND WHAT -- WHAT DID SHE TELL YOU ABOUT HER -- HER MINDSET OF
WANTING TO LEAVE HER FAMILY AND LEAVE HER KIDS?
>> UM, SHE HAD EXPRESSED THE FACT THAT SHE WAS UNHAPPY IN HER
CURRENT LIFE. I -- I BELIEVE SHE JUST
REGRETTED NOT BEING ABLE TO LIVE HER LIFE TO THE FULLEST.
>> Reporter: THE DEFENSE SEIZED ON THAT EMAIL STEVEN SUTTON
RECEIVED ABOUT A MONTH AFTER LIZ DISAPPEARED, THE ONE FROM "BADLY
DRAWN GIRL," AS PROOF THAT LIZ WAS ALIVE THEN.
AND, NO SURPRISE, THE DEFENSE BROUGHT UP LIZ'S MENTAL STATE,
HER APPARENT DRUG USE, HER AFFAIRS, AND SAID IT ALL LED TO
ONE CONCLUSION. WHAT, SHE JUST WALKED OUT OF THE
HOUSE ACCORDING TO HIM? >> AS SHE HAD SEVERAL NIGHTS IN
A ROW FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR.
THAT WAS THE PART THAT IS -- IT'S JUST SO HARD FOR PEOPLE
TO -- TO -- TO GRASP. YOU KNOW, "YOUR WIFE JUST
LEAVES? YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE'S AT?"
WELL, THAT'S HOW SHE HAD THE AFFAIRS.
>> Reporter: BUT REALLY, SAID THE DEFENSE, LIZ WALKED OUT FOR
THE LAST TIME THAT NIGHT IN OCTOBER 2014.
HOW DID SHE, YOU KNOW, MANAGE TO LIVE WITHOUT BEING DISCOVERABLE
BY ANYBODY, THROUGH EITHER A CELL PHONE OR A BANK ACCOUNT OR
ANYTHING? AND WHY SHE DIDN'T CONTACT HER
CHILDREN? THERE MUST BE SOME EXPLANATION
FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME, IS WHAT I'M SAYING.
WHAT COULD IT POSSIBLY BE? >> ANOTHER LOVER?
ANOTHER -- ANOTHER -- ANOTHER LIFE THAT SHE'S BUILDING?
>> Reporter: A LIFE THAT MUST HAVE GONE ON SOMEWHERE FOR
ALMOST TWO YEARS AFTER LIZ LEFT MATT.
REMEMBER, SAID ATTORNEY DeBOSE, WHEN LIZ'S BODY WAS FOUND, THE
MEDICAL EXAMINER SAID IT APPEARED SHE'D ONLY BEEN DEAD A
MONTH OR TWO. >> PUTTING THE TIME OF DEATH
SOMETIME IN OR ABOUT AUGUST, SEPTEMBER OF 2016.
TWO -- ALMOST TWO FULL YEARS AFTER SHE GOES MISSING.
I'M A DEFENSE LAWYER. I HAVE NO BURDEN OF PROOF.
ALL I HAVE IS AN ALLEGATION THAT HE DID SOMETHING IN
OCTOBER 2014, AND FORENSIC SCIENCE SAYING THAT SHE DIED IN
2016. >> Reporter: THE EXPLANATION WAS
SIMPLE, HE SAID. THE PROSECUTION WAS WRONG.
MATT DID NOT KILL LIZ. INSTEAD, SHE RAN AWAY, AN
UNSTABLE WOMAN FLEEING HER MARRIAGE, WHO LIVED ON FOR TWO
MORE YEARS UNTIL SHE MET A VIOLENT END AT THE HANDS OF
SOMEONE OTHER THAN HER HUSBAND. DID YOU THINK YOU HAD MADE A
GOOD CASE? THAT YOU -- YOU HAD A PRETTY
GOOD CHANCE OR WHAT? >> YES.
YEAH. I -- I THOUGHT OUR CASE WAS WELL
PRESENTED. I THOUGHT THAT THE -- THE -- THE
REASONABLE DOUBT EXISTED AT BASICALLY EVERY TURN.
>> Reporter: EXCEPT, MAYBE, FOR ONE THING.
A RATHER BIG ONE THAT DETECTIVES FOUND IN MATT SULLIVAN'S GARAGE.
>>> COMING UP -- MATT SULLIVAN SPEAKS AT LAST.
>> Reporter: HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN HER BODY WASHING UP ON THE BAY
RIGHT AROUND WHERE YOU LIVED? >> WELL, I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. >> AND THE VERDICT?
WHAT WOULD THE JURY DECIDE? >> I WAS ACTUALLY KIND OF
SHAKING >> Reporter: FOR ALL THE
EVIDENCE STACKED UP AGAINST MATT SULLIVAN IN HIS MURDER
TRIAL, DEFENSE ATTORNEY MARCUS DeBOSE WAS CONFIDENT.
BECAUSE HE KNEW, AT THE HEART OF THE PROSECUTION'S CASE, THERE
WAS A CONTRADICTION LABELED WITH A GRIM CLINICAL TERM.
THE POST-MORTEM INTERVAL. >> THERE WERE TWO SEPARATE
MEDICAL EXAMINERS WHO EXAMINED THE BODY.
THEY BOTH FOUND AND THEN TESTIFIED TO THE FACT THAT THE
POST MORTEM INTERVAL, WHICH IS THE PERIOD OF TIME BETWEEN THE
AUTOPSY AND WHAT SCIENCE DETERMINES TO BE THE TIME OF
DEATH -- THEY BOTH FOUND, UM, THAT THAT WAS A 30 TO 60 DAY
WINDOW. >> Reporter: MEANING, ACCORDING
TO THE CONDITION OF HER BODY, LIZ WAS MURDERED NO EARLIER THAN
THE SUMMER OF 2016. BUT THE PROSECUTION'S WHOLE CASE
WAS BASED ON THE IDEA THAT MATT KILLED HER IN OCTOBER OF 2014,
NEARLY TWO YEARS EARLIER. A BIG PROBLEM, SAID THE DEFENSE,
AND IT CREATED A WHOLE BIG LUMP OF REASONABLE DOUBT.
TO WHICH THE PROSECUTOR SAID -- >> THAT DID NOT TAKE INTO
ACCOUNT THE POSSIBILITY THAT SOMETHING COULD HAVE INTERRUPTED
OR DELAYED THE DECOMPOSITION PROCESS.
AND BOTH THE FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGIST AND THE MEDICAL
EXAMINER TESTIFIED THAT, YES, FREEZING IS SOMETHING THAT COULD
DELAY IT. >> Reporter: FREEZING.
YOU MAY REMEMBER THE VERY FIRST TIME POLICE SEARCHED THE
SULLIVAN'S HOME, THEY FOUND A LARGE FREEZER IN THE GARAGE.
THE FREEZER WAS EMPTY. SO WHAT'S THE EXPLANATION?
IF SHE'S ALREADY DEAD, WHERE WOULD SHE BE?
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WILL EVER KNOW FOR SURE BASED ON THE
EVIDENCE WE HAVE. MY PERSONAL BELIEF IS THAT SHE
WAS HIDDEN SOMEWHERE ELSE ON THE PROPERTY.
I THINK THE ATTIC IS A LIKELY SPOT.
BUT THEN WAS LATER MOVED TO THE FREEZER.
>> Reporter: PROSECUTOR JILL LINDBERG BELIEVED THAT
AFTER MATT STABBED LIZ TO DEATH AND CLEANED UP THE CRIME SCENE,
HE COULD HAVE WRAPPED HER BODY IN THAT INDUSTRIAL PLASTIC HE'D
BOUGHT AND HID IT SOMEWHERE FOR A FEW DAYS, AND THEN STASHED IT
IN THAT FREEZER FOR THE BETTER PART OF TWO YEARS.
TO MAINTAIN THE ILLUSION LIZ WAS ALIVE, DET. COLLIER THOUGHT,
MATT PRETENDED TO BE HER WITH THAT EMAIL ACCOUNT, "BADLY DRAWN
GIRL," AND EMAILED HER BOYFRIEND.
AND HE MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN AWAY WITH IT, SAID THE PROSECUTOR, IF
HE HADN'T DECIDED TO MOVE OUT OF STATE, WHICH FORCED HIM TO
FINALLY TAKE LIZ'S BODY OUT OF THAT FREEZER IN THE GARAGE AND
DUMP HER IN THE BAY, LEAVING BEHIND THE STENCH OF DEATH
DETECTIVES COULD NOT HELP BUT NOTICE.
QUITE A STORY. WHO WOULD THE JURY BELIEVE?
DEFENSE? >> ASK YOURSELF THIS JUST IN
YOUR MIND. WHAT PIECE OF EVIDENCE POINTS
YOU TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS FROZEN IN THE FREEZER IN THE
SULLIVAN GARAGE? >> Reporter: OR PROSECUTOR?
>> YOU KNOW FROM THE EVIDENCE THAT THE DEFENDANT MURDERED HIS
WIFE IN THEIR HOME WITH THAT KNIFE, AND I URGE YOU TO FIND
HIM GUILTY. >> Reporter: SO, DID HE?
OR DIDN'T HE? >> I'VE BEEN QUESTIONED BY THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT NUMEROUS TIMES.
MY ANSWERS HAVE NEVER CHANGED THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.
>> Reporter: WHEN WE SPOKE WITH MATT, HE WAS IN A SAN DIEGO
COUNTY JAIL, AWAITING LEGAL DECISIONS.
HE INSISTED HE WAS AN INNOCENT MAN.
THE POLICE HAD IT ALL WRONG. >> I'VE BEEN TOTALLY OPEN WITH
THEM. I PASSED A POLYGRAPH EXAM.
I'VE DONE LITERALLY EVERYTHING I COULD THINK OF TO COOPERATE WITH
THEM. >> Reporter: THE PROSECUTION'S
FREEZER THEORY? ABSURD, SAID MATT.
>> I DON'T SEE HOW I POSSIBLY COULD HAVE STORED A BODY IN A
HOUSE FOR THAT MANY YEARS. FIVE ADULTS LIVING THERE, THREE
CHILDREN LIVING THERE. MULTIPLE WORKMEN COMING THROUGH,
DOZENS OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS COMING THROUGH, THE
POLICE SEARCHING THE PLACE MULTIPLE TIMES WITHOUT HER BEING
FOUND. >> Reporter: BUT, SO HOW DO YOU
EXPLAIN HER BODY WASHING UP ON THE BAY RIGHT AROUND WHERE YOU
LIVED ON THE SAME DAY AS THE MOVERS CAME TO YOUR HOUSE, JUST
DAYS BEFORE YOU MOVED OUT OF THE HOUSE?
>> IT WASN'T THE SAME DAY. AROUND THE SAME TIME.
I'LL -- I'LL GIVE YOU THAT. >> Reporter: OKAY.
>> WELL, I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT. I DON'T -- I REALLY DON'T KNOW
WHAT HAPPENED. >> Reporter: DO YOU THINK THAT
SOMEBODY WAS TRYING TO FRAME YOU?
>> MAYBE. I DON'T KNOW.
>> Reporter: HE BROUGHT UP LIZ'S CUTTING THE NIGHT OF THE CPS
INCIDENT AS A WAY TO EXPLAIN THAT STAIN ON THE CARPET.
>> I HAD TO BANDAGE HER ARM UP. AND IT WAS -- IT WAS PRETTY
BRUTAL. I MEAN, IT WAS GORY.
>> Reporter: OR YOU STABBED HER. I MEAN, YOU -- THERE'S NOBODY TO
SAY WHICH VERSION IS TRUE EXCEPT YOUR STORY.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHY I WOULD HAVE DONE THAT.
THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME. >> Reporter: I -- I THINK THAT
THE ALLEGATION WAS YOU DID THAT BECAUSE YOU WERE -- YOU WERE
FINALLY FED UP WITH SOMEBODY WHO HAD BEEN CHEATING ON YOU, WHO
YOU HAD COME TO HATE. AND YOU HAD CONSTANT FIGHTS AND,
FINALLY, YOU JUST LOST IT AND KILLED HER WITH A KNIFE.
>> NO. I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, KEITH.
I'M JUST SAYING THERE -- I MEAN, I WAS TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT
THING. I WAS TRYING TO INVITE MY FAMILY
TO TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS WHILE WE GOT EVERYTHING SQUARED AWAY.
AND I -- I DON'T KNOW WHY I WOULD HAVE DONE THAT.
THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. >> Reporter: HE SIMPLY DIDN'T DO
IT, HE SAID. >> NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
THAT'S CRAZY. I'VE NEVER LAID A FINGER ON HER.
I'VE NEVER HIT HER, NOTHING LIKE THAT.
>> Reporter: YOU NEVER HIT HER? NEVER ONCE?
>> NO, NOT -- OH, NO, NO, NO. I DON'T DO THAT.
I WAS DEFINITELY RAISED BETTER THAN THAT.
>> Reporter: WELL. PERHAPS HE WAS.
ANYWAY, NOT OURS TO JUDGE THE MAN'S HONESTY OR HIS ACTIONS.
THAT WAS THE JURY'S JOB. AND IT REACHED ITS VERDICT AFTER
A LITTLE MORE THAN A DAY. >> WE, THE JURY, IN THE ABOVE
ENTITLED CAUSE, FIND THE DEFENDANT,
MATTHEW SCOTT SULLIVAN, NOT GUILTY OF THE CRIME OF FIRST
DEGREE MURDER. >> AND SHE READ, "NOT GUILTY."
"DID -- DID I MISS THE -- THE GUILT?
DID SHE SAY -- OH, OKAY, ALL RIGHT,"
YOU KNOW? >> Reporter: NOT GUILTY OF FIRST
DEGREE MURDER. BUT THE JURY WASN'T DONE.
>> I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DESCRIBE IT.
I WAS ACTUALLY KIND OF SHAKING IN THE COURTROOM.
LIKE, "PLEASE, PLEASE." >> WE, THE JURY, IN THE ABOVE
ENTITLED CAUSE, FIND THE DEFENDANT,
MATTHEW SCOTT SULLIVAN, GUILTY OF THE CRIME OF SECOND DEGREE
MURDER. >> Reporter: GUILTY OF SECOND
DEGREE MURDER. MATT WAS SENTENCED TO 16 YEARS
TO LIFE. >> AND I WAS SO HAPPY.
ELIZABETH GOT JUSTICE. AND HER HUSBAND DIDN'T GET AWAY
WITH IT. >> Reporter: IT HAD BEEN A
WEIGHT TO CARRY AROUND, SAID DET. COLLIER.
THE CASE THAT WOULDN'T LET HER GO.
WHAT MEMORIES DO YOU CARRY AROUND OF ELIZABETH SULLIVAN AND
THIS STORY? >> I BOUGHT A NECKLACE FOR JILL
AND FOR MYSELF AND FOR TAMMY, UM, WHO WAS ONE OF THE DNA LAB
ANALYST PEOPLE. AND IT'S WHAT WE ALL CARRY
AROUND WITH US PERIODICALLY. >> Reporter: DESCRIBE IT TO ME,
IF YOU DON'T MIND. >> IT HAS A LITTLE LEAF, AND IT
SAYS, BADLY DRAWN GIRL, BUT YOU NEVER GAVE UP."
>> Reporter: NO. THAT YOUNG WOMAN HAD THE FORCE
OF LIFE IN HER, SAID HER FRIENDS.
THE KIND OF PERSON YOU COULDN'T POSSIBLY FORGET.
>> SHE LOVED TO SMILE AND LAUGH MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE I KNEW.
WHEN YOU WERE IN HER GRACES, LIKE, YOU -- YOU -- YOU FELT
LIKE YOU WERE OUT IN, LIKE, PART OF, LIKE, THE HIGHEST RATED TV
SHOW EVER. LIKE, EVERYBODY WANTED TO BE IN
YOUR COMPANY WITH HER. >> I MISS HER TERRIBLY EVERY
TIME SOMETHING GOOD HAPPENS TO ME, AND I WANT TO CALL HER.
THE LAST THING THAT I WANT, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IS FOR LIZ
TO COME ACROSS DRY AND TROUBLED. WHEN THERE WERE SO MANY FACETS
TO HER, SHE SPARKLED LIKE A PRINCESS CUT DIAMOND.
YOU COULD NOT TAKE THE SHINE OUT OF HER.
YOU JUST HAD TO KNOW WHICH FACET YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE ON TO
SEE HER SHINE. THAT'S ALL.
>>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF "DATELINE."
WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY AT 9:00, 8:00 CENTRAL.
AND, OF COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU EACH WEEKNIGHT FOR "NBC NIGHTLY
NEWS." I'M LESTER HOLT.
FOR ALL OF US AT NBC NEWS, GOOD NIGHT.