1 00:00:17,217 --> 00:00:18,084 >>> TONIGHT ON "DATELINE" -- 2 00:00:18,084 --> 00:00:20,487 >> SHE WAS FREE SPIRITED. SHE JUST LOVED LIFE. 3 00:00:20,487 --> 00:00:23,089 >> Reporter: WHAT WERE THE CHANCES SHE WOULD EVER WALK AWAY 4 00:00:23,089 --> 00:00:24,924 FROM THAT FAMILY? >> THERE WEREN'T ANY CHANCES. 5 00:00:24,924 --> 00:00:30,597 LIZ WOULD HAVE NEVER LEFT HER CHILDREN. 6 00:00:30,597 --> 00:00:33,299 >> THE MISSING PERSONS UNIT DID NOT SEE ANY SIGNS OF FOUL PLAY. 7 00:00:33,299 --> 00:00:35,268 >> I WAS LIKE, "LOOK, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST THE FRIEND. 8 00:00:35,268 --> 00:00:38,471 I JUST FEEL THAT SOMETHING'S WRONG." 9 00:00:38,471 --> 00:00:40,974 >> I VERY, VERY, VERY MUCH BELIEVED THAT MY FRIEND WAS IN 10 00:00:40,974 --> 00:00:43,343 DANGER. >> Reporter: DID YOU GET THE 11 00:00:43,343 --> 00:00:44,944 IMPRESSION THAT YOU WERE ON A LIST OF POSSIBLES? 12 00:00:44,944 --> 00:00:47,514 >> DEFINITELY. >> THE HUSBAND,U(áHU'DER 13 00:00:47,514 --> 00:00:50,817 SUSPICION BASICALLY IMMEDIATELY. THERE WERE SEARCHES OF HIS HOME. 14 00:00:50,817 --> 00:00:53,486 >> THE HUSBAND WAS COOPERATIVE. THE BOYFRIEND WAS NOT. 15 00:00:53,486 --> 00:00:55,655 >> WE GOT A WARRANT FOR HIS HOME, HIS PHONE, HIS COMPUTER. 16 00:00:55,655 --> 00:00:58,625 >> THIS WAS A VERY COMPLICATED CASE. 17 00:00:58,625 --> 00:01:03,163 ELIZABETH MATTERED. SHE NEEDED TO GET JUSTICE. 18 00:01:03,163 --> 00:01:07,534 >> A YOUNG MOTHER VANISHES AND DARK SECRETS BEGIN TO SURFACE. 19 00:01:07,534 --> 00:01:13,573 >> I HAD GOTTEN A CALL SAYING, "YOU'LL NEVER BELIEVE THIS." 20 00:01:13,573 --> 00:01:25,085 YOU'RE LIKE, "THIS IS IT." >> I'M LESTER HOLT, AND THIS IS 21 00:01:25,085 --> 00:01:33,593 "DATELINE." HERE'S KEITH MORRISON WITH 22 00:01:33,593 --> 00:01:37,964 "SECRETS BY THE BAY." >> Reporter: IT WAS JUST A 23 00:01:37,964 --> 00:01:41,835 PICTURE, SHOWED UP ONE DAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA BACK IN 2014. 24 00:01:41,835 --> 00:01:48,108 IT WAS AN EARLY OFFERING IN OUR "MISSING IN AMERICA" SERIES. 25 00:01:48,108 --> 00:01:52,112 AND THAT BRIGHT, OPEN FACE. THE QUESTIONS THAT BEGGED FOR 26 00:01:52,112 --> 00:01:57,217 ANSWERS. WHO WAS ELIZABETH SULLIVAN? 27 00:01:57,217 --> 00:01:59,486 >> COMPLETELY BRILLIANT. SHE WAS ALMOST AN UNACKNOWLEDGED 28 00:01:59,486 --> 00:02:01,187 GENIUS. >> I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO 29 00:02:01,187 --> 00:02:08,294 DESCRIBE IT. IT WAS LIKE THIS TORNADO MOM 30 00:02:08,294 --> 00:02:10,430 THAT WAS DISHEVELED, AND SHE WAS FLIGHTY, AND SHE WOULD TALK HERE 31 00:02:10,430 --> 00:02:11,731 AND HERE AND GO ALL OVER THE PLACE. 32 00:02:11,731 --> 00:02:16,836 >> Reporter: THEY KNEW HER WELL, THESE TWO. 33 00:02:16,836 --> 00:02:21,408 AND SO THEY KNEW THAT IN OCTOBER OF 2014, SOMETHING VERY SERIOUS 34 00:02:21,408 --> 00:02:23,376 WAS GOING ON. >> I HAD NEVER SEEN HER -- HER 35 00:02:23,376 --> 00:02:26,246 SO NERVOUS. SHE -- SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO 36 00:02:26,246 --> 00:02:27,914 DO. >> Reporter: THEIR BEST FRIEND 37 00:02:27,914 --> 00:02:32,485 SEEMED TO BE ON THE VERGE OF DOING SOMETHING DRASTIC. 38 00:02:32,485 --> 00:02:35,155 >> SHE WAS ANGRY. SHE WAS -- I DON'T WANNA CALL IT 39 00:02:35,155 --> 00:02:41,294 FRANTIC, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT GIVES YOU COLD SWEATS. 40 00:02:41,294 --> 00:02:44,130 WE NEEDED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HER. 41 00:02:44,130 --> 00:02:48,401 >> Reporter: WAS SHE ALIVE? WAS SHE DEAD? 42 00:02:48,401 --> 00:02:52,972 WE COULDN'T KNOW THAT. THERE WAS A STORY HERE. 43 00:02:52,972 --> 00:02:55,809 THAT WE COULD SEE. WE DIDN'T KNOW THEN THAT 44 00:02:55,809 --> 00:03:00,080 FOLLOWING THE MYSTERY SURROUNDING THIS WOMAN ALL THESE 45 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:05,752 YEARS WOULD TAKE US TO PLACES AS STRANGE AS FICTION. 46 00:03:05,752 --> 00:03:09,756 >> Reporter: THEN AGAIN, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, "ORDINARY" 47 00:03:09,756 --> 00:03:12,592 WAS NOT THE SORT OF WORD YOU'D USE TO DESCRIBE LIZ SULLIVAN. 48 00:03:12,592 --> 00:03:16,262 "SMART," MAYBE. "FUNNY," PERHAPS. 49 00:03:16,262 --> 00:03:18,865 "VIBRANT," "WELL READ," "A LITTLE OCD." 50 00:03:18,865 --> 00:03:22,268 >> WHEN I FIRST SAW HER, I THOUGHT SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL. 51 00:03:22,268 --> 00:03:29,109 AND I THOUGHT SHE WAS FASHIONISTA. 52 00:03:29,109 --> 00:03:32,212 AND WE STARTED TALKING. IT WAS -- I JUST NEEDED TO KNOW 53 00:03:32,212 --> 00:03:35,648 MORE. >> Reporter: LIZ WAS IN HER 20s 54 00:03:35,648 --> 00:03:38,485 WHEN SHE MET CALANDRA DUCKETT. BUT SOON THEY WERE LIKE 55 00:03:38,485 --> 00:03:43,590 TEENAGERS. >> OH, IT WAS INFECTIOUS, KEITH. 56 00:03:43,590 --> 00:03:50,697 I'LL TELL YOU. THERE WERE OFTEN TIMES WHERE WE 57 00:03:50,697 --> 00:03:54,234 SPENT THREE, FOUR HOURS, MAYBE A BOTTLE OF WINE, GETTING READY TO 58 00:03:54,234 --> 00:03:58,405 GO OUT, TO NEVER MAKE IT ANYWHERE. 59 00:03:58,405 --> 00:04:01,841 >> Reporter: THING WAS, THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT LIZ. 60 00:04:01,841 --> 00:04:07,213 HER FRIEND CALANDRA KNEW AND UNDERSTOOD. 61 00:04:07,213 --> 00:04:10,917 >> I THINK THAT, IF THE WORLD IN ITSELF WERE A LITTLE MORE 62 00:04:10,917 --> 00:04:13,453 INTROSPECTIVE, WE WOULD FIGURE OUT THAT WE ALL HAVE A LITTLE 63 00:04:13,453 --> 00:04:17,457 SOMETHING. AND WE WOULDN'T JUDGE OTHERS FOR 64 00:04:17,457 --> 00:04:20,694 THEIR LITTLE SOMETHING. >> Reporter: LIZ'S LITTLE 65 00:04:20,694 --> 00:04:26,366 SOMETHING WAS SHE HAD TROUBLE REGULATING HER EMOTIONS. 66 00:04:26,366 --> 00:04:29,703 WHICH MIGHT HELP EXPLAIN HOW TANGLED HER LOVE LIFE EVENTUALLY 67 00:04:29,703 --> 00:04:32,839 BECAME. IT MIGHT ALSO HAVE EXPLAINED HER 68 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:36,509 UNIQUE FLAIR, HER SOMETIMES MANIC ENTHUSIASMS. 69 00:04:36,509 --> 00:04:38,345 >> SHE WAS EXPLORING BEING A DANCER. 70 00:04:38,345 --> 00:04:40,780 SHE WAS EXPLORING BEING A WRITER. 71 00:04:40,780 --> 00:04:45,618 >> Reporter: AND THOUGH IT SOMETIMES ALSO MADE HER 72 00:04:45,618 --> 00:04:48,455 UNPREDICTABLE OR ANXIOUS, SHE WASN'T SO DIFFERENT, SAID 73 00:04:48,455 --> 00:04:54,427 CALANDRA. >> SOMETIMES YOU CAN HAVE A 74 00:04:54,427 --> 00:05:00,567 PERFECTIONISTIC PERSONALITY THAT LEADS PEOPLE TO THINK THAT YOU 75 00:05:00,567 --> 00:05:03,103 ARE DISORGANIZED. >> Reporter: AND IN HER CASE? 76 00:05:03,103 --> 00:05:04,504 >> IN HER CASE, SHE WAS VERY INFECTIOUS. 77 00:05:04,504 --> 00:05:06,272 ELIZABETH HAD A VERY ECLECTIC PERSONALITY. 78 00:05:06,272 --> 00:05:09,109 >> Reporter: LIZ AND CALANDRA LIVED NEAR NORFOLK, VIRGINIA. 79 00:05:09,109 --> 00:05:13,947 BIGGEST NAVAL STATION IN THE COUNTRY IS IN NORFOLK. 80 00:05:13,947 --> 00:05:17,083 IN THE WHOLE WORLD, IN FACT. AND SOMEWHERE IN THAT BIG 81 00:05:17,083 --> 00:05:20,186 CAULDRON OF ROMANTIC POSSIBILITIES, LIZ ENCOUNTERED 82 00:05:20,186 --> 00:05:23,590 HIM. HER PERFECT GUY. 83 00:05:23,590 --> 00:05:28,495 MATTHEW SULLIVAN. MINNESOTA KID IN THE NAVY. 84 00:05:28,495 --> 00:05:31,865 KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR. SO THEN IT BECAME A LOVE STORY. 85 00:05:31,865 --> 00:05:36,870 COULD YOU SEE THAT LITTLE SPARKLE IN HER EYE THAT SHE WAS, 86 00:05:36,870 --> 00:05:37,904 YOU KNOW, INFATUATED WITH THE GUY? 87 00:05:37,904 --> 00:05:41,474 >> YOU COULD SEE IT WHEN THEY WERE AROUND EACH OTHER. 88 00:05:41,474 --> 00:05:43,176 THEY SPARKED UP REALLY QUICKLY. I THINK SHE SAW SO MUCH 89 00:05:43,176 --> 00:05:44,310 POTENTIAL. LIZ SAW A LOT OF POTENTIAL IN 90 00:05:44,310 --> 00:05:47,547 EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING HAD POTENTIAL. 91 00:05:47,547 --> 00:05:50,684 >> Reporter: MATT SEEMED TO PROMISE PERMANENCE, STABILITY. 92 00:05:50,684 --> 00:05:53,520 HE WASN'T JUST A HANDSOME FACE. HE WAS A TICKET TO SOMETHING 93 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:57,123 BETTER. WHAT DID SHE SEE THAT HE COULD 94 00:05:57,123 --> 00:05:59,492 DO FOR HER? >> SHE SAW STABILITY AND 95 00:05:59,492 --> 00:06:03,463 OPPORTUNITY. AND THEN POSSIBLY A STABLE, 96 00:06:03,463 --> 00:06:05,331 LOVING RELATIONSHIP LIKE HER GRANDPARENTS, LIKE, YOU KNOW, 97 00:06:05,331 --> 00:06:06,833 LONG HAUL. >> Reporter: AH. 98 00:06:06,833 --> 00:06:10,570 BUT -- IT'S A STORY AS OLD AS WAR. 99 00:06:10,570 --> 00:06:15,141 THE NAVY LOVES LOVE AS MUCH AS ANY INSTITUTION DOES. 100 00:06:15,141 --> 00:06:17,711 BUT MAYBE NOT SO MUCH WHERE IT COMES TO PERSONAL MATTERS LIKE 101 00:06:17,711 --> 00:06:22,048 ACTUALLY SPENDING TIME WITH THE ONE YOU LOVE. 102 00:06:22,048 --> 00:06:23,950 MATT WAS REASSIGNED ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO SAN DIEGO, 103 00:06:23,950 --> 00:06:27,954 CALIFORNIA. BUT HE JUST WASN'T READY TO SAY 104 00:06:27,954 --> 00:06:33,626 GOODBYE TO THE MOST EXCITING WOMAN HE'D EVER KNOWN. 105 00:06:33,626 --> 00:06:37,864 AND SO A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER THEY MET, MATT PROPOSED, AND LIZ 106 00:06:37,864 --> 00:06:39,866 SAID YES. >> I THINK THEY GOT MARRIED SO 107 00:06:39,866 --> 00:06:41,868 FAST BECAUSE HE WAS HAVING A GOOD TIME. 108 00:06:41,868 --> 00:06:45,071 SHE WAS HAVING A GOOD TIME. IT SEEMED LIKE A PERFECT MATCH, 109 00:06:45,071 --> 00:06:47,540 PERFECT OPPORTUNITY. >> Reporter: SO THEN THINGS WERE 110 00:06:47,540 --> 00:06:49,642 VERY BUSY, INDEED, AS THEY BUSTLED AROUND TO GET READY FOR 111 00:06:49,642 --> 00:06:53,813 THEIR MOVE OUT TO THE BIG NAVAL BASE IN SAN DIEGO. 112 00:06:53,813 --> 00:06:58,118 AND RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT PREPARATION -- SURPRISE, 113 00:06:58,118 --> 00:07:00,920 SURPRISE. >> SHE CALLED ME AND -- EXCUSE 114 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:03,790 MY FRENCH -- SHE WAS LIKE, "HOLY -- I THINK THERE'S A KID 115 00:07:03,790 --> 00:07:07,727 IN HERE." >> Reporter: LIZ WAS PREGNANT 116 00:07:07,727 --> 00:07:10,897 AND A BIT OVERWHELMED. >> IT WAS THIS ENTIRE PERIOD 117 00:07:10,897 --> 00:07:15,135 WHERE WE COULD NOT SAY "STROLLER" 'CAUSE SHE COULD NOT 118 00:07:15,135 --> 00:07:20,707 BREATHE. >> Reporter: COULDN'T BELIEVE IT 119 00:07:20,707 --> 00:07:23,109 WAS ACTUALLY HAPPENING TO HER? >> COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. 120 00:07:23,109 --> 00:07:25,645 >> Reporter: TERRIFYING. >> COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. 121 00:07:25,645 --> 00:07:28,314 SHE WAS OUR PERMANENT ROCK STAR. SHE DID NOT SEE THAT COMING. 122 00:07:28,314 --> 00:07:34,554 >> Reporter: NO, SHE DIDN'T. A NEW TOWN TO DEAL WITH, A NEW 123 00:07:34,554 --> 00:07:40,260 HUSBAND, A NEW BABY. BUT ALSO, SOME OLD DEMONS THAT 124 00:07:40,260 --> 00:07:43,063 WEREN'T DONE WITH HER JUST YET. >>> COMING UP -- 125 00:07:43,063 --> 00:07:46,800 SUDDEN NEWS FROM LIZ'S HUSBAND, MATT. 126 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:50,070 >> IT PUT HER ON RED ALERT AND FREAKED HER OUT LIKE NOTHING. 127 00:07:50,070 --> 00:07:52,772 >> AND A CONCERNED CALL TO THE POLICE. 128 00:07:52,772 --> 00:07:55,075 >> I WAS LIKE, "LOOK, YOU KNOW, I KNOW I'M JUST THE FRIEND. 129 00:07:55,075 --> 00:07:57,077 BUT SHE SHOULD'VE CHECKED IN WITH ME. 130 00:07:57,077 --> 00:08:00,146 I JUST FEEL THAT SOMETHING'S WRONG." 131 00:08:16,029 --> 00:08:19,866 >> Reporter: ELIZABETH SULLIVAN'S STORY WAS LIKE THAT 132 00:08:19,866 --> 00:08:22,602 OF MANY A MILITARY WIFE -- SNATCHED OUT OF IMMATURITY, 133 00:08:22,602 --> 00:08:26,306 LEAVING EVERYTHING BEHIND TO FOLLOW HER HUSBAND ACROSS THE 134 00:08:26,306 --> 00:08:30,577 COUNTRY. THE NEWLYWEDS LEFT NORFOLK, 135 00:08:30,577 --> 00:08:36,549 MOVED TO SAN DIEGO, BUT BARELY HAD TIME TO UNPACK BEFORE MATT 136 00:08:36,549 --> 00:08:41,955 WAS DEPLOYED OVERSEAS. >> SHE WAS STILL PREGNANT, SO IT 137 00:08:41,955 --> 00:08:44,791 WAS A STRUGGLE BEING ALONE. >> Reporter: MATT WAS FAR, FAR 138 00:08:44,791 --> 00:08:47,360 AWAY WHEN THEIR DAUGHTER WAS BORN. 139 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:51,064 HE CAME HOME FOR LONG ENOUGH FOR LIZ TO GET PREGNANT A SECOND 140 00:08:51,064 --> 00:08:55,335 TIME -- BUT SOON WAS AWAY AGAIN. RAISING HER KIDS IN A TOWN AND 141 00:08:55,335 --> 00:08:59,305 STATE COMPLETELY FOREIGN TO HER, LIZ FELT ISOLATED. 142 00:08:59,305 --> 00:09:03,843 HER ONLY CONTACT WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY WAS ON THE PHONE. 143 00:09:03,843 --> 00:09:09,015 >> SHE WAS BY HERSELF, YOU KNOW, SO IT -- THERE CAME A TIME WHERE 144 00:09:09,015 --> 00:09:12,385 SHE GOT A LITTLE JOB SO THAT SHE COULD MEET PEOPLE, BE OUT IN THE 145 00:09:12,385 --> 00:09:17,290 PUBLIC, YOU KNOW. >> Reporter: THEN, ONE DAY, LIZ 146 00:09:17,290 --> 00:09:23,196 WALKED INTO AN EYEWEAR STORE WHERE NATHAN CARACTER WORKED. 147 00:09:23,196 --> 00:09:26,032 >> SHE, UH -- SHE HAD THIS PLAID SHIRT ON THAT WAS, LIKE, TWO 148 00:09:26,032 --> 00:09:28,301 SIZES TOO BIG. AND SHE WAS CARRYING THIS -- 149 00:09:28,301 --> 00:09:29,903 THIS -- UH, DOUBLE STROLLER. AND I WAS JUST LIKE, "OH, NO." 150 00:09:29,903 --> 00:09:34,574 I WAS LIKE, "WHAT DOES THIS WOMAN WANT?" 151 00:09:34,574 --> 00:09:37,410 LIKE, UM, AND SHE CAME IN, AND SHE WAS JUST A FLURRY. 152 00:09:37,410 --> 00:09:39,179 SAYING, "OH, I'M SORRY. I DON'T NORMALLY LOOK LIKE 153 00:09:39,179 --> 00:09:41,381 THIS," AND BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. 154 00:09:41,381 --> 00:09:44,551 AND, UM, WE JUST STARTED TALKING UNTIL THE STORE CLOSED. 155 00:09:44,551 --> 00:09:46,252 >> Reporter: BUT SHE WAS KIND OF LIKE A LITTLE FORCE OF NATURE 156 00:09:46,252 --> 00:09:51,624 THAT CAME INTO YOUR STORE -- >> NOT A LITTLE FORCE OF NATURE. 157 00:09:51,624 --> 00:09:57,063 SHE WAS A HUGE FORCE OF NATURE. >> CHEERS! 158 00:09:57,063 --> 00:09:59,733 >> Reporter: YES, SHE WAS. AND COMPLICATED FOR REASONS 159 00:09:59,733 --> 00:10:01,601 NATHAN WOULD DISCOVER HIMSELF SOON ENOUGH. 160 00:10:01,601 --> 00:10:06,139 WHY DID YOU LIKE HER AS MUCH AS YOU DID? 161 00:10:06,139 --> 00:10:08,041 >> THE FIRST THING THAT DREW ME TO HER WAS HER SENSE OF HUMOR. 162 00:10:08,041 --> 00:10:10,977 AND -- AND SHE WAS SMART. YOU KNOW, I LIKED THAT. 163 00:10:10,977 --> 00:10:15,548 SHE WENT TO SCHOOL. BUT EVENTUALLY -- 164 00:10:15,548 --> 00:10:21,521 [ SIGH ] EVENTUALLY I REALLY BEGAN TO 165 00:10:21,521 --> 00:10:25,191 LOVE LIZ BECAUSE I DIDN'T FEEL THAT I HAD TO HIDE ANYTHING OF 166 00:10:25,191 --> 00:10:27,427 MYSELF FROM HER. AND SHE WOULDN'T JUDGE ME 167 00:10:27,427 --> 00:10:30,030 BECAUSE WE BOTH KNEW THAT WE HAD OUR FLAWS. 168 00:10:30,030 --> 00:10:33,166 AND IT WAS THE FIRST PERSON THAT I FELT REALLY COMFORTABLE 169 00:10:33,166 --> 00:10:34,868 ADMITTING STUFF LIKE THAT TO. YOU KNOW? 170 00:10:34,868 --> 00:10:36,603 >> Reporter: THAT'S A PRETTY RARE THING. 171 00:10:36,603 --> 00:10:41,074 >> YEAH. YEAH. 172 00:10:41,074 --> 00:10:44,010 >> Reporter: SO LIZ AND NATHAN CONFIDED THINGS, VERY PERSONAL 173 00:10:44,010 --> 00:10:47,514 THINGS, TO EACH OTHER. LIKE LIZ'S MARRIAGE. 174 00:10:47,514 --> 00:10:52,485 MATT WAS BACK, BUT WASN'T GOING WELL. 175 00:10:52,485 --> 00:10:55,655 SHE AND MATT HAD MOVED TO LIBERTY STATION, A RESIDENTIAL 176 00:10:55,655 --> 00:10:58,191 DISTRICT IN WHAT USED TO BE SAN DIEGO'S NAVAL TRAINING 177 00:10:58,191 --> 00:11:02,328 CENTER. >> SHE GOT SETTLED INTO A 178 00:11:02,328 --> 00:11:04,731 ROUTINE WHERE SHE WAS BASICALLY A SINGLE MOTHER. 179 00:11:04,731 --> 00:11:08,134 MATT DIDN'T KNOW THE KIDS AND -- AND SHE HAD A PARTICULAR ROUTINE 180 00:11:08,134 --> 00:11:11,838 AND -- AND WAY. 181 00:11:11,838 --> 00:11:14,441 AND THAT REALLY GOT DISRUPTED -- >> Reporter: WHEN HE CAME BACK. 182 00:11:14,441 --> 00:11:18,978 >> -- WHEN HE CAME BACK AND -- AND WAS BACK FOR A WHILE. 183 00:11:18,978 --> 00:11:21,548 >> Reporter: AND THE MORE LIZ AND MATT GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER, 184 00:11:21,548 --> 00:11:24,384 THE MORE THEY SEEMED TO BE LEAGUES APART, SAID CALANDRA 185 00:11:24,384 --> 00:11:29,489 WHEN WE FIRST INTERVIEWED HER BACK IN 2020. 186 00:11:29,489 --> 00:11:32,892 >> I REMEMBER A VERY PREVALENT ISSUE WAS THAT MATT DID NOT HAVE 187 00:11:32,892 --> 00:11:37,197 A DRIVER'S LICENSE. SO IF SOMETHING NEEDED TO BE 188 00:11:37,197 --> 00:11:42,302 DONE OR SOMEONE NEEDED TO GET SOMEWHERE, INCLUDING HIM TO 189 00:11:42,302 --> 00:11:44,437 WORK, IT WAS LIZ WAKING UP EARLY, TAKE HIM TO WORK. 190 00:11:44,437 --> 00:11:47,407 SHE WOULD HAVE TO DO THE GROCERY SHOPPING. 191 00:11:47,407 --> 00:11:51,678 IF THEY HAD APPOINTMENTS, THAT'S HER ALSO. 192 00:11:51,678 --> 00:11:54,814 HONESTLY, I THINK THAT MATT WAS ALSO DISAPPOINTMENT THAT HE LOST 193 00:11:54,814 --> 00:11:58,518 HIS GOOD TIME WIFE THAT HE THOUGHT HE WAS TAKING TO 194 00:11:58,518 --> 00:12:03,056 CALIFORNIA WITH HIM. AND THEY BOTH WALKED SLAM INTO A 195 00:12:03,056 --> 00:12:05,625 WHOLE LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY. >> Reporter: BUT IT WASN'T JUST 196 00:12:05,625 --> 00:12:08,595 THE WEIGHT OF DAILY LIFE DRIVING A WEDGE. 197 00:12:08,595 --> 00:12:10,096 >> SHE WOULD TRY TO EXCITE HIM ABOUT THINGS. 198 00:12:10,096 --> 00:12:13,600 "LET'S DO THIS. LET'S GO OUT HERE. 199 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:17,070 WE HAVE THESE TWO DAUGHTERS." SHE SAW ALL THESE OPPORTUNITIES 200 00:12:17,070 --> 00:12:20,807 FOR HER AND THEM. UM, AND HE -- 201 00:12:20,807 --> 00:12:22,676 [ SIGH ] HE -- HE WAS CONTENT WHERE HE 202 00:12:22,676 --> 00:12:26,546 WAS IN LIFE. YOU KNOW, HE DIDN'T REALLY WANT 203 00:12:26,546 --> 00:12:27,981 TO EXPLORE OR DO MUCH OUTSIDE OF WORK, GO HOME. 204 00:12:27,981 --> 00:12:29,349 WORK, GO HOME. >> Reporter: SIT IN FRONT OF THE 205 00:12:29,349 --> 00:12:30,917 TELEVISION. >> EXACTLY. 206 00:12:30,917 --> 00:12:32,519 >> Reporter: HAVE A BEER. THAT'S THAT. 207 00:12:32,519 --> 00:12:35,188 >> PRETTY MUCH. YEAH. 208 00:12:35,188 --> 00:12:38,324 AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WASN'T CUTTING IT FOR LIZ. 209 00:12:38,324 --> 00:12:40,960 >> Reporter: WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU ASK A GUY TO STEP UP, AND HE 210 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:46,633 DOESN'T STEP UP. MUST'VE MADE HER MAD. 211 00:12:46,633 --> 00:12:49,235 >> I CAN'T SAY MAD. IT WAS FRUSTRATING. 212 00:12:49,235 --> 00:12:50,403 I THINK IT WAS MORE DISAPPOINTING. 213 00:12:50,403 --> 00:12:51,838 "WELL, NOW WHAT? YOU KNOW, I CAME OUT HERE 214 00:12:51,838 --> 00:12:53,406 BECAUSE YOU'RE SO RESPONSIBLE, AND WE'RE ABOUT TO BE 215 00:12:53,406 --> 00:12:57,444 RESPONSIBLE TOGETHER AND BUILD THIS LIFE. 216 00:12:57,444 --> 00:12:59,145 AND IT'S ME BUILDING." >> Reporter: "AND YOU NOT DOIN' 217 00:12:59,145 --> 00:13:05,085 MUCH OF WHAT YOU NEED TO DO." >> RIGHT. 218 00:13:05,085 --> 00:13:08,555 >> Reporter: ON TOP OF THAT, MATT HAD JUST ANNOUNCED THAT HIS 219 00:13:08,555 --> 00:13:10,790 FAMILY, HER IN-LAWS, WERE ABOUT TO MOVE IN WITH THEM. 220 00:13:10,790 --> 00:13:15,328 HE'D ALREADY MADE THE ARRANGEMENT. 221 00:13:15,328 --> 00:13:20,200 THEY WERE ON THEIR WAY. >> IT PUT HER ON RED ALERT AND 222 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:24,671 FREAKED HER OUT LIKE NOTHING. I HAD NEVER SEEN HER SO NERVOUS. 223 00:13:24,671 --> 00:13:26,139 >> Reporter: MATT'S MOTHER WAS COMING. 224 00:13:26,139 --> 00:13:30,143 AND NOT JUST HER. HER PARTNER AND MATT'S SISTER, 225 00:13:30,143 --> 00:13:33,580 TOO. AND LIZ DID NOT LIKE THEM ONE 226 00:13:33,580 --> 00:13:36,449 BIT. TOLD NATHAN MATT'S MOM DIDN'T 227 00:13:36,449 --> 00:13:42,689 APPROVE OF HER OR HER MARRIAGE TO MATT. 228 00:13:42,689 --> 00:13:44,257 >> THERE WERE QUALITIES IN THE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT LIZ DID NOT 229 00:13:44,257 --> 00:13:47,794 WANT AROUND HER DAUGHTERS, DEFINITELY. 230 00:13:47,794 --> 00:13:50,096 >> Reporter: WHEN LIZ CALLED NATHAN, SHE SOUNDED DESPERATE 231 00:13:50,096 --> 00:13:52,899 FOR A WAY OUT OF THAT ARRANGEMENT. 232 00:13:52,899 --> 00:13:54,868 DID SHE THEN ASK IF SHE COULD COME TALK THROUGH THIS? 233 00:13:54,868 --> 00:13:56,302 >> YEAH. WELL, IT WAS -- 234 00:13:56,302 --> 00:13:58,571 [ LAUGH ] IT WASN'T AN ASK. 235 00:13:58,571 --> 00:14:03,710 IT WAS, "I'M IN THE CAR ON MY WAY OVER NOW." 236 00:14:03,710 --> 00:14:06,846 >> Reporter: LIZ SPENT THE NIGHT AT NATHAN'S VENTING. 237 00:14:06,846 --> 00:14:11,117 AND THE NEXT DAY, FEELING SOMEWHAT BETTER, IF STILL WARY, 238 00:14:11,117 --> 00:14:13,219 WENT BACK HOME. BUT WHEN NATHAN SPOKE TO HER THE 239 00:14:13,219 --> 00:14:15,922 FOLLOWING DAY, SHE SOUNDED TENSE. 240 00:14:15,922 --> 00:14:17,791 >> SHE WAS VERY HURRIED TO GET OFF THE PHONE. 241 00:14:17,791 --> 00:14:21,661 IT WAS LIKE, "I HAVE TO GO. BYE." 242 00:14:21,661 --> 00:14:24,764 DONE. >> Reporter: BEFORE SHE HUNG UP, 243 00:14:24,764 --> 00:14:30,470 LIZ TOLD NATHAN SHE'D CALL HIM THE NEXT DAY, A MONDAY. 244 00:14:30,470 --> 00:14:32,739 BUT MONDAY CAME AND WENT. >> IT WASN'T UNTIL I WENT TO 245 00:14:32,739 --> 00:14:36,142 WORK ON TUESDAY AROUND LUNCHTIME, AND I STILL HADN'T 246 00:14:36,142 --> 00:14:37,844 HEARD FROM HER. AND I KNEW THE PLANE WAS GONNA 247 00:14:37,844 --> 00:14:41,081 LAND WITH HER IN-LAWS. >> Reporter: OH, BOY. 248 00:14:41,081 --> 00:14:45,251 >> SO THAT'S WHEN I THOUGHT IT WAS WEIRD. 249 00:14:45,251 --> 00:14:48,254 >> Reporter: SO HE CALLED MATT. >> HAS HE HEARD FROM LIZ. 250 00:14:48,254 --> 00:14:49,456 NO. NO. 251 00:14:49,456 --> 00:14:52,625 HE HASN'T HEARD FROM HER SINCE YESTERDAY. 252 00:14:52,625 --> 00:14:56,329 >> Reporter: MATT KNEW LIZ WAS UPSET ABOUT HIS FAMILY MOVING 253 00:14:56,329 --> 00:14:58,431 IN -- THEY HAD JUST ARRIVED THAT MORNING -- AND FIGURED SHE WAS 254 00:14:58,431 --> 00:15:01,668 TRYING TO PUT OFF DEALING WITH THEM. 255 00:15:01,668 --> 00:15:03,770 IT WOULDN'T BE THE FIRST TIME LIZ HAD GONE OFF ON HER OWN 256 00:15:03,770 --> 00:15:07,707 WITHOUT SAYING WHERE OR WITH WHOM. 257 00:15:07,707 --> 00:15:12,545 SHE COULD BE IMPULSIVE, AS MATT AND NATHAN BOTH KNEW. 258 00:15:12,545 --> 00:15:17,083 BUT NATHAN COULDN'T SHAKE A NAGGING FEELING THAT THIS TIME, 259 00:15:17,083 --> 00:15:21,354 THERE WAS MORE TO IT. AND SOMEWHAT RELUCTANTLY, HE 260 00:15:21,354 --> 00:15:24,491 MADE ONE MORE CALL. >> I CALLED THE POLICE. 261 00:15:24,491 --> 00:15:26,493 >> I STRESSED THE FACT. I WAS LIKE, "LOOK, YOU KNOW, I 262 00:15:26,493 --> 00:15:28,461 KNOW I'M JUST THE FRIEND. BUT SHE SHOULD'VE CHECKED IN 263 00:15:28,461 --> 00:15:33,066 WITH ME. I JUST FEEL THAT SOMETHING'S 264 00:15:33,066 --> 00:15:37,070 WRONG." AND THE OFFICER KIND OF BLEW IT 265 00:15:37,070 --> 00:15:39,339 OFF. >> Reporter: BUT THEN, ANOTHER 266 00:15:39,339 --> 00:15:43,076 DAY WENT BY. AND THEN A THIRD. 267 00:15:43,076 --> 00:15:46,379 LIZ'S DAUGHTERS WAITED. MATT WAITED. 268 00:15:46,379 --> 00:15:50,717 THE IN-LAWS SETTLED IN. EVERYBODY WONDERED, "WHERE IS 269 00:15:50,717 --> 00:15:54,921 SHE?" THAT'S WHEN SAN DIEGO POLICE PUT 270 00:15:54,921 --> 00:16:00,326 THE WORD OUT. THE YOUNG MOTHER OF TWO WAS 271 00:16:00,326 --> 00:16:07,200 OFFICIALLY MISSING. >>> COMING UP -- 272 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:09,536 I FEEL LIKE SHE'S IN TROUBLE. WE AREN'T GOING TO LET THIS GO. 273 00:16:09,536 --> 00:16:11,338 >> A PUBLIC PLEA FROM LIZ'S DAD. >> THE MISSING PERSONS UNIT DID 274 00:16:11,338 --> 00:16:16,876 NOT SEE ANY SIGNS OF FOUL PLAY. >> WAS SHE MISSING OR HIDING? 275 00:16:16,876 --> 00:16:37,063 >> SHE WAS SPOTTED IN A SOCCER FIELD 1,000 FEET FROM HER HO 276 00:16:37,063 --> 00:16:39,933 >> Reporter: THREE DAYS AFTER NATHAN CARACTER CALLED THE 277 00:16:39,933 --> 00:16:41,968 POLICE TO REPORT HIS FRIEND LIZ SULLIVAN WAS MISSING, 278 00:16:41,968 --> 00:16:47,807 INVESTIGATORS DROPPED BY LIZ' HOUSE. 279 00:16:47,807 --> 00:16:51,378 THEY MET MATT AND THE KIDS AND THE IN-LAWS, AND TOOK A 280 00:16:51,378 --> 00:17:01,254 POLICE-TYPE TOUR OF THE PLACE EYES WIDE OPEN. 281 00:17:01,254 --> 00:17:02,856 >> THE MISSING PERSONS UNIT HAD LOOKED OVER IT FAIRLY WELL AND 282 00:17:02,856 --> 00:17:04,024 DID NOT SEE ANY SIGNS OF FOUL PLAY. 283 00:17:04,024 --> 00:17:06,126 >> Reporter: THAT'S DETECTIVE KIM COLLIER. 284 00:17:06,126 --> 00:17:08,395 SHE DIDN'T KNOW BACK THEN HOW MUCH THIS CASE WOULD MEAN TO 285 00:17:08,395 --> 00:17:11,097 HER. WASN'T EVEN THERE THE DAY 286 00:17:11,097 --> 00:17:14,934 MISSING PERSONS TOOK THEIR LOOK AROUND. 287 00:17:14,934 --> 00:17:21,207 AND WHAT DID THEY FIND? NOTHING VERY ILLUMINATING. 288 00:17:21,207 --> 00:17:23,243 LIZ HADN'T TAKEN HER CAR, IT WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, SOME TRASH 289 00:17:23,243 --> 00:17:25,779 AND A PARKING RECEIPT WERE INSIDE. 290 00:17:25,779 --> 00:17:30,316 AND NEXT TO HER CAR, THE USUAL GARAGE STUFF. 291 00:17:30,316 --> 00:17:33,086 A BIG BROKEN MIRROR AND A STAND-ALONE FREEZER LIKE THIS 292 00:17:33,086 --> 00:17:36,289 ONE, WHICH THEY OPENED. IT WAS EMPTY. 293 00:17:36,289 --> 00:17:39,292 DID THEY SEARCH HER ROOM IN THE HOUSE THAT SHE SHARED WITH MATT? 294 00:17:39,292 --> 00:17:41,494 >> YES. >> Reporter: OUTSIDE OF IT BEING 295 00:17:41,494 --> 00:17:46,533 A LITTLE MESSY, THERE WAS NOTHING OF NOTE. 296 00:17:46,533 --> 00:17:50,203 EXCEPT, SAID MATT, ONE OF THEIR SUITCASES WAS MISSING. 297 00:17:50,203 --> 00:17:52,205 >> HE FELT THAT SHE MIGHT'VE LEFT WITH HER COMPUTER AND HER 298 00:17:52,205 --> 00:17:55,208 LAPTOP AND A PHONE. BUT HE WASN'T SURE. 299 00:17:55,208 --> 00:17:56,476 BUT HE COULDN'T FIND THOSE ITEMS. 300 00:17:56,476 --> 00:17:59,312 >> Reporter: SEEMED COOPERATIVE THOUGH? 301 00:17:59,312 --> 00:18:01,915 >> YES. >> Reporter: MATT TOLD THE 302 00:18:01,915 --> 00:18:04,150 DETECTIVES HE'D FOUND HER PRIVATE JOURNALS. 303 00:18:04,150 --> 00:18:07,287 AND HE TURNED THOSE OVER. AND SOMETHING ELSE -- IT WAS A 304 00:18:07,287 --> 00:18:11,024 PRETTY BIG DEAL. HE HAD DISCOVERED THAT LIZ HAD 305 00:18:11,024 --> 00:18:16,396 TRANSFERRED ALL THE MONEY IN THEIR JOINT CHECKING ACCOUNT -- 306 00:18:16,396 --> 00:18:21,234 $1,072 -- TO HER INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNT BEFORE SHE DISAPPEARED. 307 00:18:21,234 --> 00:18:26,339 SO THE COPS CALLED LIZ'S CREDIT UNION, AND THE PEOPLE THERE 308 00:18:26,339 --> 00:18:28,341 CONFIRMED THERE WAS ACTIVITY ON HER DEBIT CARD AFTER SHE WAS 309 00:18:28,341 --> 00:18:30,877 REPORTED MISSING. WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN YOU 310 00:18:30,877 --> 00:18:36,049 HEARD THAT? >> I WAS VERY HOPEFUL. 311 00:18:36,049 --> 00:18:37,684 I WAS REALLY EXCITED, UM -- BECAUSE THAT MEANS, YOU KNOW, 312 00:18:37,684 --> 00:18:40,854 LIZ WAS SOMEWHERE. SHE WASN'T DEAD. 313 00:18:40,854 --> 00:18:45,425 >> Reporter: STILL, THEY POSTED FLYERS AROUND TOWN. 314 00:18:45,425 --> 00:18:48,828 HER PHOTO WAS ALL OVER THE NEWS. >> 31-YEAR-OLD ELIZABETH 315 00:18:48,828 --> 00:18:51,131 SULLIVAN WENT MISSING ON OCTOBER 13th, 2014. 316 00:18:51,131 --> 00:18:54,234 >> Reporter: AND THAT PRODUCED A RESPONSE. 317 00:18:54,234 --> 00:18:57,370 PEOPLE THOUGHT THEY RECOGNIZED THE WOMAN ON TV. 318 00:18:57,370 --> 00:19:02,308 >> SHE WAS SPOTTED TWICE. SO SHE'S GONE A WEEK. 319 00:19:02,308 --> 00:19:04,444 AND SHE WAS SPOTTED IN A SOCCER FIELD 1,000 FEET FROM HER HOUSE. 320 00:19:04,444 --> 00:19:07,881 >> Reporter: WHO SAW HER? >> IT WAS AN OFF-DUTY POLICE 321 00:19:07,881 --> 00:19:11,017 OFFICER. >> Reporter: IN FACT, AN 322 00:19:11,017 --> 00:19:15,288 OFF-DUTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY AND HIS WIFE SAID THEY SAW AND 323 00:19:15,288 --> 00:19:19,025 TALKED TO LIZ SIX DAYS AFTER SHE WENT MISSING. 324 00:19:19,025 --> 00:19:22,662 THEY SAID SHE APPEARED DISORIENTED, WAS LOOKING FOR HER 325 00:19:22,662 --> 00:19:26,099 PHONE, AND TOLD THEM SHE HAD SLEPT IN THE PARK THE NIGHT 326 00:19:26,099 --> 00:19:28,268 BEFORE. THEN DAYS LATER, ANOTHER 327 00:19:28,268 --> 00:19:32,906 REPORTED SIGHTING, THIS ONE NEAR THE SAN DIEGO AIRPORT. 328 00:19:32,906 --> 00:19:37,744 BUT, AFTER THAT, A MONTH PASSED WITH NO SIGN OF LIZ. 329 00:19:37,744 --> 00:19:40,313 MATT GAVE AN INTERVIEW TO PEOPLE MAGAZINE, SAID HE WAS "AT THE 330 00:19:40,313 --> 00:19:45,151 END OF HIS ROPE." "I'M RUNNING ON FUMES RIGHT NOW, 331 00:19:45,151 --> 00:19:47,754 I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO LOOK." LIZ HAD LEFT HOME BEFORE, HE 332 00:19:47,754 --> 00:19:51,391 SAID, BUT THOSE TIMES IT WAS JUST FOR A NIGHT. 333 00:19:51,391 --> 00:19:55,095 NOT LIKE THIS. >> WE AREN'T GONNA LET THIS GO. 334 00:19:55,095 --> 00:19:57,063 >> Reporter: LIZ'S DAD CAME FROM VIRGINIA TO HELP LOOK FOR HIS 335 00:19:57,063 --> 00:20:01,334 DAUGHTER, AND BE WITH MATT AND THE GIRLS. 336 00:20:01,334 --> 00:20:04,204 HE WAS INTERVIEWED BY NBC STATION KNSD AND PLEADED WITH 337 00:20:04,204 --> 00:20:08,174 THE PUBLIC FOR HELP. >> I FEEL LIKE SHE'S IN TROUBLE. 338 00:20:08,174 --> 00:20:11,611 IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU, AND WHEN IT DOES, IT GETS VERY PERSONAL. 339 00:20:11,611 --> 00:20:13,780 AND YOU GET A STRENGTH LIKE YOU NEVER HAD BEFORE, BECAUSE THAT'S 340 00:20:13,780 --> 00:20:17,283 MY DAUGHTER. I'M BRINGING HER HOME. 341 00:20:17,283 --> 00:20:20,420 >> Reporter: AS SAN DIEGO DETECTIVES DOVE IN TO THEIR 342 00:20:20,420 --> 00:20:22,455 INVESTIGATION, THEY WONDERED IF SOME PEOPLE KNEW MORE ABOUT 343 00:20:22,455 --> 00:20:25,525 LIZ'S WHEREABOUTS THAN THEY WERE LETTING ON. 344 00:20:25,525 --> 00:20:28,962 THEY QUESTIONED HER FRIEND NATHAN, FOR ONE. 345 00:20:28,962 --> 00:20:33,333 NATHAN, WHO'D CALLED IN THE MISSING PERSONS REPORT. 346 00:20:33,333 --> 00:20:35,035 DID YOU GET THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU WERE ON 347 00:20:35,035 --> 00:20:37,070 A LIST OF POSSIBLES? >> DEFINITELY. 348 00:20:37,070 --> 00:20:42,308 >> Reporter: HOW'D THEY MAKE THAT APPARENT? 349 00:20:42,308 --> 00:20:46,279 >> THEY SHOWED UP AT MY JOB. VERY AWKWARD -- VERY, VERY 350 00:20:46,279 --> 00:20:48,948 AWKWARD. AND I WAS SHORT WITH THEM, AND 351 00:20:48,948 --> 00:20:53,687 SAID I COULD MEET THEM AT THIS TIME. 352 00:20:53,687 --> 00:20:55,355 AND WE DID AND WE MET, AND IT WAS VERY INTERROGATORY. 353 00:20:55,355 --> 00:20:56,856 >> Reporter: DIDN'T THEY ASK YOU TO TAKE A POLYGRAPH? 354 00:20:56,856 --> 00:21:01,061 >> YEAH. >> Reporter: WHAT'D YOU SAY? 355 00:21:01,061 --> 00:21:04,531 >> WELL, I WANTED TO THINK ABOUT IT FIRST. 356 00:21:04,531 --> 00:21:07,901 >> Reporter: NATHAN WASN'T THE ONLY ONE POLICE LEANED ON. 357 00:21:07,901 --> 00:21:10,804 THEY QUESTIONED MATT, TOO, OF COURSE -- REPEATEDLY. 358 00:21:10,804 --> 00:21:12,739 >> LIKE, I NEVER HEARD OF HIM GETTING A LAWYER. 359 00:21:12,739 --> 00:21:14,741 IN FACT, IT SEEMED HE WAS HELPFUL. 360 00:21:14,741 --> 00:21:19,145 >> Reporter: YEAH. >> YOU KNOW, TO THE POLICE. 361 00:21:19,145 --> 00:21:21,848 >> Reporter: MATT TOLD THEM GO AHEAD SEARCH HIS HOUSE, WHICH 362 00:21:21,848 --> 00:21:25,852 THEY DID SEVERAL TIMES. AND HE CONSENTED TO HAVING BOTH 363 00:21:25,852 --> 00:21:29,356 OF HIS DAUGHTERS' DNA COLLECTED, JUST IN CASE THE WORST HAPPENED 364 00:21:29,356 --> 00:21:32,092 AND THEY NEEDED TO I.D. A BODY. DID YOU ASK HIM TO TAKE A 365 00:21:32,092 --> 00:21:34,961 POLYGRAPH BY ANY CHANCE? >> YES. 366 00:21:34,961 --> 00:21:38,365 >> Reporter: HOW'D HE SCORE? >> WELL, HE DID PRETTY WELL. 367 00:21:38,365 --> 00:21:40,633 >> Reporter: WHAT WAS HIS SUGGESTION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED 368 00:21:40,633 --> 00:21:44,871 TO HER? >> HE ENDED UP SAYING THAT SHE 369 00:21:44,871 --> 00:21:48,641 HAD JUST LEFT AND WALKED OUT WITH A BAG AND HE DIDN'T KNOW 370 00:21:48,641 --> 00:21:51,745 WHERE SHE WAS GOING. >> Reporter: BY NOW, DETECTIVES 371 00:21:51,745 --> 00:21:56,549 HAD AN IDEA OR TWO TO FOLLOW. THEY'D BEEN LOOKING OVER THOSE 372 00:21:56,549 --> 00:22:00,720 JOURNALS MATT HAD GIVEN THEM. AND WELL, THE THINGS PEOPLE 373 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:03,957 WRITE WHEN THEY THINK NO ONE WILL LOOK -- 374 00:22:03,957 --> 00:22:08,528 MAYBE LIZ SULLIVAN'S LIFE WAS MORE COMPLICATED THAN ANYONE 375 00:22:08,528 --> 00:22:10,764 KNEW. MAYBE SHE DIDN'T WANT TO BE 376 00:22:10,764 --> 00:22:14,200 FOUND. >>> COMING UP -- 377 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:17,904 SECRETS SPILL OUT! LIZ ON A DATING APP? 378 00:22:17,904 --> 00:22:19,873 >> ONE DAY, SHE HAD TINDER. >> Reporter: AND PRIVATE 379 00:22:19,873 --> 00:22:22,742 WRITINGS. >> IT WAS A STORY ABOUT SOMEBODY 380 00:22:22,742 --> 00:22:25,612 THAT IS MISSING. >> Reporter: LEAVES HER KIDS AND 381 00:22:25,612 --> 00:22:45,832 RUNS AND LEAVES IT ALL BEHIND? >> RIGHT. 382 00:22:45,832 --> 00:22:49,336 >> Reporter: IT DIDN'T TAKE VERY LONG. 383 00:22:49,336 --> 00:22:52,739 WHEN SAN DIEGO INVESTIGATORS ASKED FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO TELL 384 00:22:52,739 --> 00:22:54,741 THEM ABOUT THE MISSING LIZ SULLIVAN, THEY RAN INTO IT 385 00:22:54,741 --> 00:22:56,209 RIGHT AWAY. SHE WAS A COMPLICATED PERSON, 386 00:22:56,209 --> 00:22:57,277 RIGHT? >> OH. 387 00:22:57,277 --> 00:22:58,712 OH, YEAH. [ LAUGH ] 388 00:22:58,712 --> 00:23:03,550 YEAH. SHE WAS VERY COMPLICATED. 389 00:23:03,550 --> 00:23:07,520 >> Reporter: COMPLICATED. LIZ HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH 390 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:11,257 BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER, WHICH MAY SOUND LIKE A BIG DEAL, 391 00:23:11,257 --> 00:23:16,062 BUT IT ISN'T SO UNCOMMON. MILLIONS OF PEOPLE DEAL WITH IT. 392 00:23:16,062 --> 00:23:19,466 AND IN LIZ'S CASE, HER JOURNALS, PRIVATE, SOMETIMES TORTURED 393 00:23:19,466 --> 00:23:23,169 THOUGHTS, MADE IT CLEAR THAT FOR ALL HER SPUNK AND LUST FOR LIFE, 394 00:23:23,169 --> 00:23:27,440 SHE'D BEEN BATTLING DEEP SEATED ISSUES FOR YEARS. 395 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:30,276 LIZ OPENED UP TO FRIENDS ABOUT HER DRUG USE, BOTH RECREATIONAL 396 00:23:30,276 --> 00:23:33,413 AND PRESCRIBED. SHE TOOK PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION 397 00:23:33,413 --> 00:23:37,317 LIKE ADDERALL. BUT AT TIMES SHE OVERMEDICATED. 398 00:23:37,317 --> 00:23:38,551 DID SHE TALK MUCH ABOUT THAT? >> OH, YEAH. 399 00:23:38,551 --> 00:23:41,888 YEAH. LIZ TALKED VERY FREELY ABOUT IT. 400 00:23:41,888 --> 00:23:47,360 LIZ HAD ALWAYS BEEN UNDER THE CARE OF PSYCHIATRISTS. 401 00:23:47,360 --> 00:23:51,498 UM. AND SHE HAD HER STASH OF 402 00:23:51,498 --> 00:23:54,768 PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION THAT SHE NEEDED, BUT THAT SHE ALSO LIKED 403 00:23:54,768 --> 00:23:58,638 AS WELL. AND SHE KNEW HOW TO WORK THE 404 00:23:58,638 --> 00:24:01,274 SYSTEM TO GET -- TO GET THE MEDICATION SHE WANTED. 405 00:24:01,274 --> 00:24:03,176 >> Reporter: SO, KIND OF, PARTIALLY SELF-MEDICATED. 406 00:24:03,176 --> 00:24:08,715 >> YEAH. EXACTLY. 407 00:24:08,715 --> 00:24:11,117 >> Reporter: AND WHEN MEDICATION WASN'T ENOUGH, LIZ SOMETIMES 408 00:24:11,117 --> 00:24:15,789 RESORTED TO ALTERNATE WAYS OF FINDING RELIEF. 409 00:24:15,789 --> 00:24:19,492 >> SHE WAS A CUTTER. SO IT WAS A WAY FOR HER TO KIND 410 00:24:19,492 --> 00:24:21,761 OF RELEASE ANY TYPE OF ANXIETY. >> Reporter: WHAT KIND OF 411 00:24:21,761 --> 00:24:24,397 CUTTING ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? WERE THEY DEEP CUTS? 412 00:24:24,397 --> 00:24:25,765 LITTLE SCRATCHES? WHAT? 413 00:24:25,765 --> 00:24:32,605 >> NO. FOR THE MOST PART, THEY'RE, YOU 414 00:24:32,605 --> 00:24:34,207 KNOW, SUPERFICIAL WOUNDS. CAUSE YOU A LITTLE PAIN AND HAVE 415 00:24:34,207 --> 00:24:35,742 YOU BLEED A LITTLE BIT. BUT NOTHING THAT WOULD SEND YOU 416 00:24:35,742 --> 00:24:40,847 TO THE HOSPITAL. SHE KNEW THAT SHE HAD PROBLEMS, 417 00:24:40,847 --> 00:24:43,416 AND SHE DID WHATEVER SHE COULD AND -- AND SHE TRIED SO HARD TO 418 00:24:43,416 --> 00:24:44,451 CIRCUMVENT THOSE ISSUES THAT SHE HAD. 419 00:24:44,451 --> 00:24:45,618 SHE -- >> Reporter: MORE HURDLES THAN 420 00:24:45,618 --> 00:24:49,656 MOST PEOPLE. >> YEAH. 421 00:24:49,656 --> 00:24:53,360 >> Reporter: WHEN THINGS WERE GOING WRONG IN HER MARRIAGE, LIZ 422 00:24:53,360 --> 00:24:55,895 DID WHAT SHE WOULD OFTEN DO. SHE WROTE ABOUT IT, AS IF 423 00:24:55,895 --> 00:24:59,099 WRITING FICTION. SHE SHOWED IT TO NATHAN. 424 00:24:59,099 --> 00:25:04,170 >> IT HAD SOME VERY REAL, ACTUAL EVENTS IN THE STORY. 425 00:25:04,170 --> 00:25:06,740 >> Reporter: THE WOMAN IN LIZ'S STORY HAD BEEN RESCUED FROM HER 426 00:25:06,740 --> 00:25:10,710 LIFE'S TROUBLES BY A MAN NAMED BROOKS, HER WHITE KNIGHT. 427 00:25:10,710 --> 00:25:15,548 THEY MOVED TO CALIFORNIA, HAD A LITTLE GIRL. 428 00:25:15,548 --> 00:25:19,586 AND THEN THINGS WENT BAD. "I'M A FAILURE, A LIFETIME 429 00:25:19,586 --> 00:25:22,355 MOVIE. A LIFETIME MOVIE THAT RETAINS 430 00:25:22,355 --> 00:25:26,426 SUCH SACCHARIN, SWEET, MAUDLIN PREDICTABILITY THAT I LEFT. 431 00:25:26,426 --> 00:25:30,330 I LEFT BROOKS. I LEFT MY LITTLE GIRL AND WALKED 432 00:25:30,330 --> 00:25:35,435 OUT OF THAT NIGHTMARE. I WALKED OUT OF MY LIFE." 433 00:25:35,435 --> 00:25:38,405 >> Reporter: THE PARALLELS TO LIZ'S REAL LIFE, AS NATHAN TOLD 434 00:25:38,405 --> 00:25:40,840 THE DETECTIVES, WERE SO OBVIOUS. WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN YOU READ 435 00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:43,410 IT? >> WELL, IT MADE IT HARD BECAUSE 436 00:25:43,410 --> 00:25:46,546 IT WAS A STORY ABOUT WHAT WE WERE DEALING WITH, SOMEBODY THAT 437 00:25:46,546 --> 00:25:51,084 IS MISSING. AND IF SHE ACTED OUT THAT STORY 438 00:25:51,084 --> 00:25:54,220 IN REAL TIME, THEN IT WOULD'VE ALIGNED. 439 00:25:54,220 --> 00:25:56,489 >> Reporter: LEAVES HER KIDS AND RUNS AND LEAVES IT ALL BEHIND? 440 00:25:56,489 --> 00:26:00,126 >> RIGHT. >> Reporter: MAYBE. 441 00:26:00,126 --> 00:26:05,331 BUT LIZ'S STORY ALSO OFFERED A SECOND POSSIBILITY. 442 00:26:05,331 --> 00:26:10,537 "I AM SO SICK OF EVERYONE. BUT MOSTLY COMPLETELY AND 443 00:26:10,537 --> 00:26:13,573 ENTIRELY SICK OF MYSELF. MAYBE EVERYONE IS BETTER OFF IN 444 00:26:13,573 --> 00:26:16,710 MY ABSENCE." DID YOU EVER THINK THAT SUICIDE 445 00:26:16,710 --> 00:26:18,244 WAS A POSSIBILITY? >> IT WAS SOMETHING THAT 446 00:26:18,244 --> 00:26:22,082 UNFORTUNATELY WAS IN THE BACK OF MY MIND. 447 00:26:22,082 --> 00:26:26,252 >> Reporter: AND, TO THOSE POSSIBILITIES, ADD YET ANOTHER. 448 00:26:26,252 --> 00:26:30,924 MONTHS BEFORE SHE DISAPPEARED, LIZ CREATED AN ONLINE DATING 449 00:26:30,924 --> 00:26:34,594 PROFILE. >> WHEN SHE GOT ON THE APP, IT 450 00:26:34,594 --> 00:26:38,064 WASN'T, YOU KNOW, TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AT ALL. 451 00:26:38,064 --> 00:26:41,167 >> Reporter: SHE TOLD CALANDRA ALL ABOUT IT. 452 00:26:41,167 --> 00:26:43,136 >> IT WAS A, UM, ESCAPE HATCH FOR JUST A COUPLE HOURS, YOU 453 00:26:43,136 --> 00:26:44,070 KNOW? >> Reporter: RIGHT. 454 00:26:44,070 --> 00:26:46,272 MORE OF A FANTASY THING? >> SURE. 455 00:26:46,272 --> 00:26:47,374 >> Reporter: "I'M IN THIS BAD SPOT. 456 00:26:47,374 --> 00:26:49,976 I'M GONNA LOOK AT WHAT'S OUT THERE." 457 00:26:49,976 --> 00:26:53,680 >> SURE. AND I BELIEVE THAT WHEN YOU GET 458 00:26:53,680 --> 00:26:57,384 IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS THAT AFFECT YOUR SELF-ESTEEM, 459 00:26:57,384 --> 00:26:59,919 SOMETIMES IT'S EASIER TO HAVE SOMEONE ELSE TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, 460 00:26:59,919 --> 00:27:01,921 THE THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO HEAR JUST FOR THAT MOMENT. 461 00:27:01,921 --> 00:27:04,924 >> Reporter: YEAH, YEAH. >> JUST FOR THAT MOMENT. 462 00:27:04,924 --> 00:27:12,432 >> Reporter: NATHAN THOUGHT IT WAS MORE SERIOUS THAN THAT. 463 00:27:12,432 --> 00:27:14,734 >> I DON'T KNOW IF I INTRODUCED HER TO THIS APP ON THE PHONE OR 464 00:27:14,734 --> 00:27:17,270 IF SHE FOUND IT ON HER OWN. I CAN'T REMEMBER. 465 00:27:17,270 --> 00:27:20,140 UM. BUT ONE DAY, SHE HAD TINDER. 466 00:27:20,140 --> 00:27:23,043 >> Reporter: MM-HM. >> AND I DIDN'T JUDGE HER FOR 467 00:27:23,043 --> 00:27:26,680 IT. >> Reporter: MAYBE NOT. 468 00:27:26,680 --> 00:27:30,917 BUT SUDDENLY THE INVESTIGATORS WERE DEALING WITH A BIG PROBLEM. 469 00:27:30,917 --> 00:27:36,056 WAS SHE SEEING SOMEONE? HAD SHE TAKEN OFF WITH HIM, 470 00:27:36,056 --> 00:27:41,761 WHOEVER IT WAS? OR DID SOME MAN DO SOMETHING TO 471 00:27:41,761 --> 00:27:45,165 MAKE LIZ SULLIVAN DISAPPEAR? >>> COMING UP -- 472 00:27:45,165 --> 00:27:48,068 NEW MEN IN HER LIFE. AND POSSIBLY, NEW LEADS IN THE 473 00:27:48,068 --> 00:27:51,071 CASE. >> STEPHEN, YEP. 474 00:27:51,071 --> 00:27:53,406 STEPHEN WAS THE BOYFRIEND. HE HAD ASPIRATIONS AND GOALS, 475 00:27:53,406 --> 00:27:59,679 AND HE WAS ALL THE THINGS THAT WHAT HAPPENED HERE? 476 00:27:59,679 --> 00:28:06,786 THE TRUE CRIME ORIGINAL, DATELINE FRIDAYS AND SUNDAYS. 477 00:28:10,290 --> 00:28:13,693 >> Reporter: ELIZABETH SULLIVAN HAD BEEN GONE ABOUT TWO MONTHS 478 00:28:13,693 --> 00:28:18,264 WHEN THE MISSING PERSONS UNIT ASKED DETECTIVE KIM COLLIER AND 479 00:28:18,264 --> 00:28:22,502 HER PARTNERS TO GET INVOLVED. THING WAS, DETECTIVE COLLIER 480 00:28:22,502 --> 00:28:26,206 WORKED HOMICIDE CASES. AND THIS ONE -- THEY DIDN'T KNOW 481 00:28:26,206 --> 00:28:28,875 EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS. >> IT REALLY MADE THEM WORRY 482 00:28:28,875 --> 00:28:31,311 THAT THIS WAS MORE THAN JUST SOMEBODY THAT HAD WALKED AWAY 483 00:28:31,311 --> 00:28:34,080 FROM THEIR LIFE. >> Reporter: BY THEN MISSING 484 00:28:34,080 --> 00:28:38,451 PERSONS HAD DONE THEIR SEARCHES AND TALKED TO THE HUSBAND MATT, 485 00:28:38,451 --> 00:28:40,420 WHO TOLD THEM ABOUT LIZ'S PSYCHIATRIC ISSUES, TOLD THEM 486 00:28:40,420 --> 00:28:44,424 SHE COULD BE UNPREDICTABLE, IMPULSIVE. 487 00:28:44,424 --> 00:28:48,128 AND THEY HAD INTERVIEWED PEOPLE WHO REPORTED SEEING HER AFTER 488 00:28:48,128 --> 00:28:51,831 SHE WENT MISSING. AND PEOPLE WHO SAID THEY WERE 489 00:28:51,831 --> 00:28:54,668 JUST WORRIED, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, HER FRIEND NATHAN. 490 00:28:54,668 --> 00:29:01,207 WAS HE EVER CONSIDERED A SUSPECT AT ALL? 491 00:29:01,207 --> 00:29:05,745 >> THINK THE MISSING PERSONS UNIT IN THE BEGINNING, MIGHT'VE 492 00:29:05,745 --> 00:29:08,048 WANTED TO BRING HIM IN. I NEVER FELT THAT HE WAS 493 00:29:08,048 --> 00:29:10,517 SUSPECT, NO. >> Reporter: YOU HAD A FEELING 494 00:29:10,517 --> 00:29:12,585 ABOUT IT, AN INSTINCT? >> OH YEAH, YEAH. 495 00:29:12,585 --> 00:29:15,722 I MEAN, IT KINDA COMES WITH THE JOB. 496 00:29:15,722 --> 00:29:18,024 >> Reporter: IN FACT, NATHAN, IT TURNED OUT, WAS A KIND OF 497 00:29:18,024 --> 00:29:20,527 ENCYCLOPEDIA WHERE IT CAME TO LIZ. 498 00:29:20,527 --> 00:29:23,663 TO HIM, SHE'D CONFIDED JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING. 499 00:29:23,663 --> 00:29:26,199 >> I HEARD ALL OF HER LIFE STORY. 500 00:29:26,199 --> 00:29:29,669 EVERYTHING. AND I THINK SHE NEEDED SOMEBODY 501 00:29:29,669 --> 00:29:32,205 TO TELL IT TO. SHE WAS A FULL-TIME MOM, AND SO 502 00:29:32,205 --> 00:29:34,607 SHE DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE TO TALK TO, TO LET ALL THIS OUT. 503 00:29:34,607 --> 00:29:38,745 >> Reporter: AND, OVER THE COURSE OF THEIR FRIENDSHIP, 504 00:29:38,745 --> 00:29:43,650 NATHAN BECAME VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEMS PLAGUING LIZ'S 505 00:29:43,650 --> 00:29:46,453 RELATIONSHIP WITH MATT. BUT HE'D ALSO SEEN THEM BOTH 506 00:29:46,453 --> 00:29:51,257 MAKE A REAL EFFORT TO MEND THEIR MARRIAGE. 507 00:29:51,257 --> 00:29:53,159 >> SHE WAS RAISED CATHOLIC AND, I REMEMBER ONE INSTANCE OR ONE 508 00:29:53,159 --> 00:29:54,661 PERIOD SHE DECIDED, "YOU KNOW WHAT, NATHAN? 509 00:29:54,661 --> 00:29:57,797 I'M JUST GONNA -- I'M REALLY GONNA FOCUS ON MY FAMILY. 510 00:29:57,797 --> 00:30:00,367 I'M GONNA MAKE THIS WORK. YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN HARD ON MY 511 00:30:00,367 --> 00:30:03,203 HUSBAND, BUT HE, YOU KNOW, PROVIDES FOR ME AND THE CHILDREN 512 00:30:03,203 --> 00:30:05,772 AND I NEED TO BE MORE APPRECIATIVE AND RESPECTFUL OF 513 00:30:05,772 --> 00:30:11,011 THAT." AND I REMEMBER HER REALLY, 514 00:30:11,011 --> 00:30:13,747 REALLY, PUTTING HER ALL INTO IT. >> Reporter: THAT WAS ABOUT THE 515 00:30:13,747 --> 00:30:16,449 TIME NATHAN HAD THEM OVER FOR THANKSGIVING THE YEAR BEFORE SHE 516 00:30:16,449 --> 00:30:21,988 DISAPPEARED. HOW WERE THEY THEN? 517 00:30:21,988 --> 00:30:25,392 >> THEY WERE DOING GREAT. I HAD NEVER SEEN THEM SO HAPPY 518 00:30:25,392 --> 00:30:26,860 AND TALKING AND CONVERSING. IT WAS REALLY GOOD TO SEE 'EM 519 00:30:26,860 --> 00:30:33,066 LIKE THAT. IT REALLY WAS. 520 00:30:33,066 --> 00:30:35,702 THEN COME THAT CHRISTMAS, SHE CAME OVER TO THE HOUSE WITH THE 521 00:30:35,702 --> 00:30:37,504 GIRLS BUT NO MATT. YOU COULD SEE THE DYNAMIC HAD 522 00:30:37,504 --> 00:30:41,941 CHANGED ALREADY, AND IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG. 523 00:30:41,941 --> 00:30:45,879 >> Reporter: AND BY SUMMER LIZ WAS SPENDING TIME WITH OTHER MEN 524 00:30:45,879 --> 00:30:48,048 SHE MET ON TINDER. NOW, INVESTIGATORS HAD TO EXPAND 525 00:30:48,048 --> 00:30:52,686 THEIR LIST OF POTENTIAL SUSPECTS. 526 00:30:52,686 --> 00:30:55,221 WHO WAS MARCUS HODGES? >> HE WAS ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS 527 00:30:55,221 --> 00:30:57,390 THAT WE KNOW THAT SHE HAD CONNECTED WITH. 528 00:30:57,390 --> 00:31:00,694 >> Reporter: THEY'D PULLED HIS RECORD. 529 00:31:00,694 --> 00:31:03,229 HE'D BEEN ARRESTED FOR CHOKING HIS THEN WIFE DURING AN 530 00:31:03,229 --> 00:31:06,199 ARGUMENT. THE CHARGES WERE LATER DROPPED. 531 00:31:06,199 --> 00:31:08,068 DID THAT FACTOR INTO YOUR THINKING AT ALL? 532 00:31:08,068 --> 00:31:12,172 >> IT WAS PART OF THE REASON WE WERE MORE CONCERNED. 533 00:31:12,172 --> 00:31:16,076 IT PLAYED A FACTOR IN US PAYING A LITTLE MORE ATTENTION TO HIM. 534 00:31:16,076 --> 00:31:20,080 >> Reporter: BUT THE MARCUS/LIZ RELATIONSHIP TURNED OUT TO HAVE 535 00:31:20,080 --> 00:31:23,416 BEEN BRIEF AND CASUAL. IT WAS A DEAD END. 536 00:31:23,416 --> 00:31:28,555 EXCEPT MARCUS WASN'T THE ONLY ONE. 537 00:31:28,555 --> 00:31:33,393 THERE WAS ANOTHER MAN, GUY NAMED STEVEN SUTTON. 538 00:31:33,393 --> 00:31:36,096 AND MAYBE HE WAS THE REAL DEAL. >> I THINK THAT ONCE SHE FOUND 539 00:31:36,096 --> 00:31:38,798 STEVE, STEVE WAS KIND OF IT FOR HER. 540 00:31:38,798 --> 00:31:41,001 AND THAT WHATEVER OTHER CONTACTS SHE HAD MADE DURING THAT TIME 541 00:31:41,001 --> 00:31:44,204 WERE NOT IMPORTANT TO HER ANYMORE. 542 00:31:44,204 --> 00:31:46,473 >> Reporter: AS LIZ CONFIDED TO NATHAN. 543 00:31:46,473 --> 00:31:49,876 >> STEVEN. YEAH, STEVEN WAS THE BOYFRIEND. 544 00:31:49,876 --> 00:31:52,345 >> Reporter: WHAT DID SHE SAY ABOUT STEVEN? 545 00:31:52,345 --> 00:31:55,849 >> SHE SHOWED ME HIS PICTURE. HE WAS A GOOD LOOKING GUY. 546 00:31:55,849 --> 00:32:00,687 HE HAD ASPIRATIONS AND GOALS AND, LIKE, YOU KNOW, HE WANTED 547 00:32:00,687 --> 00:32:03,590 TO BETTER HIMSELF AND HE WAS EDUCATED AND THEY COULD TALK AND 548 00:32:03,590 --> 00:32:09,162 IT WAS ALL THE THINGS THAT MATT WASN'T. 549 00:32:09,162 --> 00:32:12,932 >> Reporter: PERHAPS HE WAS. HE WAS ALSO THE LAST PERSON LIZ 550 00:32:12,932 --> 00:32:16,069 DATED BEFORE SHE DISAPPEARED. SO NATURALLY, DETECTIVES WANTED 551 00:32:16,069 --> 00:32:20,306 TO TALK TO HIM. BUT THEY HAD A PROBLEM. 552 00:32:20,306 --> 00:32:25,145 STEVE DIDN'T WANT TO TALK TO THEM. 553 00:32:25,145 --> 00:32:28,848 >> THE HUSBAND WAS COOPERATIVE. AND THE BOYFRIEND WAS NOT. 554 00:32:28,848 --> 00:32:31,151 >>> COMING UP -- >> LIZ FELT BAD. 555 00:32:31,151 --> 00:32:34,888 SHE DID. >> Reporter: TRUE CONFESSIONS -- 556 00:32:34,888 --> 00:32:37,257 LIZ IS FORCED TO REVEAL HER AFFAIR. 557 00:32:37,257 --> 00:32:42,529 SHE'S ABOUT TO BE CAUGHT. >> YEAH, AND SO SHE CALLED ME UP 558 00:32:42,529 --> 00:33:01,381 AND SHE SAID WHAT AM I G >>> SHE WOULD NOT HAVE WALKED 559 00:33:01,381 --> 00:33:05,385 AWAY FROM THOSE CHILDREN. >> Reporter: CALANDRA DUCKETT 560 00:33:05,385 --> 00:33:09,622 KNEW LIZ SULLIVAN. AND SHE ALSO KNEW THIS WHOLE 561 00:33:09,622 --> 00:33:13,593 SITUATION JUST WASN'T RIGHT. >> I VERY MUCH BELIEVED -- I 562 00:33:13,593 --> 00:33:19,299 VERY, VERY, VERY MUCH BELIEVED THAT MY FRIEND WAS IN DANGER. 563 00:33:19,299 --> 00:33:21,568 SHE WAS NOT OUT GALLIVANTING THE WORLD, EXPLORING WITHOUT ME, 564 00:33:21,568 --> 00:33:27,240 WITHOUT HER GIRLS, WITHOUT EVEN A PHONE CALL. 565 00:33:27,240 --> 00:33:30,276 THAT WAS NOT ELIZABETH. THAT WAS NOT HER. 566 00:33:30,276 --> 00:33:32,679 >> Reporter: BUT MORE THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER LIZ DISAPPEARED, 567 00:33:32,679 --> 00:33:35,215 THERE WAS NOTHING. NOT A WORD. 568 00:33:35,215 --> 00:33:39,786 OFFICIALLY, IT WAS STILL A MISSING PERSONS CASE. 569 00:33:39,786 --> 00:33:43,189 BUT REALLY, IT WAS THE HOMICIDE UNIT, DET. COLLIER AND HER 570 00:33:43,189 --> 00:33:45,959 PARTNERS, WHO WANTED TO TALK TO STEVEN SUTTON, THE MAN LIZ 571 00:33:45,959 --> 00:33:48,328 STARTED SEEING BEFORE SHE DISAPPEARED. 572 00:33:48,328 --> 00:33:51,164 BUT STEVE DIDN'T WANT TO TALK TO THEM. 573 00:33:51,164 --> 00:33:55,602 >> HE ENDED UP GETTING AN ATTORNEY. 574 00:33:55,602 --> 00:33:58,838 SO, UM, WE WERE KIND OF DONE, AT THAT POINT, BEIN' ABLE TO TALK 575 00:33:58,838 --> 00:34:02,242 TO HIM WITHOUT MORE INFORMATION. >> Reporter: SO THEY TRIED TO 576 00:34:02,242 --> 00:34:05,945 PIECE TOGETHER THAT PART OF LIZ'S LIFE WITHOUT HIS HELP AND 577 00:34:05,945 --> 00:34:09,082 DISCOVERED THAT, ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE LIZ DISAPPEARED, HER 578 00:34:09,082 --> 00:34:15,055 AFFAIR WITH STEVE IMPLODED IN SPECTACULAR FASHION. 579 00:34:15,055 --> 00:34:19,693 >> I DO KNOW THAT LIZ ENJOYED BEING OVER THERE WITH STEVE AND 580 00:34:19,693 --> 00:34:22,395 HIS ROOMMATE, AND THEY ENJOYED HAVING HER OVER. 581 00:34:22,395 --> 00:34:23,797 >> Reporter: THE ROOMMATE'S GIRLFRIEND, HOWEVER, NOT SO 582 00:34:23,797 --> 00:34:28,868 MUCH. SHE SAW CHILD SEATS IN THE CAR 583 00:34:28,868 --> 00:34:32,572 AND ASSUMED, INCORRECTLY, THAT LIZ HAD LEFT THE KIDS HOME 584 00:34:32,572 --> 00:34:35,408 ALONE. AND SO SHE CALLED CPS. 585 00:34:35,408 --> 00:34:38,478 >> I DON'T WANT TO DISPARAGE THAT YOUNG LADY'S ACTIONS, 586 00:34:38,478 --> 00:34:40,513 BECAUSE THOSE ACTIONS DO SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE. 587 00:34:40,513 --> 00:34:43,950 IT JUST DIDN'T APPLY TO THIS SITUATION. 588 00:34:43,950 --> 00:34:46,453 >> Reporter: TOO LATE NOW. >> THAT'S WHAT SPARKED 589 00:34:46,453 --> 00:34:49,356 EVERYTHING, THAT PHONE CALL TO CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES. 590 00:34:49,356 --> 00:34:50,490 UM. >> Reporter: YEAH. 591 00:34:50,490 --> 00:34:53,927 THAT'S GETTING REAL NOW. >> YEAH. 592 00:34:53,927 --> 00:34:57,330 >> Reporter: CPS TURNED UP AT LIZ'S HOUSE, ASKED SOME 593 00:34:57,330 --> 00:34:59,099 DIFFICULT QUESTIONS, BUT FOUND NOTHING TO INDICATE SHE WAS AN 594 00:34:59,099 --> 00:35:03,837 UNFIT MOTHER. EXCEPT -- 595 00:35:03,837 --> 00:35:06,039 >> AND THEN CPS SAID, "WELL, AS PART OF PROCEDURE, WE HAVE TO 596 00:35:06,039 --> 00:35:07,374 NOTIFY THAT WE GOT THIS CALL TO THE OTHER PARENT." 597 00:35:07,374 --> 00:35:09,242 >> Reporter: SHE'S ABOUT TO BE CAUGHT. 598 00:35:09,242 --> 00:35:11,244 >> YEAH. AND MATT WAS AT WORK AT THE 599 00:35:11,244 --> 00:35:15,515 TIME. AND SO SHE CALLED ME UP AND SHE 600 00:35:15,515 --> 00:35:18,084 SAID, "THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED. YOU KNOW, WHAT -- WHAT -- WHAT 601 00:35:18,084 --> 00:35:21,154 AM I GONNA DO?" >> Reporter: NOTHING LEFT TO DO, 602 00:35:21,154 --> 00:35:25,492 SAID NATHAN, BUT TELL MATT THE TRUTH. 603 00:35:25,492 --> 00:35:28,895 SO THAT NIGHT, LIZ TOLD HER HUSBAND EVERYTHING. 604 00:35:28,895 --> 00:35:34,834 ANY IDEA HOW HE REACTED IN THE MOMENT? 605 00:35:34,834 --> 00:35:38,571 >> BASED ON HIS INTERVIEW, UH, WHILE SURPRISED, I DON'T THINK 606 00:35:38,571 --> 00:35:42,542 HE WAS -- HE DIDN'T COME ACROSS AS THAT BOTHERED BY IT BECAUSE 607 00:35:42,542 --> 00:35:44,544 THEY HAD BEEN LIVING SEPARATE LIVES IN THEIR OWN HOME FOR A 608 00:35:44,544 --> 00:35:49,082 COUPLE YEARS. >> Reporter: SEPARATE LIVES? 609 00:35:49,082 --> 00:35:54,187 MATT TOLD THE DETECTIVES HE AND LIZ SLEPT IN SEPARATE BEDROOMS. 610 00:35:54,187 --> 00:35:56,089 SO HE WAS PRESENTING A MARRIAGE WHERE THEY WERE BOTH MOVING ON. 611 00:35:56,089 --> 00:35:57,424 THEY JUST HAPPENED TO LIVE IN THE SAME HOUSE. 612 00:35:57,424 --> 00:36:00,427 >> RIGHT. >> Reporter: WOULD THAT BE FAIR? 613 00:36:00,427 --> 00:36:03,596 >> YES. >> Reporter: LIZ, ON THE OTHER 614 00:36:03,596 --> 00:36:06,032 HAND, WAS RACKED WITH GUILT, ACCORDING TO MATT, WHO SAID SHE 615 00:36:06,032 --> 00:36:09,836 CUT HERSELF USING A PIECE OF THAT BROKEN MIRROR. 616 00:36:09,836 --> 00:36:13,239 YES, THE ONE INVESTIGATORS SAW WHEN THEY CONDUCTED THAT FIRST 617 00:36:13,239 --> 00:36:16,643 SEARCH OF HIS HOUSE AND GARAGE. LIZ HAD CUT HERSELF BEFORE. 618 00:36:16,643 --> 00:36:20,413 BUT NATHAN WAS AFRAID THIS TIME MIGHT BE DIFFERENT. 619 00:36:20,413 --> 00:36:22,782 >> LIZ FELT BAD. SHE DID. 620 00:36:22,782 --> 00:36:26,920 SHE SAID, "IT'S BAD WITH MATTHEW," AND SHE HAD CUT 621 00:36:26,920 --> 00:36:32,359 HERSELF. AND SHE THOUGHT THAT SHE HAD 622 00:36:32,359 --> 00:36:40,567 GONE A LITTLE TOO DEEP. AND WHEN I SAW HER, I MEAN, SHE 623 00:36:40,567 --> 00:36:43,103 HAD HER ARMS BANDAGED. UM, I DIDN'T SEE THE WOUND, BUT 624 00:36:43,103 --> 00:36:45,405 I WAS -- I WAS -- I WAS REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT IT. 625 00:36:45,405 --> 00:36:46,840 >> Reporter: STEVE'S REACTION TO THE WHOLE THING? 626 00:36:46,840 --> 00:36:50,243 HARD TO SAY BECAUSE HE WASN'T TALKING. 627 00:36:50,243 --> 00:36:54,214 WHEN INVESTIGATORS ASKED HIM TO TAKE A POLYGRAPH, HE REFUSED. 628 00:36:54,214 --> 00:36:57,350 AND THAT ONLY HEIGHTENED DETECTIVES' SUSPICIONS, SO THEY 629 00:36:57,350 --> 00:37:03,156 KEPT DIGGING. WHY DID YOU CONDUCT A SEARCH AT 630 00:37:03,156 --> 00:37:06,459 A LAKE? >> UH, THERE WAS A SEARCH, UM, 631 00:37:06,459 --> 00:37:10,196 THAT WAS DONE BY, UM, SEARCH AND RESCUE. 632 00:37:10,196 --> 00:37:14,434 AND WE HAD THEM GO OUT TO A PLACE WHERE WE KNEW WAS CLOSE TO 633 00:37:14,434 --> 00:37:17,570 HIS HOME. >> Reporter: CLOSE TO STEVE'S 634 00:37:17,570 --> 00:37:20,373 HOME, AND A PLACE THEY KNEW HE HAD ONCE TAKEN LIZ. 635 00:37:20,373 --> 00:37:25,478 A TEAM OF MORE THAN 50 SEARCHED IN AND AROUND THE AREA. 636 00:37:25,478 --> 00:37:30,050 AND THEY FOUND SOMETHING. SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING -- A 637 00:37:30,050 --> 00:37:33,386 SHALLOW GRAVE. AND IN PLACE OF A HEADSTONE, 638 00:37:33,386 --> 00:37:38,792 SOMEONE HAD LEFT A HIGH HEELED SHOE. 639 00:37:38,792 --> 00:37:41,928 >>> COMING UP -- A MYSTERIOUS EMAIL TO STEPHEN. 640 00:37:41,928 --> 00:37:44,497 WAS IT FROM LIZ? >> Reporter: WHAT DID HE DO WITH 641 00:37:44,497 --> 00:37:48,902 THIS EMAIL? >> HE DELETED IT. 642 00:37:48,902 --> 00:37:50,737 >> AND NEW REVELATIONS ABOUT THE DAYS BEFORE LIZ VANISHED. 643 00:37:50,737 --> 00:37:52,072 >> Reporter: DID SHE FEEL TRAPPED SOMEHOW? 644 00:37:52,072 --> 00:37:52,872 >> OH, GOSH. YES. 645 00:37:52,872 --> 00:37:54,140 YES. YES. 646 00:37:54,140 --> 00:38:11,891 YES. >> Reporter: IT WAS LIKE 647 00:38:11,891 --> 00:38:15,028 SOMETHING OUT OF A MOVIE. A SHALLOW GRAVE MARKED WITH A 648 00:38:15,028 --> 00:38:19,766 HIGH HEELED SHOE. SOMETHING DOWN THERE, OR 649 00:38:19,766 --> 00:38:22,702 SOMEONE. MAYBE THEY'D FINALLY FOUND LIZ 650 00:38:22,702 --> 00:38:28,675 SULLIVAN. THE INVESTIGATORS BRACED 651 00:38:28,675 --> 00:38:35,782 THEMSELVES, DUG UP THE GRAVE. AND IT WAS NOT HER. 652 00:38:35,782 --> 00:38:39,753 IT WASN'T EVEN HUMAN. >> APPARENTLY, THEY HAD BURIED 653 00:38:39,753 --> 00:38:45,158 AN ANIMAL AND IT DIDN'T HAVE A CONNECTION TO ELIZABETH. 654 00:38:45,158 --> 00:38:48,061 >> Reporter: IT WAS JUST WEIRD. THEY'D FOUND THE GRAVE NEAR THE 655 00:38:48,061 --> 00:38:50,063 HOME OF STEVE SUTTON, THE UNCOOPERATIVE EX-BOYFRIEND WHO'D 656 00:38:50,063 --> 00:38:53,700 BECOME A FOCUS OF THE INVESTIGATION. 657 00:38:53,700 --> 00:38:58,071 IF HE KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT LIZ'S DISAPPEARANCE, HE WASN'T SAYING. 658 00:38:58,071 --> 00:39:01,107 SO LIZ'S FATHER DID WHAT ANY PARENT, DESPERATE TO FIND A 659 00:39:01,107 --> 00:39:05,879 DAUGHTER, WOULD DO. >> THE FATHER WAS BASICALLY KIND 660 00:39:05,879 --> 00:39:08,014 OF BEGGING STEVE, "I WANNA KNOW. IS THERE ANY SIGNS OF LIFE? 661 00:39:08,014 --> 00:39:10,450 DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MY DAUGHTER?" 662 00:39:10,450 --> 00:39:15,088 KEPT KIND OF BEGGING HIM TO PROVIDE SOMETHING. 663 00:39:15,088 --> 00:39:19,059 >> Reporter: AND THROUGH HIS ATTORNEY, HE DID, SORT OF. 664 00:39:19,059 --> 00:39:21,861 STEVE SAID HE RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM LIZ MORE THAN A MONTH AFTER 665 00:39:21,861 --> 00:39:27,867 SHE DISAPPEARED. BUT IT WAS FROM AN EMAIL ACCOUNT 666 00:39:27,867 --> 00:39:31,838 HE DIDN'T RECOGNIZE -- BADLYDRAWNGIRL@GMAIL.COM. 667 00:39:31,838 --> 00:39:37,811 >> STEVE WASN'T EVEN CONVINCED THAT WHOEVER HE HAD GOTTEN THIS 668 00:39:37,811 --> 00:39:41,214 EMAIL FROM WAS FROM HER. SO HE HAD ASKED A KIND OF CODED 669 00:39:41,214 --> 00:39:43,650 QUESTION. >> Reporter: HIS QUESTION, HE 670 00:39:43,650 --> 00:39:48,321 SAID, WAS WHAT DID LIZ GIVE HIM FOR HIS BIRTHDAY? 671 00:39:48,321 --> 00:39:54,294 AND BADLY DRAWN GIRL RESPONDED A GUMBY KEYCHAIN. 672 00:39:54,294 --> 00:39:57,430 THE ANSWER WAS CORRECT. SO WAS SHE STILL ALIVE, AND JUST 673 00:39:57,430 --> 00:40:00,266 HIDING SOMEWHERE? THE DETECTIVES ASKED STEVE TO 674 00:40:00,266 --> 00:40:03,470 TURN OVER THE EMAIL. BUT HE SAID HE COULDN'T, EVEN IF 675 00:40:03,470 --> 00:40:07,407 HE WANTED TO. WHAT DID HE DO WITH THAT EMAIL? 676 00:40:07,407 --> 00:40:10,543 >> HE DELETED IT. >> Reporter: A RATHER ODD THING 677 00:40:10,543 --> 00:40:14,514 TO DO. A BAD BREAK FOR THE 678 00:40:14,514 --> 00:40:17,617 INVESTIGATION, BECAUSE THE BADLY DRAWN GIRL EMAIL, IF IT WAS 679 00:40:17,617 --> 00:40:20,453 REAL, WAS JUST ABOUT THE ONLY REMAINING SIGN THAT LIZ MIGHT 680 00:40:20,453 --> 00:40:24,157 STILL BE ALIVE. ONE BY ONE THE OTHERS HAD 681 00:40:24,157 --> 00:40:27,594 FIZZLED OUT. PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT THEY SAW HER 682 00:40:27,594 --> 00:40:31,564 AT THE PARK, IT TURNED OUT THEY HAD THEIR DATES MIXED UP. 683 00:40:31,564 --> 00:40:34,701 THE MONEY SHE'D TRANSFERRED TO HER BANK ACCOUNT JUST SAT THERE 684 00:40:34,701 --> 00:40:38,672 UNSPENT. THE DEBIT CARD ACTIVITY THAT 685 00:40:38,672 --> 00:40:40,540 POPPED UP AFTER SHE DISAPPEARED? DETECTIVES FOUND OUT THE ACTUAL 686 00:40:40,540 --> 00:40:45,779 PURCHASES HAD BEEN MADE BEFOREHAND. 687 00:40:45,779 --> 00:40:50,917 >> THOSE THINGS DID HAPPEN, BUT THEY HAPPENED BEFORE SHE WENT 688 00:40:50,917 --> 00:40:57,157 MISSING SO THAT WAS -- THAT WAS A HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT. 689 00:40:57,157 --> 00:41:01,461 >> Reporter: IF LIZ WAS NOT ALIVE, DETECTIVES HAD TO FIGURE 690 00:41:01,461 --> 00:41:06,266 OUT WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE. ONE BY ONE, THEY'D CLEARED 691 00:41:06,266 --> 00:41:09,969 NATHAN, AND THEN THAT EARLY SUSPECT MARCUS HODGES, AND 692 00:41:09,969 --> 00:41:16,810 FINALLY, AFTER MONTHS OF INVESTIGATION, STEVEN SUTTON. 693 00:41:16,810 --> 00:41:19,913 >> AFTER WE EXECUTED THE SEARCH WARRANTS AT STEVE'S, HE DID NOT 694 00:41:19,913 --> 00:41:22,482 APPEAR TO BE INVOLVED. >> Reporter: BUT STEVE, SAID THE 695 00:41:22,482 --> 00:41:25,318 DETECTIVES, HAD MANAGED TO DRAG OUT THE INVESTIGATION. 696 00:41:25,318 --> 00:41:27,587 I MEAN, HE WAS PROTECTING HIMSELF, BUT ACTUALLY HE WAS 697 00:41:27,587 --> 00:41:29,255 MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR HIMSELF. 698 00:41:29,255 --> 00:41:30,924 >> YEAH. I MEAN, THAT'S YOUR RIGHT. 699 00:41:30,924 --> 00:41:33,860 BUT IT WOULD'VE DEFINITELY MADE THE INVESTIGATION EASIER. 700 00:41:33,860 --> 00:41:38,932 >> Reporter: AND THE DEEP DIVE INTO STEVE'S RECORDS WASN'T A 701 00:41:38,932 --> 00:41:40,734 TOTAL DEAD-END. >> IN FACT, IT KIND OF OPENED 702 00:41:40,734 --> 00:41:42,402 THE DOOR TO LOOK MORE AT MATTHEW AT THAT POINT. 703 00:41:42,402 --> 00:41:47,207 >> Reporter: MATTHEW THE HUSBAND. 704 00:41:47,207 --> 00:41:48,808 BECAUSE AS THEY SEARCHED THROUGH STEVE'S PHONE RECORDS, THEY 705 00:41:48,808 --> 00:41:53,213 FOUND SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING. 706 00:41:53,213 --> 00:41:58,118 MULTIPLE TEXT MESSAGES FROM MATT. 707 00:41:58,118 --> 00:42:01,454 >> THIS IS WHERE WE START NOTICING MATTHEW, WHO WAS 708 00:42:01,454 --> 00:42:03,390 TELLING US THAT HE DIDN'T CARE THAT MUCH, IT BECOMES MORE CLEAR 709 00:42:03,390 --> 00:42:06,860 THAT HE CARED MORE THAN HE LET ON. 710 00:42:06,860 --> 00:42:10,263 >> Reporter: IN LATE SEPTEMBER, SHORTLY AFTER STEVE AND LIZ 711 00:42:10,263 --> 00:42:14,234 STOPPED SEEING EACH OTHER, MATT TEXTED STEVE -- "LIZ WILL NEED A 712 00:42:14,234 --> 00:42:17,971 PLACE TO STAY SOON." "I FORGOT TO MENTION EARLIER I 713 00:42:17,971 --> 00:42:20,206 WORK AT A HOSPITAL IF YOU NEED HELP GETTING THAT STD CLEARED 714 00:42:20,206 --> 00:42:24,477 UP." >> I GUESS THE BEST WAY TO PUT 715 00:42:24,477 --> 00:42:27,981 IT WOULD BE BADGERING OR POKING AT STEVE WITH TEXT MESSAGES. 716 00:42:27,981 --> 00:42:30,216 >> Reporter: AND MATT SEEMED TO KNOW WHENEVER STEVE AND LIZ 717 00:42:30,216 --> 00:42:34,087 TALKED ON THE PHONE. "GLAD YOU GOT TO TALK TO HER 718 00:42:34,087 --> 00:42:38,091 TODAY." AND A FEW DAYS LATER -- "GOOD 719 00:42:38,091 --> 00:42:41,861 CHAT EARLIER." ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE LIZ WENT 720 00:42:41,861 --> 00:42:45,098 MISSING MATT TEXTED STEVE -- "SORRY TO TROUBLE YOU YET AGAIN, 721 00:42:45,098 --> 00:42:48,101 BUT I AM GOING TO CUT HER OFF FINANCIALLY SOON. 722 00:42:48,101 --> 00:42:55,508 IF YOU DO CARE, THEN PLEASE TAKE ACTION AND SUPPORT HER." 723 00:42:55,508 --> 00:42:57,510 >> AS MUCH AS SHE TRIED AFTER HE FOUND OUT ABOUT STEVEN, IT JUST 724 00:42:57,510 --> 00:43:00,046 DIDN'T GET BETTER. >> Reporter: SO HER LIFE WAS A 725 00:43:00,046 --> 00:43:01,648 MESS AGAIN. >> YEAH, BUT MORE SO THAN IT HAD 726 00:43:01,648 --> 00:43:04,417 EVER BEEN. >> Reporter: YEAH. 727 00:43:04,417 --> 00:43:06,252 >> YOU KNOW, THERE WAS NO HIDING THE PROBLEMS IN THE MARRIAGE 728 00:43:06,252 --> 00:43:07,454 ANYMORE. THERE'S NO SWEEPING IT UNDER THE 729 00:43:07,454 --> 00:43:08,521 CARPET. YOU COULDN'T PRETEND. 730 00:43:08,521 --> 00:43:09,889 >> Reporter: DID SHE FEEL TRAPPED SOMEHOW? 731 00:43:09,889 --> 00:43:12,559 >> OH, GOSH. YES, YES, YES, YES. 732 00:43:12,559 --> 00:43:17,297 >> Reporter: REMEMBER THE LAST TIME SHE WAS OVER AT NATHAN'S 733 00:43:17,297 --> 00:43:18,898 WHEN THE IN-LAWS WERE COMING AND LIZ SEEMED SO DESPERATE? 734 00:43:18,898 --> 00:43:24,237 NATHAN KNEW IT WASN'T JUST ABOUT THE IN-LAWS. 735 00:43:24,237 --> 00:43:27,073 LIZ HAD TOLD HIM THAT MATT WAS PHYSICALLY ABUSIVE, AND SHE 736 00:43:27,073 --> 00:43:30,510 WANTED TO END THE MARRIAGE. >> SHE CONTACTED A DIVORCE 737 00:43:30,510 --> 00:43:33,346 ATTORNEY. TOLD HER WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, 738 00:43:33,346 --> 00:43:36,483 AND THIS DIVORCE ATTORNEY GAVE HER A SOLUTION TO IT AND IT 739 00:43:36,483 --> 00:43:39,853 SOUNDED PRETTY GOOD. >> Reporter: WHICH WAS WHAT? 740 00:43:39,853 --> 00:43:42,422 >> WELL, BECAUSE THERE WERE ISSUES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN 741 00:43:42,422 --> 00:43:47,827 THE PAST LIZ WOULD GET A RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST MATT. 742 00:43:47,827 --> 00:43:52,432 BUT THEN AFTER THAT, IT WOULD BE VERY NECESSARY TO BEGIN THE 743 00:43:52,432 --> 00:43:53,933 DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS. >> Reporter: SO SHE LEFT YOUR 744 00:43:53,933 --> 00:43:55,101 PLACE WITH A PLAN? >> OH, YEAH. 745 00:43:55,101 --> 00:43:57,270 >> Reporter: WHAT WERE YOUR EXPECTATIONS? 746 00:43:57,270 --> 00:44:00,040 THAT THIS IS ALL GONNA WORK OUT? >> YEAH, WHEN SHE LEFT MY PLACE, 747 00:44:00,040 --> 00:44:02,676 I, YOU KNOW, I TOLD HER, "JUST KEEP IT COOL. 748 00:44:02,676 --> 00:44:07,180 YOU KNOW, JUST WAIT TILL YOU MEET WITH THE DIVORCE ATTORNEY." 749 00:44:07,180 --> 00:44:09,649 I WAS VERY PROUD FOR HER FOR REALLY TAKING CONTROL OF HER 750 00:44:09,649 --> 00:44:12,052 LIFE AND DOING SOMETHING PROACTIVE. 751 00:44:12,052 --> 00:44:17,457 >> Reporter: LIZ SPENT THAT FOLLOWING MONDAY PLANNING FOR A 752 00:44:17,457 --> 00:44:19,793 FUTURE WITHOUT MATT, AND MATT DIDN'T SEEM TO LIKE THAT AT ALL. 753 00:44:19,793 --> 00:44:26,199 >> SAN DIEGO POLICE, THIS IS MELANIE. 754 00:44:26,199 --> 00:44:30,737 >> HI, I HAVE CONCERNS MY WIFE IS TRYING TO TAKE MY CHILDREN 755 00:44:30,737 --> 00:44:35,075 AWAY FROM ME. >>> COMING UP -- 756 00:44:35,075 --> 00:44:36,743 >> THERE WAS AN ARTICLE RELEASED BY PEOPLE MAGAZINE WHERE HE WAS 757 00:44:36,743 --> 00:44:39,546 SO CONCERNED. >> Reporter: CONCERNED OR 758 00:44:39,546 --> 00:44:42,115 CALCULATING? MATT SULLIVAN, UNDER THE 759 00:44:42,115 --> 00:44:43,817 MICROSCOPE! WHAT WERE YOUR IMPRESSIONS OF 760 00:44:43,817 --> 00:44:47,120 HIM? >> HE ALWAYS SEEMED TO HAVE AN 761 00:44:47,120 --> 00:45:04,671 ANSWER F >> Reporter: LIZ SULLIVAN WANTED 762 00:45:04,671 --> 00:45:08,608 OUT. A FEW DAYS AFTER SHE TOLD HER 763 00:45:08,608 --> 00:45:12,045 FRIEND NATHAN HER MARRIAGE WAS IRRETRIEVABLY BROKEN, LIZ MET 764 00:45:12,045 --> 00:45:15,115 WITH A DIVORCE ATTORNEY. PAID THE ATTORNEY'S FEE WITH HER 765 00:45:15,115 --> 00:45:18,418 HUSBAND'S CREDIT CARD. REMEMBER THAT PARKING RECEIPT 766 00:45:18,418 --> 00:45:21,421 DETECTIVES FOUND IN LIZ'S CAR DURING THEIR INITIAL SEARCH? 767 00:45:21,421 --> 00:45:25,091 IT WAS FOR A LOT NEAR THE LAWYER'S OFFICE. 768 00:45:25,091 --> 00:45:32,465 THE DATE ON THE RECEIPT WAS OCTOBER 13th, 2014. 769 00:45:32,465 --> 00:45:36,469 THE LAST DAY LIZ WAS SEEN ALIVE. THAT SAME DAY, INVESTIGATORS 770 00:45:36,469 --> 00:45:38,471 LATER DISCOVERED, HUSBAND MATT MADE A RATHER UNUSUAL PHONE 771 00:45:38,471 --> 00:45:40,740 CALL. >> SAN DIEGO POLICE. 772 00:45:40,740 --> 00:45:46,713 THIS IS MELANIE. >> Reporter: HERE'S MATT, ON THE 773 00:45:46,713 --> 00:45:52,952 PHONE WITH 911. >> HI, I HAVE CONCERNS MY WIFE 774 00:45:52,952 --> 00:45:55,288 IS TRYING TO HAVE ME -- I DON'T KNOW, EVICTED OR ARRESTED FROM 775 00:45:55,288 --> 00:46:00,093 MY HOUSE AND TAKE MY CHILDREN AWAY FROM ME. 776 00:46:00,093 --> 00:46:02,929 >> OH, OKAY. >> I MEAN, SHE TOOK MY PERSONAL 777 00:46:02,929 --> 00:46:04,931 CREDIT CARD, USED IT TO HIRE A LAWYER AGAINST ME AND -- 778 00:46:04,931 --> 00:46:08,168 >> Reporter: HE SAID HE WAS WORRIED LIZ WAS GOING TO REPORT 779 00:46:08,168 --> 00:46:12,472 HIM FOR HAVING GONE THROUGH HER EMAILS AND JOURNALS. 780 00:46:12,472 --> 00:46:17,444 >> I HAVEN'T BEEN SERVED WITH ANY PAPERS YET, BUT I KNOW SHE'S 781 00:46:17,444 --> 00:46:20,046 CALLED YOUR DEPARTMENT, UM, EARLIER THIS MORNING, AND I 782 00:46:20,046 --> 00:46:22,549 THINK THAT'S WHERE SHE'S HEADED NOW TO TRY TO GET ME DETAINED. 783 00:46:22,549 --> 00:46:25,518 >> Reporter: ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER, MATT CALLED POLICE 784 00:46:25,518 --> 00:46:28,088 AGAIN AFTER HE'D NOTICED SOMETHING. 785 00:46:28,088 --> 00:46:31,658 >> AND SHE SAID THAT SHE TOOK ALL THE MONEY OUT OF YOUR SHARED 786 00:46:31,658 --> 00:46:33,360 BANK ACCOUNT? >> I JUST CHECKED, AND IT'S ALL 787 00:46:33,360 --> 00:46:40,767 GONE. THERE'S ONLY -- 788 00:46:40,767 --> 00:46:45,071 THERE'S MAYBE 15 CENTS LEFT. I'M STILL HERE WITH MY CHILDREN, 789 00:46:45,071 --> 00:46:47,073 AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE'S DOING. 790 00:46:47,073 --> 00:46:51,578 >> Reporter: MATT SOUNDED WORRIED. 791 00:46:51,578 --> 00:46:53,847 >> IF SHE COMES BACK AND THERE'S SOME PROBLEMS, OR -- YOU CAN 792 00:46:53,847 --> 00:46:57,517 CALL US BACK WHEN SHE'S THERE. >> OKAY. 793 00:46:57,517 --> 00:47:02,655 >> Reporter: BUT MATT NEVER CALLED THE POLICE AGAIN. 794 00:47:02,655 --> 00:47:06,659 AND LIZ VANISHED. AND, QUITE SOON, CALANDRA 795 00:47:06,659 --> 00:47:10,063 NOTICED ODD BEHAVIORS. >> THERE WAS AN ARTICLE RELEASED 796 00:47:10,063 --> 00:47:15,168 BY "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE WHERE HE WAS SO CONCERNED. 797 00:47:15,168 --> 00:47:19,472 >> Reporter: YEAH. >> BUT IN THAT SAME WEEK, HE 798 00:47:19,472 --> 00:47:23,143 DELETED ALL POSTS REGARDING ELIZABETH FROM FACEBOOK. 799 00:47:23,143 --> 00:47:28,281 HE UNFRIENDED ME AND SEVERAL OTHER OF HER FRIENDS. 800 00:47:28,281 --> 00:47:31,084 >> Reporter: AND THEN HE SHUT OFF LIZ'S CELL PHONE. 801 00:47:31,084 --> 00:47:33,386 >> I WAS IRRITATED BECAUSE IF SHE WAS MISSING AND TRYING TO 802 00:47:33,386 --> 00:47:37,457 GET BACK, WHY WOULD YOU TAKE HER SERVICE AWAY FROM HER? 803 00:47:37,457 --> 00:47:40,060 >> Reporter: THEN, LESS THAN THREE MONTHS AFTER LIZ 804 00:47:40,060 --> 00:47:44,564 DISAPPEARED, ANOTHER WOMAN MOVED IN WITH MATT. 805 00:47:44,564 --> 00:47:47,067 >> HE FIRST SAID WAS JUST SOMEBODY THAT HAD COME OUT THAT 806 00:47:47,067 --> 00:47:49,069 WAS A MUTUAL FRIEND OF THEIRS. AND SHE WAS SIMPLY GONNA HELP 807 00:47:49,069 --> 00:47:52,138 WATCH THE KIDS. >> Reporter: WATCH THE KIDS? 808 00:47:52,138 --> 00:47:55,275 WELL. IT WAS A LITTLE MORE THAN THAT. 809 00:47:55,275 --> 00:47:59,846 A LOT MORE. MATT HAD MOVED ON. 810 00:47:59,846 --> 00:48:02,682 REALLY MOVED ON. >> HE SWITCHED HIS FACEBOOK 811 00:48:02,682 --> 00:48:06,386 ACCOUNT NAME, AND HE STATED THAT HE WAS IN A RELATIONSHIP. 812 00:48:06,386 --> 00:48:10,090 OH, I'M DONE FOR NOW. I'M -- I MEAN, I'M BOO-HOO 813 00:48:10,090 --> 00:48:13,193 CRYING. I'M JUST SURE THAT THIS IS NOT 814 00:48:13,193 --> 00:48:16,329 RIGHT. WHO IS THIS LADY? 815 00:48:16,329 --> 00:48:18,598 >> Reporter: WHAT WERE YOUR IMPRESSIONS OF HIM, HIS 816 00:48:18,598 --> 00:48:21,167 APPROACH, HIS DEMEANOR? >> HE ALWAYS SEEMED TO HAVE AN 817 00:48:21,167 --> 00:48:24,604 ANSWER FOR EVERYTHING. HE WAS A VERY DIFFICULT PERSON 818 00:48:24,604 --> 00:48:27,707 TO INTERVIEW 'CAUSE HE WAS VERY SLOW IN HIS DELIVERY. 819 00:48:27,707 --> 00:48:32,712 >> Reporter: BUT THEY GRADUALLY PULLED DETAILS OUT OF 820 00:48:32,712 --> 00:48:36,516 SLOW-TALKING MATT. LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, TWO SPECIFIC 821 00:48:36,516 --> 00:48:38,218 CREDIT CARD CHARGES. ONE OF THEM THE DAY NATHAN 822 00:48:38,218 --> 00:48:42,555 REPORTED LIZ MISSING. >> WE NOTICED THAT HE HAD GONE 823 00:48:42,555 --> 00:48:43,723 TO ACE HARDWARE AND HE BOUGHT CARPET CLEANER. 824 00:48:43,723 --> 00:48:49,329 >> Reporter: WHAT WAS HIS ANSWER FOR IT? 825 00:48:49,329 --> 00:48:51,131 >> HIS ANSWER WAS THAT HIS MOTHER WAS COMING INTO TOWN. 826 00:48:51,131 --> 00:48:53,633 AND HE WANTED TO GET THAT CLEANED UP BEFORE SHE GOT THERE 827 00:48:53,633 --> 00:48:55,869 BECAUSE IT LOOKED DIRTY. >> Reporter: PERFECTLY 828 00:48:55,869 --> 00:49:02,142 REASONABLE? >> REASONABLE, BUT SUSPICIOUS. 829 00:49:02,142 --> 00:49:04,244 >> Reporter: THE SECOND CHARGE, A MONTH LATER, MORE CARPET 830 00:49:04,244 --> 00:49:08,381 CLEANER AND A ROLL OF PLASTIC WRAP. 831 00:49:08,381 --> 00:49:10,083 >> I DON'T MEAN THE LITTLE KIND YOU USE FOR YOUR KITCHEN. 832 00:49:10,083 --> 00:49:11,518 BUT, LIKE -- >> Reporter: BIG, INDUSTRIAL 833 00:49:11,518 --> 00:49:13,019 STUFF. >> YES. 834 00:49:13,019 --> 00:49:15,755 >> Reporter: DID HE HAVE AN EXPLANATION FOR THAT? 835 00:49:15,755 --> 00:49:20,894 >> YES. HE SAID WHEN HIS MOM WAS COMING 836 00:49:20,894 --> 00:49:23,329 OUT THAT HE NEEDED TO, UM, WRAP UP SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SHE 837 00:49:23,329 --> 00:49:28,034 HAD BROUGHT AND PUT 'EM IN STORAGE. 838 00:49:28,034 --> 00:49:30,570 >> Reporter: ANOTHER PERFECTLY REASONABLE ANSWER. 839 00:49:30,570 --> 00:49:34,274 SO, FOR ALL THEIR SUSPICION, THEY COULDN'T PROVE MATT DID 840 00:49:34,274 --> 00:49:38,712 ANYTHING OR THAT LIZ DIDN'T JUST RUN OFF ON HER OWN. 841 00:49:38,712 --> 00:49:41,614 AND SO IT WENT UNTIL DETECTIVE COLLIER AND HER TEAM HAD 842 00:49:41,614 --> 00:49:44,784 EXHAUSTED ALL THEIR LEADS. AND SOON -- 843 00:49:44,784 --> 00:49:48,488 >> ELIZABETH SULLIVAN, CLOUDIA LESLIE WELLS, 844 00:49:48,488 --> 00:49:52,492 JAHI TURNER, MARLANE KOUE. >> Reporter: -- LIZ'S NAME WAS 845 00:49:52,492 --> 00:49:56,730 ANOTHER IN A LONG LIST OF MISSING PEOPLE PROFILED BY SAN 846 00:49:56,730 --> 00:50:00,734 DIEGO'S NBC 7 INVESTIGATES. >> JUST NAMES TO US, BUT TO 847 00:50:00,734 --> 00:50:02,702 FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS. THEY ARE MOTHERS, FATHERS, SONS, 848 00:50:02,702 --> 00:50:06,139 DAUGHTERS. >> Reporter: TWO YEARS WENT BY. 849 00:50:06,139 --> 00:50:09,409 MATT'S FAMILY MOVED OUT WHEN HIS NEW GIRLFRIEND MOVED IN. 850 00:50:09,409 --> 00:50:15,515 AND, ABOUT A YEAR LATER, THE COUPLE WELCOMED A BABY OF THEIR 851 00:50:15,515 --> 00:50:17,517 OWN. AND TIME MOVED ON, AS IF TO 852 00:50:17,517 --> 00:50:22,055 SWALLOW UP THE PUBLIC'S MEMORY OF LIZ SULLIVAN. 853 00:50:22,055 --> 00:50:25,859 AND THEN, ONE DAY, DET. COLLIER WAS ON VACATION. 854 00:50:25,859 --> 00:50:28,895 CELL PHONE RANG. OFFICE CALLING. 855 00:50:28,895 --> 00:50:34,300 >> "YOU'LL NEVER BELIEVE THIS, BUT THERE'S A BODY THAT'S SHOWN 856 00:50:34,300 --> 00:50:36,836 UP OVER AT LIBERTY STATION." >>> COMING UP -- 857 00:50:36,836 --> 00:50:41,641 A BODY IN THE WATER. AND FEAR AMONG FRIENDS. 858 00:50:41,641 --> 00:50:43,243 >> I HAD A FRIEND CALL ME AND SAID, "HEY, DO YOU THINK IT 859 00:50:43,243 --> 00:50:45,378 COULD BE LIZ?" AND I WAS LIKE, "WHY? 860 00:50:45,378 --> 00:50:46,212 NO. NO. 861 00:50:46,212 --> 00:50:47,681 NO. NO. 862 00:50:47,681 --> 00:50:54,187 NO." >> I SCREAMED. 863 00:50:54,187 --> 00:51:11,171 I CRIED FOR DAYS. >> Reporter: IT WAS OCTOBER, 864 00:51:11,171 --> 00:51:16,076 ABOUT A WEEK SHY OF THE TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF LIZ SULLIVAN'S 865 00:51:16,076 --> 00:51:19,479 DISAPPEARANCE. AN OFF-DUTY U.S. MARSHAL WENT 866 00:51:19,479 --> 00:51:25,118 FOR HIS USUAL LATE-AFTERNOON STROLL ON A WALKING PATH THAT 867 00:51:25,118 --> 00:51:28,254 HUGS THE SAN DIEGO BAY. >> AND IT HAS ROCKS THAT KIND OF 868 00:51:28,254 --> 00:51:34,728 CASCADE DOWN THE EDGES. AND THE DOG, OF COURSE, WALKED 869 00:51:34,728 --> 00:51:37,664 OVER IN THAT DIRECTION, WAS CURIOUS ABOUT SOMETHING. 870 00:51:37,664 --> 00:51:39,933 >> Reporter: AS HIS DOG PULLED HIM TOWARD THE BANK, THE MARSHAL 871 00:51:39,933 --> 00:51:43,336 SAW WHAT LOOKED LIKE SOME NASTY HALLOWEEN PRANK. 872 00:51:43,336 --> 00:51:45,939 SOMETHING, STUCK AMONG THE SHORELINE ROCKS. 873 00:51:45,939 --> 00:51:49,109 >> AND THEN HE REALIZED THERE WAS A BODY THERE. 874 00:51:49,109 --> 00:51:52,212 >> Reporter: THE BODY WAS WEARING JEANS, A KNIT SWEATER, 875 00:51:52,212 --> 00:51:55,281 AND A SINGLE BROWN BOOT. >> A BIG MYSTERY TONIGHT IN THE 876 00:51:55,281 --> 00:51:57,584 WATERS OF SAN DIEGO BAY. >> POLICE FOUND A WOMAN'S BODY 877 00:51:57,584 --> 00:51:59,552 ON THE SHORE OF THE LIBERTY STATION CHANNEL. 878 00:51:59,552 --> 00:52:03,256 NBC 7'S DAVE SUMMERS WAS THERE -- 879 00:52:03,256 --> 00:52:05,058 >> I HAD A FRIEND CALL ME, AND SAID, "HEY, YOU KNOW, THEY -- 880 00:52:05,058 --> 00:52:07,794 THEY FOUND A BODY IN LIBERTY STATION. 881 00:52:07,794 --> 00:52:11,765 THEY HAVEN'T IDENTIFIED IT. DO YOU THINK IT COULD BE LIZ?" 882 00:52:11,765 --> 00:52:15,602 AND I WAS LIKE, "WHY? NO, NO, NO, NO, NO." 883 00:52:15,602 --> 00:52:19,339 AND I, YOU KNOW, WENT ONLINE. I CHECKED WHERE IT WAS AND I WAS 884 00:52:19,339 --> 00:52:23,143 LIKE, "OH, IT'S REALLY CLOSE TO LIZ'S PLACE." 885 00:52:23,143 --> 00:52:26,546 >> Reporter: LESS THAN A HALF MILE, IN FACT. 886 00:52:26,546 --> 00:52:32,852 THEY HAD TO USE DENTAL RECORDS TO GET A PROPER ID. 887 00:52:32,852 --> 00:52:46,766 AND THEN THE SEARCH WAS OVER, IT WAS ELIZABETH SULLIVAN. 888 00:52:46,766 --> 00:52:59,546 >> I'M BROKEN. I SCREAMED, I CRIED FOR DAYS. 889 00:52:59,546 --> 00:53:07,253 I HAD UH, I TOLD YOU SO MOMENTS. I KNEW IT THE WHOLE TIME 890 00:53:07,253 --> 00:53:16,730 MOMENTS. WHY DIDN'T ANYBODY LISTEN TO ME? 891 00:53:16,730 --> 00:53:25,171 WHY DIDN'T ANYBODY KNOW HER? AND KNOW THAT THIS WASN'T 892 00:53:25,171 --> 00:53:28,842 NORMAL. >> YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THERE 893 00:53:28,842 --> 00:53:33,113 WAS, KIND OF, THAT NUMBNESS, THAT SHOCK, AND THEN, GOSH, 894 00:53:33,113 --> 00:53:40,520 WHOEVER TOLD ME -- IT WAS LIKE, "WELL, YOU KNOW, AT 895 00:53:40,520 --> 00:53:47,961 LEAST YOU HAVE SOME CLOSURE." AND I WAS LIKE, "YEAH. 896 00:53:47,961 --> 00:53:54,734 BUT IF I HAVE CLOSURE, YOU LOST HOPE. 897 00:53:54,734 --> 00:54:01,574 I THINK I'D RATHER HAVE THE HOPE THAN THE CLOSURE." 898 00:54:01,574 --> 00:54:04,477 >> Reporter: THE AUTOPSY SHOWED LIZ TESTED POSITIVE FOR HER 899 00:54:04,477 --> 00:54:08,415 PRESCRIBED AMPHETAMINE, ALSO FOR FENTANYL, AND CANNABINOIDS. 900 00:54:08,415 --> 00:54:12,686 BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT KILLED HER. THE MEDICAL EXAMINER NOTED A 901 00:54:12,686 --> 00:54:17,490 NUMBER OF ELLIPTICAL-SHAPED CUTS THAT SEEMED TO HAVE PIERCED HER 902 00:54:17,490 --> 00:54:22,328 CLOTHES, HER SKIN, AND HER RIBS. THE CAUSE OF DEATH, HOMICIDE. 903 00:54:22,328 --> 00:54:28,068 SHARP FORCE TRAUMA. >>> ESSENTIALLY, SHE HAD BEEN 904 00:54:28,068 --> 00:54:32,072 STABBED WITH A SHARP OBJECT ENOUGH TO CAUSE DAMAGE TO SOME 905 00:54:32,072 --> 00:54:33,740 OF HER BONES. >> SOMEBODY STABBED HER AGAIN, 906 00:54:33,740 --> 00:54:37,143 AND AGAIN, AND AGAIN? >> YES. 907 00:54:37,143 --> 00:54:41,948 >> Reporter: SHE ALSO HAD A FRACTURED JAW. 908 00:54:41,948 --> 00:54:46,386 SO STABBED AND BEATEN. INVESTIGATORS HAD LONG BELIEVED 909 00:54:46,386 --> 00:54:50,223 LIZ DID NOT RUN OFF ON HER OWN. THAT SHE WAS MURDERED THE VERY 910 00:54:50,223 --> 00:54:54,227 OCTOBER NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED. BUT WHEN HER BODY WAS FOUND, 911 00:54:54,227 --> 00:54:57,097 COLLIER KNEW IMMEDIATELY THAT SOMETHING DIDN'T ADD UP. 912 00:54:57,097 --> 00:55:01,601 >> I'M, LIKE, "THERE'S NO WAY SHE'D BE IN THE WATER FOR TWO 913 00:55:01,601 --> 00:55:05,372 YEARS AND BE IN ONE PIECE." >> Reporter: SURE ENOUGH, THE 914 00:55:05,372 --> 00:55:07,741 PATHOLOGIST WHO CONDUCTED THE AUTOPSY ESTIMATED THAT LIZ WAS 915 00:55:07,741 --> 00:55:12,412 KILLED ONLY ONE MONTH, TWO AT THE MOST, BEFORE HER BODY WASHED 916 00:55:12,412 --> 00:55:15,048 UP AT LOW TIDE. SURPRISE WOULD BE AN 917 00:55:15,048 --> 00:55:18,351 UNDERSTATEMENT. SHE'D BEEN MISSING ALMOST TWO 918 00:55:18,351 --> 00:55:23,790 YEARS. A WHOLE NEW PUZZLE NOW. 919 00:55:23,790 --> 00:55:29,195 WHICH, JUST LIKE THAT, JOLTED THE CASE BACK TO LIFE. 920 00:55:29,195 --> 00:55:31,731 >> SO WHAT HAPPENED TO THE INVESTIGATION AFTER THE 921 00:55:31,731 --> 00:55:34,601 DISCOVERY OF THE BODY? >> WELL, WE RAN FULL STEAM AHEAD 922 00:55:34,601 --> 00:55:38,171 AT THAT POINT BECAUSE NOW WE KNEW WE HAD A MURDER. 923 00:55:38,171 --> 00:55:40,140 >> SO YOU'D WANNA TALK TO WHO RIGHT AWAY? 924 00:55:40,140 --> 00:55:43,977 >> OH, MATTHEW. >> BUT? 925 00:55:43,977 --> 00:55:47,380 >> HE HAD MOVED. >> Reporter: THREE DAYS AFTER 926 00:55:47,380 --> 00:55:50,784 LIZ'S BODY WAS FOUND, WITHOUT A WORD TO DETECTIVES, MATT SLIPPED 927 00:55:50,784 --> 00:55:55,355 AWAY TO JOIN HIS GIRLFRIEND IN MARYLAND. 928 00:55:55,355 --> 00:55:59,592 AND, DETECTIVE COLLIER LEARNED THAT OCTOBER 4th. 929 00:55:59,592 --> 00:56:03,129 THE VERY MORNING LIZ'S BODY WAS DISCOVERED, THE MOVERS ARRIVED 930 00:56:03,129 --> 00:56:07,033 AT MATT'S HOUSE. >> TO PACK UP HIS WHOLE HOUSE, 931 00:56:07,033 --> 00:56:10,704 ESSENTIALLY, AND, YOU KNOW, PUT IT IN A CONTAINER SO THEY COULD 932 00:56:10,704 --> 00:56:13,306 SHIP IT BACK EAST. >> Reporter: MATT SENT HIS 933 00:56:13,306 --> 00:56:16,509 GIRLFRIEND THIS PHOTO, WITH THE MESSAGE "MOVERS ARE WORKING." 934 00:56:16,509 --> 00:56:19,045 >> WHAT FASCINATING TIMING. >> YES. 935 00:56:19,045 --> 00:56:21,247 >> COULDN'T QUITE SAY IT WOULD PROVE ANYTHING, BUT IT CERTAINLY 936 00:56:21,247 --> 00:56:25,785 WAS SUGGESTIVE. >> IT'S VERY SUGGESTIVE, IN MY 937 00:56:25,785 --> 00:56:28,221 OPINION. >> Reporter: OVER THE YEARS, 938 00:56:28,221 --> 00:56:31,191 DETECTIVE COLLIER HAD BEEN KEEPING AN EYE ON MATT'S 939 00:56:31,191 --> 00:56:33,760 FACEBOOK PAGE. WHEN SHE SAW MATT AND HIS 940 00:56:33,760 --> 00:56:35,729 GIRLFRIEND WERE EXPECTING A BABY SHE FIGURED THEY MIGHT NEED A 941 00:56:35,729 --> 00:56:39,165 BIGGER PLACE. >> AND IT WAS ALWAYS IN THE BACK 942 00:56:39,165 --> 00:56:42,869 OF MY MIND THAT IF THEY DID MOVE OUT, THAT I WANTED TO GO IN AND 943 00:56:42,869 --> 00:56:45,105 DO A, A COMPLETE FORENSIC EXAMINATION OF THEIR PLACE 944 00:56:45,105 --> 00:56:47,707 BEFORE IT WAS RENTED TO SOMEBODY ELSE. 945 00:56:47,707 --> 00:56:50,343 >> WAS THAT SOMETHING THAT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN DONE WHILE HE WAS 946 00:56:50,343 --> 00:56:53,947 LIVING IN THE HOUSE? >> WELL, BASED ON THE FACT THAT 947 00:56:53,947 --> 00:56:58,918 HE HAD ALLOWED US SO MANY CONSENT SEARCHES AND WE DIDN'T 948 00:56:58,918 --> 00:57:03,056 HAVE MORE TO GO ON2c!Q BEEN HARD TO BE THAT INTRUSIVE 949 00:57:03,056 --> 00:57:05,158 WITHOUT MORE PROBABLE CAUSE. >> Reporter: NOW, IT SEEMED, 950 00:57:05,158 --> 00:57:09,896 MATT HAD LEFT THE DOOR WIDE OPEN. 951 00:57:09,896 --> 00:57:13,133 SO, A FEW DAYS LATER, SHE AND A TEAM OF INVESTIGATORS SET OUT TO 952 00:57:13,133 --> 00:57:14,734 SEARCH MATT AND LIZ'S HOME FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. 953 00:57:14,734 --> 00:57:19,539 REALLY TEAR THE PLACE APART THIS TIME. 954 00:57:19,539 --> 00:57:26,479 AND WHAT THEY FOUND -- WELL WELL. 955 00:57:26,479 --> 00:57:30,550 >>> COMING UP. >> SHE CALLED ME AND SHE SOUNDED 956 00:57:30,550 --> 00:57:33,086 FRANTIC. >> Reporter: A PHONE CALL FROM 957 00:57:33,086 --> 00:57:36,056 LIZ BECOMES A CRUCIAL NEW CLUE. AND HIDDEN IN THE ATTIC, 958 00:57:36,056 --> 00:57:39,926 ANOTHER. >> YOU WORK A CASE THAT LONG AND 959 00:57:39,926 --> 00:57:58,812 YOU'RE, LIKE, "THIS IS IT." SO IT WAS A VERY GOOD MOMENT FOR 960 00:57:58,812 --> 00:58:01,047 >> Reporter: THEY GOT IN ABOUT A WEEK AFTER LIZ'S BODY TURNED UP 961 00:58:01,047 --> 00:58:03,717 IN THE SHALLOW WATER OF LIBERTY STATION. 962 00:58:03,717 --> 00:58:07,120 GOT INTO THE SULLIVANS' NOW VACANT HOME, THAT IS. 963 00:58:07,120 --> 00:58:13,093 A PROPER SEARCH THIS TIME. AND RIGHT AWAY, THEY COULDN'T 964 00:58:13,093 --> 00:58:16,830 HELP BUT NOTICE -- >> THERE WAS AN ODOR IN THE 965 00:58:16,830 --> 00:58:20,500 GARAGE. IN OUR OPINIONS, AN ODOR THAT 966 00:58:20,500 --> 00:58:22,268 SHOULD BE FOLLOWED UP ON. >> Reporter: LIKE THE ODOR OF 967 00:58:22,268 --> 00:58:25,338 DEATH? >> RIGHT. 968 00:58:25,338 --> 00:58:29,142 >> Reporter: A LOOK AROUND DID NOT REVEAL WHAT CAUSED IT. 969 00:58:29,142 --> 00:58:32,445 BUT THAT COULD WAIT. FIRST, DETECTIVES WANTED TO 970 00:58:32,445 --> 00:58:37,283 FOLLOW A LEAD THEY'D FOUND BURIED DEEP IN THE CASE FILE. 971 00:58:37,283 --> 00:58:39,886 >> THE MISSING PERSONS UNIT FOUND OUT ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW, 972 00:58:39,886 --> 00:58:43,556 FAIRLY SOON. I WANNA SAY IN THE FIRST MONTH 973 00:58:43,556 --> 00:58:45,258 MAYBE OF THE INVESTIGATION. >> Reporter: THE STORY WAS 974 00:58:45,258 --> 00:58:49,229 THIS -- AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE 975 00:58:49,229 --> 00:58:59,806 INVESTIGATION, LIZ'S FRIEND CALANDRA TOLD POLICE ABOUT AN 976 00:58:59,806 --> 00:59:06,212 ALARMING PHONE CALL, FROM LIZ. >> SHE CALLED ME AND SHE SOUND 977 00:59:06,212 --> 00:59:10,216 ED FRANTIC. THEY WERE ARGUING. 978 00:59:10,216 --> 00:59:13,053 AND SHE SAID, "THIS -- HE'S TALKIN' ABOUT HE'S GONNA KILL 979 00:59:13,053 --> 00:59:17,624 ME." AND I WAS HALF ASLEEP. 980 00:59:17,624 --> 00:59:23,596 BUT I KNOW THAT I TOLD HER, "LOCK YOURSELF IN YOUR ROOM. 981 00:59:23,596 --> 00:59:29,269 WE JUST HAVE TO GET TO MORNING." AND SHE SAID, "HOLD ON A SEC. 982 00:59:29,269 --> 00:59:32,605 HOLD ON. I THINK HE'S COMING." 983 00:59:32,605 --> 00:59:34,040 >> Reporter: LIZ HUNG UP. AND CALANDRA WAITED TO HEAR FROM 984 00:59:34,040 --> 00:59:35,375 HER. WHY DIDN'T YOU CALL HER THE NEXT 985 00:59:35,375 --> 00:59:39,312 DAY? >> I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE HE WAS. 986 00:59:39,312 --> 00:59:43,650 IF THEY WERE ARGUING AND I'M CALLING HER, EVEN IF SHE CHOSE 987 00:59:43,650 --> 00:59:47,087 NOT TO ANSWER, THE PHONE RINGING COULD HAVE BECOME AN AGGREGATE 988 00:59:47,087 --> 00:59:49,622 TO THE SITUATION. I DID NOT WANNA MAKE THINGS ANY 989 00:59:49,622 --> 00:59:53,460 WORSE. >> Reporter: SHE NEVER HEARD 990 00:59:53,460 --> 00:59:56,463 FROM LIZ AGAIN. THE CALL SOUNDED OMINOUS, THAT'S 991 00:59:56,463 --> 01:00:00,433 FOR SURE. PROBLEM WAS CALANDRA COULDN'T 992 01:00:00,433 --> 01:00:02,736 REMEMBER WHAT NIGHT IT WAS. AND WHEN DETECTIVES GOT LIZ'S 993 01:00:02,736 --> 01:00:08,108 PHONE RECORDS THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE IT HAD EVEN HAPPENED. 994 01:00:08,108 --> 01:00:11,544 >> THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION FOR A PERIOD OF TIME UNTIL LATER 995 01:00:11,544 --> 01:00:14,948 DOWN THE ROAD WE DISCOVERED SHE HAD MOST LIKELY CALLED CALANDRA 996 01:00:14,948 --> 01:00:18,952 ON WHATSAPP. >> Reporter: SO, MUCH LATER, 997 01:00:18,952 --> 01:00:25,191 COLLIER CIRCLED BACK ASKED CALANDRA FOR HER PHONE RECORDS. 998 01:00:25,191 --> 01:00:28,328 AND BINGO, THEY REVEALED LIZ HAD NOT ONLY CALLED CALANDRA, SHE 999 01:00:28,328 --> 01:00:31,731 CALLED HER THE NIGHT OF OCTOBER 13TH -- THE VERY SAME NIGHT SHE 1000 01:00:31,731 --> 01:00:34,334 WENT MISSING. WHICH MADE ONE DETAIL CALANDRA 1001 01:00:34,334 --> 01:00:37,704 REMEMBERED POTENTIALLY VERY IMPORTANT. 1002 01:00:37,704 --> 01:00:41,975 >> I JUST TOLD HER, YOU KNOW, "LOCK YOURSELF IN YOUR ROOM. 1003 01:00:41,975 --> 01:00:46,513 >> Reporter: AND THAT VERY THING, THE CRY FOR HELP, THE 1004 01:00:46,513 --> 01:00:49,382 ADVICE FROM CALANDRA NOW BECAME A KIND OF MAP FOR THE SEARCH IN 1005 01:00:49,382 --> 01:00:52,485 MATT'S HOUSE. WHICH LED THEM STRAIGHT UPSTAIRS 1006 01:00:52,485 --> 01:00:57,357 TO LIZ'S ROOM. THEY SWABBED HER BATHROOM DOOR 1007 01:00:57,357 --> 01:01:01,594 WITH LUMINOL -- IT LIT UP. AND THEN THEY CUT OUT A SECTION 1008 01:01:01,594 --> 01:01:05,565 OF RUG OUTSIDE THE BATHROOM, PULLED IT BACK AND FOUND A LARGE 1009 01:01:05,565 --> 01:01:08,435 STAIN. >> WE ENDED UP FORENSICALLY 1010 01:01:08,435 --> 01:01:13,573 EXAMINING IT WITH LUMINOL. >> Reporter: IT LIT UP TOO. 1011 01:01:13,573 --> 01:01:19,479 MEANING BLOOD, LOTS OF IT. >> THE BLOOD STAIN FROM THAT HAD 1012 01:01:19,479 --> 01:01:22,349 TO LEAK INTO THE PADDING AND THEN BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THE 1013 01:01:22,349 --> 01:01:24,918 PADDING ONTO THE SUB FLOOR. AND THE SUB FLOOR STAIN ITSELF 1014 01:01:24,918 --> 01:01:28,922 WAS AT LEAST A FOOT. >> Reporter: MM-HMM. 1015 01:01:28,922 --> 01:01:32,892 >> AND SATURATED. >> Reporter: THOUGH NOT ON THE 1016 01:01:32,892 --> 01:01:34,861 SURFACE OF THE CARPET, MUST'VE BEEN CLEANED WITH THAT CARPET 1017 01:01:34,861 --> 01:01:37,430 CLEANER MATT BOUGHT? MAYBE? 1018 01:01:37,430 --> 01:01:40,300 THE DNA, NO SURPRISE, MATCHED LIZ. 1019 01:01:40,300 --> 01:01:42,836 WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN YOU GOT THOSE RESULTS? 1020 01:01:42,836 --> 01:01:47,407 >> I THOUGHT, "HERE WE GO," YOU KNOW? 1021 01:01:47,407 --> 01:01:50,944 >> Reporter: OR MAYBE NOT. WHEN DETECTIVES PRESENTED THEIR 1022 01:01:50,944 --> 01:01:55,348 CASE TO THE D.A., THEY WERE TOLD THEY JUST DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH. 1023 01:01:55,348 --> 01:02:00,754 SO DETECTIVE COLLIER GOT ON A PLANE, FLEW TO MARYLAND AND 1024 01:02:00,754 --> 01:02:03,623 KNOCKED ON MATT'S DOOR. TELL ME ABOUT THAT. 1025 01:02:03,623 --> 01:02:07,761 >> AGAIN, A VERY LONG, PAINFUL INTERVIEW. 1026 01:02:07,761 --> 01:02:09,462 I MEAN, AT THAT POINT, I DEFINITELY KNEW WE HAD THE RIGHT 1027 01:02:09,462 --> 01:02:11,898 PERSON. THERE WASN'T ANY DOUBT IN MY 1028 01:02:11,898 --> 01:02:14,868 MIND. BUT HE DIDN'T CONFESS. 1029 01:02:14,868 --> 01:02:18,738 >> Reporter: ONCE AGAIN, THE CASE HAD HIT A WALL. 1030 01:02:18,738 --> 01:02:24,110 AND YET ANOTHER YEAR WENT BY. NOT A SINGLE LEAD. 1031 01:02:24,110 --> 01:02:28,348 BUT THEY COULDN'T JUST GIVE UP. >> WE ALL SAT DOWN AND 1032 01:02:28,348 --> 01:02:31,785 COLLECTIVELY DECIDED THAT WE WANTED TO GO BACK IN THE HOUSE 1033 01:02:31,785 --> 01:02:36,623 BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME THINGS THAT WE NEEDED MORE OF. 1034 01:02:36,623 --> 01:02:39,459 >> Reporter: DURING THE PREVIOUS SEARCH, THEY'D NOTICED SOME 1035 01:02:39,459 --> 01:02:42,295 WOODEN SLATS IN THE ATTIC WERE BROKEN, AS IF SOMEONE HAD BEEN 1036 01:02:42,295 --> 01:02:45,098 CLIMBING AROUND UP THERE. SO WHEN THEY RETURNED IN OCTOBER 1037 01:02:45,098 --> 01:02:49,135 2016, THAT IS WHERE THEY WENT LOOKING. 1038 01:02:49,135 --> 01:02:56,242 >> I STARTED JUST PULLING UP ALL THE INSULATION IN THE WHOLE 1039 01:02:56,242 --> 01:02:58,211 ATTIC AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING WAS LOOKED UNDER AND 1040 01:02:58,211 --> 01:03:03,083 THROUGH. >> Reporter: AND UP IN THE 1041 01:03:03,083 --> 01:03:05,485 ATTIC, UNDER THE INSULATION, SHE FOUND IT -- A MILITARY STYLE 1042 01:03:05,485 --> 01:03:09,889 FOLDING KNIFE. WHAT WAS THAT MOMENT LIKE? 1043 01:03:09,889 --> 01:03:12,459 >> FOR ME, KIND OF THRILLING BECAUSE I FELT LIKE IT 1044 01:03:12,459 --> 01:03:16,396 DEFINITELY MEANT SOMETHING. I MEAN, IT WAS HIDDEN IN A 1045 01:03:16,396 --> 01:03:19,766 FASHION THAT WAS NOT LIKE IT FELL OUT OF YOUR POCKET OR 1046 01:03:19,766 --> 01:03:23,269 SOMETHING. >> Reporter: COULD IT BE THAT 1047 01:03:23,269 --> 01:03:28,108 THIS WAS THE MURDER WEAPON? THE LAB RESULTS WERE 1048 01:03:28,108 --> 01:03:30,243 CONCLUSIVE -- LIZ'S BLOOD ON THE INNER WORKINGS OF THE KNIFE, AND 1049 01:03:30,243 --> 01:03:33,813 ON THE HANDLE A MIX OF DNA FROM BOTH LIZ AND MATT. 1050 01:03:33,813 --> 01:03:36,916 DETECTIVE COLLIER WORKED THREE LONG YEARS FOR THIS. 1051 01:03:36,916 --> 01:03:43,757 WHAT DID YOU DO FIRST AFTER THAT? 1052 01:03:43,757 --> 01:03:48,461 >> WELL, I ACTUALLY CRIED. YOU KNOW, YOU WORK A CASE THAT 1053 01:03:48,461 --> 01:03:51,731 LONG AND YOU'RE, LIKE, "THIS IS IT." 1054 01:03:51,731 --> 01:03:57,103 SO IT WAS A VERY GOOD MOMENT FOR ME. 1055 01:03:57,103 --> 01:03:58,571 >> Reporter: YEAH. >> SORRY. 1056 01:03:58,571 --> 01:04:03,677 >> Reporter: IT MATTERS. NO, NO, NO. 1057 01:04:03,677 --> 01:04:08,214 YOU'VE BECOME THAT YOUNG WOMAN'S REPRESENTATIVE ON THIS EARTH. 1058 01:04:08,214 --> 01:04:09,849 AND HERE WAS THE THING YOU REALLY NEEDED TO DEFEND HER, 1059 01:04:09,849 --> 01:04:12,085 SUPPORT HER, DO SOMETHING. >> RIGHT. 1060 01:04:12,085 --> 01:04:16,189 >> Reporter: WHAT DID THE D.A. HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT? 1061 01:04:16,189 --> 01:04:20,427 >> GO GET HIM. >> Reporter: SO SHE DID. 1062 01:04:20,427 --> 01:04:22,529 BUT LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IN THIS CASE, IT WASN'T QUITE AS SIMPLE 1063 01:04:22,529 --> 01:04:30,170 AS SHE'D HOPED. >>> COMING UP -- 1064 01:04:30,170 --> 01:04:33,540 MATT SULLIVAN ON TRIAL. AND THE KEY FOR THE DEFENSE? 1065 01:04:33,540 --> 01:04:36,943 HIS WIFE'S TIME OF DEATH. >> ALMOST TWO FULL YEARS AFTER 1066 01:04:36,943 --> 01:04:41,514 SHE GOES MISSING. >> ALL I HAVE IS AN ALLEGATION 1067 01:04:41,514 --> 01:04:45,485 THAT HE DID SOMETHING IN OCTOBER 2014 AND FORENSIC SCIENCE SAYING 1068 01:04:45,485 --> 01:05:00,033 THAT SHE DIED IN 2016. >>> HAVE YOU EVER HEARD THE TERM 1069 01:05:00,033 --> 01:05:01,234 "MINNESOTA NICE"? >> Reporter: YEAH. 1070 01:05:01,234 --> 01:05:02,369 [ LAUGH ] OF COURSE, SURE. 1071 01:05:02,369 --> 01:05:05,605 YEAH. >> THAT'S WHAT HE IS. 1072 01:05:05,605 --> 01:05:08,742 >> Reporter: THIS IS MARCUS DeBOSE, MATT SULLIVAN'S DEFENSE 1073 01:05:08,742 --> 01:05:12,278 ATTORNEY. >> HE'S BORN AND RAISED IN A 1074 01:05:12,278 --> 01:05:16,149 SUBURB OF MINNEAPOLIS. YOU KNOW, PLAYED SOCCER, DID BOY 1075 01:05:16,149 --> 01:05:21,554 SCOUTS, WENT FISHING. NO SORT OF RUN-INS WITH THE LAW 1076 01:05:21,554 --> 01:05:24,090 OR ANGRY GIRLFRIENDS, NOTHIN'. UM, NO SORT OF EARLY INDICIA 1077 01:05:24,090 --> 01:05:26,960 OF -- OF ANYTHING THAT MIGHT LEAD TO THE SITUATION THAT HE 1078 01:05:26,960 --> 01:05:30,063 FINDS HIMSELF IN NOW. >> Reporter: AH, YES, "THE 1079 01:05:30,063 --> 01:05:32,932 SITUATION." FIVE YEARS AFTER 1080 01:05:32,932 --> 01:05:38,672 ELIZABETH SULLIVAN DISAPPEARED, HER HUSBAND MATT WENT ON TRIAL 1081 01:05:38,672 --> 01:05:41,508 FOR MURDER. DETECTIVE COLLIER HAD RETIRED BY 1082 01:05:41,508 --> 01:05:43,977 THEN, BUT SHE WASN'T ABOUT TO SIT THIS ONE OUT. 1083 01:05:43,977 --> 01:05:46,246 >> I WAS THERE EVERY DAY BECAUSE I WANTED TO PARTICIPATE 'CAUSE 1084 01:05:46,246 --> 01:05:51,084 IT MEANT A LOT TO ME. >> SEPARATE BEDROOMS. 1085 01:05:51,084 --> 01:05:55,622 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. INFIDELITY. 1086 01:05:55,622 --> 01:05:57,590 FINANCIAL ISSUES. THESE ARE THE HALLMARKS OF A 1087 01:05:57,590 --> 01:06:01,027 MARRIAGE IN CRISIS. >> Reporter: DEPUTY D.A. 1088 01:06:01,027 --> 01:06:04,698 JILL LINDBERG TOLD THE JURY MATT'S MARRIAGE WASN'T 1089 01:06:04,698 --> 01:06:09,035 "MINNESOTA NICE" AT ALL. THAT MATT WAS A VIOLENT MAN. 1090 01:06:09,035 --> 01:06:13,540 THE KEY TESTIMONY CAME FROM LIZ'S BEST FRIENDS. 1091 01:06:13,540 --> 01:06:15,642 >> WHAT WAS ELIZABETH'S GENERAL TONE OF VOICE WITH YOU DURING 1092 01:06:15,642 --> 01:06:20,380 THIS TIME FRAME, WHEN YOU WOULD TALK WITH HER? 1093 01:06:20,380 --> 01:06:26,820 >> UM, INCREASINGLY SUBMISSIVE. SHE BECAME VERY QUIET. 1094 01:06:26,820 --> 01:06:30,156 WE WHISPERED A LOT. >> THERE WAS A COUPLE INSTANCES 1095 01:06:30,156 --> 01:06:35,495 THAT SHE TOLD ME MATTHEW HAD BECOME PHYSICAL WITH HER. 1096 01:06:35,495 --> 01:06:38,698 >> LIZ CALLED ME, AND SHE INFORMED THAT, YOU KNOW, MATT 1097 01:06:38,698 --> 01:06:40,300 HAD GRABBED HER, YOU KNOW, BY HER SHOULDERS AND SHOVED HER 1098 01:06:40,300 --> 01:06:45,171 AGAINST THE REFRIGERATOR AND STARTED SCREAMING AT HER. 1099 01:06:45,171 --> 01:06:48,141 AND IT SCARED HER. >> Reporter: AND WHEN LIZ MADE 1100 01:06:48,141 --> 01:06:52,078 PLANS TO LEAVE HIM, SAID THE PROSECUTOR, MATT KILLED HER AND 1101 01:06:52,078 --> 01:06:54,280 LEFT BEHIND EVIDENCE. THE LARGE BLOOD STAIN ON THE 1102 01:06:54,280 --> 01:06:57,684 CARPET. THE CARPET CLEANER. 1103 01:06:57,684 --> 01:07:01,654 THE PLASTIC WRAP. THE KNIFE HIDDEN IN THE ATTIC. 1104 01:07:01,654 --> 01:07:07,394 AND ON THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED, LIZ'S DESPERATE 1105 01:07:07,394 --> 01:07:12,198 PHONE CALL TO CALANDRA. >> SHE SAID THAT SHE AND MATT 1106 01:07:12,198 --> 01:07:13,833 HAD HAD SOME KIND OF DISAGREEMENT. 1107 01:07:13,833 --> 01:07:19,039 IT WAS REALLY SERIOUS, AND THAT SHE WAS AFRAID. 1108 01:07:19,039 --> 01:07:21,608 >> SHE SAID, "HOLD ON A SEC," AND THEN SHE SAID "GOTTA GO," 1109 01:07:21,608 --> 01:07:26,246 QUIETLY. I DIDN'T HEAR FROM HER ANYMORE. 1110 01:07:26,246 --> 01:07:32,686 >> AND THAT WAS YOUR LAST CONVERSATION WITH ELIZABETH? 1111 01:07:32,686 --> 01:07:35,255 >> YES, MA'AM. >> Reporter: THERE WAS MORE 1112 01:07:35,255 --> 01:07:37,857 EVIDENCE IN THE FORM OF MATT'S OWN WORDS. 1113 01:07:37,857 --> 01:07:39,793 >> SAN DIEGO POLICE, THIS IS MELANIE. 1114 01:07:39,793 --> 01:07:43,063 >> HI. >> Reporter: DET. COLLIER AND 1115 01:07:43,063 --> 01:07:46,066 THE PROSECUTORS HAD GONE BACK AND LISTENED TO THE CALL MATT 1116 01:07:46,066 --> 01:07:51,571 MADE TO POLICE WHEN LIZ DISAPPEARED, AND THEY NOTICED 1117 01:07:51,571 --> 01:07:56,676 SOMETHING. >> SO IN THE CALL, THE 1118 01:07:56,676 --> 01:07:58,178 DISPATCHER ASKED WHAT ELIZABETH WAS WEARING. 1119 01:07:58,178 --> 01:08:02,015 >> DO YOU KNOW WHAT SHE'S WEARING TODAY? 1120 01:08:02,015 --> 01:08:09,923 >> I DON'T KNOW. SHE RAN OUT OF HERE IN A HURRY. 1121 01:08:09,923 --> 01:08:15,362 I KNOW SHE'S WEARING BLUE JEANS. UM, SOME, UM, BROWN BOOTS. 1122 01:08:15,362 --> 01:08:18,765 >> AND WHEN ELIZABETH'S BODY WAS FOUND ALMOST TWO YEARS LATER, 1123 01:08:18,765 --> 01:08:21,034 SHE WAS WEARING JEANS AND A BROWN BOOT, WHICH TIED IN 1124 01:08:21,034 --> 01:08:25,605 EXACTLY WITH HOW HE DESCRIBED HER THE DAY HE MURDERED HER. 1125 01:08:25,605 --> 01:08:30,710 >> MY GUESS IS THAT HE GOT IN THE BEDROOM AND STABBED HER AND 1126 01:08:30,710 --> 01:08:33,279 THEN CLEANED UP THAT BEDROOM. AND I THINK HE PUT HER OUT IN 1127 01:08:33,279 --> 01:08:37,250 THE WATER, HOPING THAT SHE WOULD JUST WASH OUT TO SEA. 1128 01:08:37,250 --> 01:08:43,223 >> Reporter: A CIRCUMSTANTIAL CASE, YES, BUT A STRONG ONE. 1129 01:08:43,223 --> 01:08:46,359 AND THEN, MATT'S LAWYER MARCUS DeBOSE WENT TO WORK ON 1130 01:08:46,359 --> 01:08:50,630 REASONABLE DOUBT. >> YOU ARE NOT GOING TO SEE ONE 1131 01:08:50,630 --> 01:08:54,334 PIECE OF EVIDENCE IN THIS CASE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THAT IS 1132 01:08:54,334 --> 01:08:59,639 INCONSISTENT WITH THE IDEA OF A CUTTER MARRIED TO A NAVAL MAN 1133 01:08:59,639 --> 01:09:03,009 WHO HAD A SECRET LIFE AND WHO MADE ERRATIC DECISIONS. 1134 01:09:03,009 --> 01:09:10,016 >> Reporter: THE PROSECUTION'S EVIDENCE? 1135 01:09:10,016 --> 01:09:11,685 THERE WERE OTHER, QUITE REASONABLE EXPLANATIONS, SAID 1136 01:09:11,685 --> 01:09:12,919 THE DEFENSE. LIKE THE BLOOD STAIN ON THE 1137 01:09:12,919 --> 01:09:14,521 UNDERSIDE OF THE CARPET. THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED WHEN 1138 01:09:14,521 --> 01:09:16,022 LIZ CUT HERSELF AND THEN TRIED TO CLEAN IT UP. 1139 01:09:16,022 --> 01:09:17,657 >> WHEN YOU POUR LIQUID ON A STAIN -- AND EXPERIENCE TELLS 1140 01:09:17,657 --> 01:09:23,930 YOU -- WHAT HAPPENS? THE STAIN SPREADS. 1141 01:09:23,930 --> 01:09:31,071 SO TO SAY THAT, OKAY, ONE WAY TO GET A DOUBLE WATERMELON SIZED 1142 01:09:31,071 --> 01:09:32,739 BLOODSTAIN IS TO BLEED A LOT. ANOTHER WAY IS TO TAKE A SMALLER 1143 01:09:32,739 --> 01:09:35,308 STAIN AND, OVER TIME, WIPE IT LARGER AND LARGER. 1144 01:09:35,308 --> 01:09:39,579 >> Reporter: AS FOR THE KNIFE IN THE ATTIC? 1145 01:09:39,579 --> 01:09:43,049 IT WAS STANDARD NAVY ISSUE. NOTHING SUSPICIOUS ABOUT IT. 1146 01:09:43,049 --> 01:09:46,086 THE BLOOD AND DNA EVIDENCE ON THE KNIFE? 1147 01:09:46,086 --> 01:09:48,922 WELL, THAT WAS SIMPLE. >> HE GOES OUT. 1148 01:09:48,922 --> 01:09:52,092 HE GOES OVERSEAS. GETS HIS SWEAT DNA ALL OVER THE 1149 01:09:52,092 --> 01:09:54,661 HANDLE OF THAT KNIFE. HE THEN COMES HOME. 1150 01:09:54,661 --> 01:09:57,497 AND THAT BECOMES HER CUTTING TOOL. 1151 01:09:57,497 --> 01:10:02,168 >> Reporter: AND, MATT'S ATTORNEY ASKED, IF MATT HAD USED 1152 01:10:02,168 --> 01:10:04,804 THE KNIFE TO KILL HIS WIFE, WHY WOULDN'T HE HAVE THROWN IT IN 1153 01:10:04,804 --> 01:10:06,873 THE OCEAN? >> I'VE NEVER KILLED ANYBODY. 1154 01:10:06,873 --> 01:10:10,276 I IMAGINE IF I DID, IT WOULD WEIGH ON ME. 1155 01:10:10,276 --> 01:10:13,980 AND THAT TRYING NOT TO GET CAUGHT WOULD WEIGH ON ME. 1156 01:10:13,980 --> 01:10:17,417 AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I MIGHT THINK TO MYSELF IS, "HM, 1157 01:10:17,417 --> 01:10:20,220 MAYBE I SHOULD GET RID OF THE MURDER WEAPON." 1158 01:10:20,220 --> 01:10:23,623 >> Reporter: HE GOT LIZ'S FRIEND NATHAN TO ADMIT SHE THOUGHT 1159 01:10:23,623 --> 01:10:27,260 ABOUT RUNNING AWAY. >> DID ELIZABETH EVER EXPRESS TO 1160 01:10:27,260 --> 01:10:28,762 YOU, UH, HER DESIRE TO -- TO LEAVE HER FAMILY AND TO LEAVE 1161 01:10:28,762 --> 01:10:33,033 HER KIDS? >> YES. 1162 01:10:33,033 --> 01:10:34,801 >> AND WHAT -- WHAT DID SHE TELL YOU ABOUT HER -- HER MINDSET OF 1163 01:10:34,801 --> 01:10:39,606 WANTING TO LEAVE HER FAMILY AND LEAVE HER KIDS? 1164 01:10:39,606 --> 01:10:42,709 >> UM, SHE HAD EXPRESSED THE FACT THAT SHE WAS UNHAPPY IN HER 1165 01:10:42,709 --> 01:10:45,045 CURRENT LIFE. I -- I BELIEVE SHE JUST 1166 01:10:45,045 --> 01:10:48,982 REGRETTED NOT BEING ABLE TO LIVE HER LIFE TO THE FULLEST. 1167 01:10:48,982 --> 01:10:54,054 >> Reporter: THE DEFENSE SEIZED ON THAT EMAIL STEVEN SUTTON 1168 01:10:54,054 --> 01:10:56,656 RECEIVED ABOUT A MONTH AFTER LIZ DISAPPEARED, THE ONE FROM "BADLY 1169 01:10:56,656 --> 01:11:01,461 DRAWN GIRL," AS PROOF THAT LIZ WAS ALIVE THEN. 1170 01:11:01,461 --> 01:11:06,900 AND, NO SURPRISE, THE DEFENSE BROUGHT UP LIZ'S MENTAL STATE, 1171 01:11:06,900 --> 01:11:08,868 HER APPARENT DRUG USE, HER AFFAIRS, AND SAID IT ALL LED TO 1172 01:11:08,868 --> 01:11:13,707 ONE CONCLUSION. WHAT, SHE JUST WALKED OUT OF THE 1173 01:11:13,707 --> 01:11:15,475 HOUSE ACCORDING TO HIM? >> AS SHE HAD SEVERAL NIGHTS IN 1174 01:11:15,475 --> 01:11:18,244 A ROW FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR. 1175 01:11:18,244 --> 01:11:21,114 THAT WAS THE PART THAT IS -- IT'S JUST SO HARD FOR PEOPLE 1176 01:11:21,114 --> 01:11:22,816 TO -- TO -- TO GRASP. YOU KNOW, "YOUR WIFE JUST 1177 01:11:22,816 --> 01:11:25,652 LEAVES? YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE'S AT?" 1178 01:11:25,652 --> 01:11:29,923 WELL, THAT'S HOW SHE HAD THE AFFAIRS. 1179 01:11:29,923 --> 01:11:32,692 >> Reporter: BUT REALLY, SAID THE DEFENSE, LIZ WALKED OUT FOR 1180 01:11:32,692 --> 01:11:38,164 THE LAST TIME THAT NIGHT IN OCTOBER 2014. 1181 01:11:38,164 --> 01:11:43,003 HOW DID SHE, YOU KNOW, MANAGE TO LIVE WITHOUT BEING DISCOVERABLE 1182 01:11:43,003 --> 01:11:46,139 BY ANYBODY, THROUGH EITHER A CELL PHONE OR A BANK ACCOUNT OR 1183 01:11:46,139 --> 01:11:48,408 ANYTHING? AND WHY SHE DIDN'T CONTACT HER 1184 01:11:48,408 --> 01:11:51,511 CHILDREN? THERE MUST BE SOME EXPLANATION 1185 01:11:51,511 --> 01:11:55,815 FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME, IS WHAT I'M SAYING. 1186 01:11:55,815 --> 01:11:58,651 WHAT COULD IT POSSIBLY BE? >> ANOTHER LOVER? 1187 01:11:58,651 --> 01:12:02,922 ANOTHER -- ANOTHER -- ANOTHER LIFE THAT SHE'S BUILDING? 1188 01:12:02,922 --> 01:12:04,958 >> Reporter: A LIFE THAT MUST HAVE GONE ON SOMEWHERE FOR 1189 01:12:04,958 --> 01:12:09,763 ALMOST TWO YEARS AFTER LIZ LEFT MATT. 1190 01:12:09,763 --> 01:12:13,667 REMEMBER, SAID ATTORNEY DeBOSE, WHEN LIZ'S BODY WAS FOUND, THE 1191 01:12:13,667 --> 01:12:17,704 MEDICAL EXAMINER SAID IT APPEARED SHE'D ONLY BEEN DEAD A 1192 01:12:17,704 --> 01:12:20,874 MONTH OR TWO. >> PUTTING THE TIME OF DEATH 1193 01:12:20,874 --> 01:12:24,244 SOMETIME IN OR ABOUT AUGUST, SEPTEMBER OF 2016. 1194 01:12:24,244 --> 01:12:27,380 TWO -- ALMOST TWO FULL YEARS AFTER SHE GOES MISSING. 1195 01:12:27,380 --> 01:12:31,651 I'M A DEFENSE LAWYER. I HAVE NO BURDEN OF PROOF. 1196 01:12:31,651 --> 01:12:35,922 ALL I HAVE IS AN ALLEGATION THAT HE DID SOMETHING IN 1197 01:12:35,922 --> 01:12:39,092 OCTOBER 2014, AND FORENSIC SCIENCE SAYING THAT SHE DIED IN 1198 01:12:39,092 --> 01:12:41,094 2016. >> Reporter: THE EXPLANATION WAS 1199 01:12:41,094 --> 01:12:47,600 SIMPLE, HE SAID. THE PROSECUTION WAS WRONG. 1200 01:12:47,600 --> 01:12:51,304 MATT DID NOT KILL LIZ. INSTEAD, SHE RAN AWAY, AN 1201 01:12:51,304 --> 01:12:56,409 UNSTABLE WOMAN FLEEING HER MARRIAGE, WHO LIVED ON FOR TWO 1202 01:12:56,409 --> 01:12:59,813 MORE YEARS UNTIL SHE MET A VIOLENT END AT THE HANDS OF 1203 01:12:59,813 --> 01:13:02,382 SOMEONE OTHER THAN HER HUSBAND. DID YOU THINK YOU HAD MADE A 1204 01:13:02,382 --> 01:13:05,218 GOOD CASE? THAT YOU -- YOU HAD A PRETTY 1205 01:13:05,218 --> 01:13:06,619 GOOD CHANCE OR WHAT? >> YES. 1206 01:13:06,619 --> 01:13:10,924 YEAH. I -- I THOUGHT OUR CASE WAS WELL 1207 01:13:10,924 --> 01:13:14,594 PRESENTED. I THOUGHT THAT THE -- THE -- THE 1208 01:13:14,594 --> 01:13:17,864 REASONABLE DOUBT EXISTED AT BASICALLY EVERY TURN. 1209 01:13:17,864 --> 01:13:22,602 >> Reporter: EXCEPT, MAYBE, FOR ONE THING. 1210 01:13:22,602 --> 01:13:29,676 A RATHER BIG ONE THAT DETECTIVES FOUND IN MATT SULLIVAN'S GARAGE. 1211 01:13:29,676 --> 01:13:33,947 >>> COMING UP -- MATT SULLIVAN SPEAKS AT LAST. 1212 01:13:33,947 --> 01:13:35,949 >> Reporter: HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN HER BODY WASHING UP ON THE BAY 1213 01:13:35,949 --> 01:13:39,085 RIGHT AROUND WHERE YOU LIVED? >> WELL, I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT. 1214 01:13:39,085 --> 01:13:42,789 I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. >> AND THE VERDICT? 1215 01:13:42,789 --> 01:13:45,625 WHAT WOULD THE JURY DECIDE? >> I WAS ACTUALLY KIND OF 1216 01:13:45,625 --> 01:14:02,609 SHAKING >> Reporter: FOR ALL THE 1217 01:14:02,609 --> 01:14:05,745 EVIDENCE STACKED UP AGAINST MATT SULLIVAN IN HIS MURDER 1218 01:14:05,745 --> 01:14:11,718 TRIAL, DEFENSE ATTORNEY MARCUS DeBOSE WAS CONFIDENT. 1219 01:14:11,718 --> 01:14:15,422 BECAUSE HE KNEW, AT THE HEART OF THE PROSECUTION'S CASE, THERE 1220 01:14:15,422 --> 01:14:21,594 WAS A CONTRADICTION LABELED WITH A GRIM CLINICAL TERM. 1221 01:14:21,594 --> 01:14:23,296 THE POST-MORTEM INTERVAL. >> THERE WERE TWO SEPARATE 1222 01:14:23,296 --> 01:14:27,367 MEDICAL EXAMINERS WHO EXAMINED THE BODY. 1223 01:14:27,367 --> 01:14:30,203 THEY BOTH FOUND AND THEN TESTIFIED TO THE FACT THAT THE 1224 01:14:30,203 --> 01:14:33,907 POST MORTEM INTERVAL, WHICH IS THE PERIOD OF TIME BETWEEN THE 1225 01:14:33,907 --> 01:14:37,877 AUTOPSY AND WHAT SCIENCE DETERMINES TO BE THE TIME OF 1226 01:14:37,877 --> 01:14:42,148 DEATH -- THEY BOTH FOUND, UM, THAT THAT WAS A 30 TO 60 DAY 1227 01:14:42,148 --> 01:14:43,850 WINDOW. >> Reporter: MEANING, ACCORDING 1228 01:14:43,850 --> 01:14:49,289 TO THE CONDITION OF HER BODY, LIZ WAS MURDERED NO EARLIER THAN 1229 01:14:49,289 --> 01:14:54,127 THE SUMMER OF 2016. BUT THE PROSECUTION'S WHOLE CASE 1230 01:14:54,127 --> 01:14:58,398 WAS BASED ON THE IDEA THAT MATT KILLED HER IN OCTOBER OF 2014, 1231 01:14:58,398 --> 01:15:03,203 NEARLY TWO YEARS EARLIER. A BIG PROBLEM, SAID THE DEFENSE, 1232 01:15:03,203 --> 01:15:08,041 AND IT CREATED A WHOLE BIG LUMP OF REASONABLE DOUBT. 1233 01:15:08,041 --> 01:15:10,877 TO WHICH THE PROSECUTOR SAID -- >> THAT DID NOT TAKE INTO 1234 01:15:10,877 --> 01:15:14,447 ACCOUNT THE POSSIBILITY THAT SOMETHING COULD HAVE INTERRUPTED 1235 01:15:14,447 --> 01:15:18,852 OR DELAYED THE DECOMPOSITION PROCESS. 1236 01:15:18,852 --> 01:15:21,154 AND BOTH THE FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGIST AND THE MEDICAL 1237 01:15:21,154 --> 01:15:25,392 EXAMINER TESTIFIED THAT, YES, FREEZING IS SOMETHING THAT COULD 1238 01:15:25,392 --> 01:15:28,728 DELAY IT. >> Reporter: FREEZING. 1239 01:15:28,728 --> 01:15:30,363 YOU MAY REMEMBER THE VERY FIRST TIME POLICE SEARCHED THE 1240 01:15:30,363 --> 01:15:33,933 SULLIVAN'S HOME, THEY FOUND A LARGE FREEZER IN THE GARAGE. 1241 01:15:33,933 --> 01:15:37,070 THE FREEZER WAS EMPTY. SO WHAT'S THE EXPLANATION? 1242 01:15:37,070 --> 01:15:41,074 IF SHE'S ALREADY DEAD, WHERE WOULD SHE BE? 1243 01:15:41,074 --> 01:15:45,311 >> I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WILL EVER KNOW FOR SURE BASED ON THE 1244 01:15:45,311 --> 01:15:48,548 EVIDENCE WE HAVE. MY PERSONAL BELIEF IS THAT SHE 1245 01:15:48,548 --> 01:15:49,883 WAS HIDDEN SOMEWHERE ELSE ON THE PROPERTY. 1246 01:15:49,883 --> 01:15:52,118 I THINK THE ATTIC IS A LIKELY SPOT. 1247 01:15:52,118 --> 01:15:55,855 BUT THEN WAS LATER MOVED TO THE FREEZER. 1248 01:15:55,855 --> 01:15:58,391 >> Reporter: PROSECUTOR JILL LINDBERG BELIEVED THAT 1249 01:15:58,391 --> 01:16:02,929 AFTER MATT STABBED LIZ TO DEATH AND CLEANED UP THE CRIME SCENE, 1250 01:16:02,929 --> 01:16:06,633 HE COULD HAVE WRAPPED HER BODY IN THAT INDUSTRIAL PLASTIC HE'D 1251 01:16:06,633 --> 01:16:08,568 BOUGHT AND HID IT SOMEWHERE FOR A FEW DAYS, AND THEN STASHED IT 1252 01:16:08,568 --> 01:16:14,040 IN THAT FREEZER FOR THE BETTER PART OF TWO YEARS. 1253 01:16:14,040 --> 01:16:18,278 TO MAINTAIN THE ILLUSION LIZ WAS ALIVE, DET. COLLIER THOUGHT, 1254 01:16:18,278 --> 01:16:20,880 MATT PRETENDED TO BE HER WITH THAT EMAIL ACCOUNT, "BADLY DRAWN 1255 01:16:20,880 --> 01:16:25,118 GIRL," AND EMAILED HER BOYFRIEND. 1256 01:16:25,118 --> 01:16:28,555 AND HE MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN AWAY WITH IT, SAID THE PROSECUTOR, IF 1257 01:16:28,555 --> 01:16:32,525 HE HADN'T DECIDED TO MOVE OUT OF STATE, WHICH FORCED HIM TO 1258 01:16:32,525 --> 01:16:37,364 FINALLY TAKE LIZ'S BODY OUT OF THAT FREEZER IN THE GARAGE AND 1259 01:16:37,364 --> 01:16:39,766 DUMP HER IN THE BAY, LEAVING BEHIND THE STENCH OF DEATH 1260 01:16:39,766 --> 01:16:43,903 DETECTIVES COULD NOT HELP BUT NOTICE. 1261 01:16:43,903 --> 01:16:47,607 QUITE A STORY. WHO WOULD THE JURY BELIEVE? 1262 01:16:47,607 --> 01:16:51,311 DEFENSE? >> ASK YOURSELF THIS JUST IN 1263 01:16:51,311 --> 01:16:54,147 YOUR MIND. WHAT PIECE OF EVIDENCE POINTS 1264 01:16:54,147 --> 01:16:56,983 YOU TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS FROZEN IN THE FREEZER IN THE 1265 01:16:56,983 --> 01:16:59,853 SULLIVAN GARAGE? >> Reporter: OR PROSECUTOR? 1266 01:16:59,853 --> 01:17:03,223 >> YOU KNOW FROM THE EVIDENCE THAT THE DEFENDANT MURDERED HIS 1267 01:17:03,223 --> 01:17:05,525 WIFE IN THEIR HOME WITH THAT KNIFE, AND I URGE YOU TO FIND 1268 01:17:05,525 --> 01:17:08,928 HIM GUILTY. >> Reporter: SO, DID HE? 1269 01:17:08,928 --> 01:17:11,031 OR DIDN'T HE? >> I'VE BEEN QUESTIONED BY THE 1270 01:17:11,031 --> 01:17:13,500 POLICE DEPARTMENT NUMEROUS TIMES. 1271 01:17:13,500 --> 01:17:17,504 MY ANSWERS HAVE NEVER CHANGED THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. 1272 01:17:17,504 --> 01:17:20,073 >> Reporter: WHEN WE SPOKE WITH MATT, HE WAS IN A SAN DIEGO 1273 01:17:20,073 --> 01:17:22,308 COUNTY JAIL, AWAITING LEGAL DECISIONS. 1274 01:17:22,308 --> 01:17:26,680 HE INSISTED HE WAS AN INNOCENT MAN. 1275 01:17:26,680 --> 01:17:28,281 THE POLICE HAD IT ALL WRONG. >> I'VE BEEN TOTALLY OPEN WITH 1276 01:17:28,281 --> 01:17:33,820 THEM. I PASSED A POLYGRAPH EXAM. 1277 01:17:33,820 --> 01:17:36,790 I'VE DONE LITERALLY EVERYTHING I COULD THINK OF TO COOPERATE WITH 1278 01:17:36,790 --> 01:17:39,659 THEM. >> Reporter: THE PROSECUTION'S 1279 01:17:39,659 --> 01:17:44,531 FREEZER THEORY? ABSURD, SAID MATT. 1280 01:17:44,531 --> 01:17:47,634 >> I DON'T SEE HOW I POSSIBLY COULD HAVE STORED A BODY IN A 1281 01:17:47,634 --> 01:17:52,472 HOUSE FOR THAT MANY YEARS. FIVE ADULTS LIVING THERE, THREE 1282 01:17:52,472 --> 01:17:56,743 CHILDREN LIVING THERE. MULTIPLE WORKMEN COMING THROUGH, 1283 01:17:56,743 --> 01:18:00,447 DOZENS OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS COMING THROUGH, THE 1284 01:18:00,447 --> 01:18:02,415 POLICE SEARCHING THE PLACE MULTIPLE TIMES WITHOUT HER BEING 1285 01:18:02,415 --> 01:18:06,419 FOUND. >> Reporter: BUT, SO HOW DO YOU 1286 01:18:06,419 --> 01:18:10,390 EXPLAIN HER BODY WASHING UP ON THE BAY RIGHT AROUND WHERE YOU 1287 01:18:10,390 --> 01:18:12,225 LIVED ON THE SAME DAY AS THE MOVERS CAME TO YOUR HOUSE, JUST 1288 01:18:12,225 --> 01:18:14,928 DAYS BEFORE YOU MOVED OUT OF THE HOUSE? 1289 01:18:14,928 --> 01:18:16,763 >> IT WASN'T THE SAME DAY. AROUND THE SAME TIME. 1290 01:18:16,763 --> 01:18:19,232 I'LL -- I'LL GIVE YOU THAT. >> Reporter: OKAY. 1291 01:18:19,232 --> 01:18:21,201 >> WELL, I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT. I DON'T -- I REALLY DON'T KNOW 1292 01:18:21,201 --> 01:18:22,602 WHAT HAPPENED. >> Reporter: DO YOU THINK THAT 1293 01:18:22,602 --> 01:18:24,337 SOMEBODY WAS TRYING TO FRAME YOU? 1294 01:18:24,337 --> 01:18:27,474 >> MAYBE. I DON'T KNOW. 1295 01:18:27,474 --> 01:18:31,144 >> Reporter: HE BROUGHT UP LIZ'S CUTTING THE NIGHT OF THE CPS 1296 01:18:31,144 --> 01:18:35,415 INCIDENT AS A WAY TO EXPLAIN THAT STAIN ON THE CARPET. 1297 01:18:35,415 --> 01:18:38,051 >> I HAD TO BANDAGE HER ARM UP. AND IT WAS -- IT WAS PRETTY 1298 01:18:38,051 --> 01:18:44,257 BRUTAL. I MEAN, IT WAS GORY. 1299 01:18:44,257 --> 01:18:46,760 >> Reporter: OR YOU STABBED HER. I MEAN, YOU -- THERE'S NOBODY TO 1300 01:18:46,760 --> 01:18:49,529 SAY WHICH VERSION IS TRUE EXCEPT YOUR STORY. 1301 01:18:49,529 --> 01:18:52,766 >> I DON'T KNOW WHY I WOULD HAVE DONE THAT. 1302 01:18:52,766 --> 01:18:55,602 THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME. >> Reporter: I -- I THINK THAT 1303 01:18:55,602 --> 01:18:59,606 THE ALLEGATION WAS YOU DID THAT BECAUSE YOU WERE -- YOU WERE 1304 01:18:59,606 --> 01:19:02,709 FINALLY FED UP WITH SOMEBODY WHO HAD BEEN CHEATING ON YOU, WHO 1305 01:19:02,709 --> 01:19:06,146 YOU HAD COME TO HATE. AND YOU HAD CONSTANT FIGHTS AND, 1306 01:19:06,146 --> 01:19:09,449 FINALLY, YOU JUST LOST IT AND KILLED HER WITH A KNIFE. 1307 01:19:09,449 --> 01:19:12,252 >> NO. I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, KEITH. 1308 01:19:12,252 --> 01:19:14,020 I'M JUST SAYING THERE -- I MEAN, I WAS TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT 1309 01:19:14,020 --> 01:19:16,389 THING. I WAS TRYING TO INVITE MY FAMILY 1310 01:19:16,389 --> 01:19:19,626 TO TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS WHILE WE GOT EVERYTHING SQUARED AWAY. 1311 01:19:19,626 --> 01:19:23,763 AND I -- I DON'T KNOW WHY I WOULD HAVE DONE THAT. 1312 01:19:23,763 --> 01:19:26,066 THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. >> Reporter: HE SIMPLY DIDN'T DO 1313 01:19:26,066 --> 01:19:29,469 IT, HE SAID. >> NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT. 1314 01:19:29,469 --> 01:19:34,040 THAT'S CRAZY. I'VE NEVER LAID A FINGER ON HER. 1315 01:19:34,040 --> 01:19:35,709 I'VE NEVER HIT HER, NOTHING LIKE THAT. 1316 01:19:35,709 --> 01:19:39,879 >> Reporter: YOU NEVER HIT HER? NEVER ONCE? 1317 01:19:39,879 --> 01:19:42,849 >> NO, NOT -- OH, NO, NO, NO. I DON'T DO THAT. 1318 01:19:42,849 --> 01:19:44,818 I WAS DEFINITELY RAISED BETTER THAN THAT. 1319 01:19:44,818 --> 01:19:50,957 >> Reporter: WELL. PERHAPS HE WAS. 1320 01:19:50,957 --> 01:19:54,194 ANYWAY, NOT OURS TO JUDGE THE MAN'S HONESTY OR HIS ACTIONS. 1321 01:19:54,194 --> 01:19:58,498 THAT WAS THE JURY'S JOB. AND IT REACHED ITS VERDICT AFTER 1322 01:19:58,498 --> 01:20:00,567 A LITTLE MORE THAN A DAY. >> WE, THE JURY, IN THE ABOVE 1323 01:20:00,567 --> 01:20:02,168 ENTITLED CAUSE, FIND THE DEFENDANT, 1324 01:20:02,168 --> 01:20:04,471 MATTHEW SCOTT SULLIVAN, NOT GUILTY OF THE CRIME OF FIRST 1325 01:20:04,471 --> 01:20:07,941 DEGREE MURDER. >> AND SHE READ, "NOT GUILTY." 1326 01:20:07,941 --> 01:20:10,410 "DID -- DID I MISS THE -- THE GUILT? 1327 01:20:10,410 --> 01:20:12,979 DID SHE SAY -- OH, OKAY, ALL RIGHT," 1328 01:20:12,979 --> 01:20:15,815 YOU KNOW? >> Reporter: NOT GUILTY OF FIRST 1329 01:20:15,815 --> 01:20:18,385 DEGREE MURDER. BUT THE JURY WASN'T DONE. 1330 01:20:18,385 --> 01:20:23,089 >> I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DESCRIBE IT. 1331 01:20:23,089 --> 01:20:25,725 I WAS ACTUALLY KIND OF SHAKING IN THE COURTROOM. 1332 01:20:25,725 --> 01:20:27,861 LIKE, "PLEASE, PLEASE." >> WE, THE JURY, IN THE ABOVE 1333 01:20:27,861 --> 01:20:30,196 ENTITLED CAUSE, FIND THE DEFENDANT, 1334 01:20:30,196 --> 01:20:32,599 MATTHEW SCOTT SULLIVAN, GUILTY OF THE CRIME OF SECOND DEGREE 1335 01:20:32,599 --> 01:20:35,435 MURDER. >> Reporter: GUILTY OF SECOND 1336 01:20:35,435 --> 01:20:40,006 DEGREE MURDER. MATT WAS SENTENCED TO 16 YEARS 1337 01:20:40,006 --> 01:20:43,410 TO LIFE. >> AND I WAS SO HAPPY. 1338 01:20:43,410 --> 01:20:46,546 ELIZABETH GOT JUSTICE. AND HER HUSBAND DIDN'T GET AWAY 1339 01:20:46,546 --> 01:20:49,082 WITH IT. >> Reporter: IT HAD BEEN A 1340 01:20:49,082 --> 01:20:50,850 WEIGHT TO CARRY AROUND, SAID DET. COLLIER. 1341 01:20:50,850 --> 01:20:55,088 THE CASE THAT WOULDN'T LET HER GO. 1342 01:20:55,088 --> 01:21:03,329 WHAT MEMORIES DO YOU CARRY AROUND OF ELIZABETH SULLIVAN AND 1343 01:21:03,329 --> 01:21:10,170 THIS STORY? >> I BOUGHT A NECKLACE FOR JILL 1344 01:21:10,170 --> 01:21:13,306 AND FOR MYSELF AND FOR TAMMY, UM, WHO WAS ONE OF THE DNA LAB 1345 01:21:13,306 --> 01:21:15,842 ANALYST PEOPLE. AND IT'S WHAT WE ALL CARRY 1346 01:21:15,842 --> 01:21:19,245 AROUND WITH US PERIODICALLY. >> Reporter: DESCRIBE IT TO ME, 1347 01:21:19,245 --> 01:21:23,883 IF YOU DON'T MIND. >> IT HAS A LITTLE LEAF, AND IT 1348 01:21:23,883 --> 01:21:28,655 SAYS, BADLY DRAWN GIRL, BUT YOU NEVER GAVE UP." 1349 01:21:28,655 --> 01:21:30,256 >> Reporter: NO. THAT YOUNG WOMAN HAD THE FORCE 1350 01:21:30,256 --> 01:21:33,493 OF LIFE IN HER, SAID HER FRIENDS. 1351 01:21:33,493 --> 01:21:39,966 THE KIND OF PERSON YOU COULDN'T POSSIBLY FORGET. 1352 01:21:39,966 --> 01:21:45,705 >> SHE LOVED TO SMILE AND LAUGH MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE I KNEW. 1353 01:21:45,705 --> 01:21:50,010 WHEN YOU WERE IN HER GRACES, LIKE, YOU -- YOU -- YOU FELT 1354 01:21:50,010 --> 01:21:53,947 LIKE YOU WERE OUT IN, LIKE, PART OF, LIKE, THE HIGHEST RATED TV 1355 01:21:53,947 --> 01:21:57,684 SHOW EVER. LIKE, EVERYBODY WANTED TO BE IN 1356 01:21:57,684 --> 01:22:00,387 YOUR COMPANY WITH HER. >> I MISS HER TERRIBLY EVERY 1357 01:22:00,387 --> 01:22:06,493 TIME SOMETHING GOOD HAPPENS TO ME, AND I WANT TO CALL HER. 1358 01:22:06,493 --> 01:22:13,400 THE LAST THING THAT I WANT, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IS FOR LIZ 1359 01:22:13,400 --> 01:22:16,169 TO COME ACROSS DRY AND TROUBLED. WHEN THERE WERE SO MANY FACETS 1360 01:22:16,169 --> 01:22:19,139 TO HER, SHE SPARKLED LIKE A PRINCESS CUT DIAMOND. 1361 01:22:19,139 --> 01:22:23,543 YOU COULD NOT TAKE THE SHINE OUT OF HER. 1362 01:22:23,543 --> 01:22:25,845 YOU JUST HAD TO KNOW WHICH FACET YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE ON TO 1363 01:22:25,845 --> 01:22:31,251 SEE HER SHINE. THAT'S ALL. 1364 01:22:31,251 --> 01:22:34,354 >>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION OF "DATELINE." 1365 01:22:34,354 --> 01:22:36,623 WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY AT 9:00, 8:00 CENTRAL. 1366 01:22:36,623 --> 01:22:39,092 AND, OF COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU EACH WEEKNIGHT FOR "NBC NIGHTLY 1367 01:22:39,092 --> 01:22:42,328 NEWS." I'M LESTER HOLT. 1368 01:22:42,328 --> 01:22:45,565 FOR ALL OF US AT NBC NEWS, GOOD NIGHT.