Episode
Ex-Navy Man Who ‘Brutally Murdered' Wife in San Diego in 2014 Sentenced
- Podcast
- Murder Files Unsealed
- Published
- Jul 31, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1553
- Processing state
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Summary
This episode details the criminal investigation and eventual conviction of Matthew Sullivan for the second-degree murder of his wife, Elizabeth Sullivan. Although Matthew initially claimed Elizabeth had voluntarily abandoned her family in 2014, her remains were discovered in the San Diego Bay two years later on the very day he was moving out of state. Forensic evidence revealed she had been stabbed to death, with investigators concluding her body had been preserved in a freezer to hide the crime. Prosecutors successfully argued that the murder was sparked by marital strife and Elizabeth's plans for divorce, debunking defense claims that her death was related to personal struggles or self-harm. The case serves as a grim study of domestic violence and the forensic persistence required to uncover a years-long deception. Matthew Sullivan was ultimately sentenced to 16 years to life in prison for the killing. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/murder-files-unsealed--6017387/support . This episode includes AI-generated content.