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Woman Who'd Just Moved Into New Area Seeking A Fresh Start Found Murdered And Dismembered
Amy “Ruby” Leagans had recently moved from Illinois to the Phoenix area, where she met Timothy Sullivan, a man with a violent past who's now accused of killing her.
An Arizona man has allegedly divulged how he killed and dismembered a woman who had just moved into his community searching for a fresh start.
The dismembered body of Amy “Ruby” Leagans, 49, was discovered in a plastic bag and covered in mulch on Nov. 17 by the Salt River near Phoenix, Arizona Family reports. Dental records were needed to identify her. By Nov. 25, investigators had their suspect: Timothy Sullivan.
While newly filed court records claim that the pair were in a relationship, Leagans’ family told KPNX in Phoenix that they've never heard of him. They said Leagans, an Illinois native, had just moved to the area over the summer, looking for a fresh start.
Investigators interviewed Sullivan about a week before Leagans’ body was discovered. They allegedly found a bottle of bleach, latex gloves, and a scrub brush inside his car. Items found in the car, as well as items found during a sweep of Sullivan's property and cell phone records led to the discovery of Leagans' body, according to investigators.
The court records reveal the gory details about Leagans’ murder. Sullivan allegedly told investigators that he choked Leagans during a fight at her apartment until she stopped breathing. He claimed she was yelling at him when he “snapped,” according to local outlet KNXV.
“No one will ever know except those two people, my sister and Tim Sullivan” Christa Holton, Leagans' older sister, told KPNX. “It just doesn’t make sense. So the why? I’m not sure if I’m ever going to get it.”
Sullivan left Leagans' body at her apartment for two days before bringing it to his Scottsdale home, where he buried it in the backyard, authorities allege. But, he grew worried and allegedly dug her back up before dismembering the remains. Then, he put the parts in separate bags, which he dumped in trash cans all throughout the area, according to authorities. Her torso was dumped by the river.
Sullivan has a history of domestic violence. Phoenix woman Susan Noelani Davidson told KPNX that Sullivan tried to kill her in 2014. He punched her more than 20 times and choked her, resulting in a punctured eye and damaged teeth. He took a plea deal for aggravated assault and was sentenced to two and a half years behind bars and four years of probation. He was still on probation when he met Leagans.
Sullivan has been charged with second-degree murder. It’s not clear if he has a lawyer.
