Man choked roommate to death, dismembered body with an ax, and discarded remains in the Arizona desert

An Arizona guy who killed his ex-roommate by strangulation, mutilated her with an ax, and dumped body parts all around the Phoenix region will spend decades behind bars.

On Friday, Timothy Sullivan, 66, was found guilty of killing Amy Ruby Leagans, 49, and given a sentence of more than 31 years in jail. In September, he entered a guilty plea to second-degree murder and body concealment.

Associated coverage:

The Leagans family responded in court, comparing the mutilation to a butcher chopping up calves, according to local NBC affiliate KPNX.

According to the report, the victim’s sister informed the judge that he believed her trash had been disposed of in the Arizona desert. It hurts so much what that man did to my sister, to this legal system, to manipulate and deceive.

With reference to a traumatic brain damage, Sullivan expressed regret.

Sullivan told the news channel, “I accept full responsibility for my actions.”

Judge Justin Beresky of the Maricopa County Superior Court characterized the defendant as a social hazard who treated Amy like garbage.

On October 27, 2020, her family reported her missing, which sparked the investigation.

Her bones were found by authorities close to the river’s bottom on November 17. Sullivan was immediately linked to the murder by the police. She had moved to Arizona from Illinois earlier that year, and they had been living together ever since.

Independent Phoenix-based TV station KTVK and local CBS affiliate KPHO, which broadcast as Arizona’s Family, stated that she had previously reported him for trying to beat her, but the police did not find any proof of a crime and no action was done.

Prior to Leagan’s passing, Sullivan was on probation for severe assault, according to KPNX.

He reported the incident to the police. He was in the apartment of Leagan. She shouted at him. He lost his temper and killed her by strangulation.

The defendant buried the victim’s body in the backyard after keeping it inside the apartment for two days.

Then, out of concern, he dug out her remains. Then, according to detectives’ court filings, he dismembered her body.

According to Arizona’s family, he used an ax to insert limbs into trash cans all across the Phoenix area.

Officers found what turned out to be Leagans’ remains in Phoenix’s Salt River on November 17. In the desert, her torso was found.

The woman’s body, covered in mulch and encased in a black plastic bag, was almost skeletonized. Citing court paperwork from one of the findings, local Fox station KSAZ said that the body was dismembered and displayed signs of trauma.

The arrest of Sullivan occurred on November 25, 2020.

Other Sullivan victims were reportedly eager to come from out of state to testify against him in his murder trial, according to the prosecution.

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