Missing Navy wife was killed, police say after finding body in bay

SAN DIEGO —  The death of a mother and Navy wife, who was found floating in a Point Loma canal in October after disappearing two years ago, is being called a homicide, police said Wednesday.

Elizabeth Sullivan, 31, went missing in October 2014. After months of searching by detectives and family members, who hired a private investigator, the case went cold.

Then, on Oct. 4, a body was found near Liberty Station NTC and Farragut Road about 4:30 p.m. An autopsy revealed the decomposed corpse belonged to Sullivan, and that she had been killed.

“Our goal is to solve this case, and it’s only a small part in our effort to figure out what happened, but being able to (tell the family) — at least there’s a bit of closure,” said San Diego police Lt. Mike Holden.

The lieutenant wouldn’t divulge what prompted investigators to label the death a homicide, or when they believe Sullivan was slain.

The mother of two young girls was last heard from via text message on Oct. 13, 2014. Police were worried for her safety, saying the disappearance was out of character. About a week later, someone spotted a woman believed to be Sullivan at the Liberty Station soccer fields.

Family members raised thousands of dollars through a GoFundMe account to help search for Sullivan. Thousands of posters and business cards with information about her disappearance were put up and passed out, and a cash reward was offered, according to updates on the page.

But by January of 2015, detectives and the private investigator had run out of leads.

“Unfortunately law enforcement and a private detective that has taken on our case have still not been able to find a trace of Elizabeth,” the page said.

Investigators went to the East Coast to notify Sullivan’s family, Holden said. Her husband was also told. Family members weren’t able to be reached for comment.

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lyndsay.winkley@sduniontribune.com