An Arizona man has been sentenced to over 31 years in prison for the brutal murder of his ex-roommate, Amy “Ruby” Leagans, whose body he dismembered using an ax and discarded in the desert. Timothy Sullivan, 66, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and concealing a body in September 2024. The crime took place in 2020, when Sullivan choked Leagans to death in a fit of rage and then went to extreme lengths to cover up the murder.
Leagans, 49, had recently moved from Illinois to Arizona and was living with Sullivan when the tragedy occurred. Their living situation had been marked by tension, as Leagans had previously reported Sullivan for attempting to physically harm her. However, police had not taken action at the time, and there was no evidence to pursue charges.
The killing came to light when Leagans’ family reported her missing on October 27, 2020. She had last been seen with Sullivan, and soon after, police began investigating the case. Sullivan initially kept Leagans’ body hidden for two days before burying it in his backyard. However, as guilt set in, he exhumed the remains and proceeded to dismember her body using an ax. He scattered her body parts in trash bins across the Phoenix area, attempting to dispose of the evidence.
It wasn’t until November 17, 2020, that Leagans’ remains were discovered near a river in Phoenix. Her dismembered torso was found in the desert, concealed in a black plastic bag and covered with mulch. Forensic analysis confirmed that the remains belonged to Leagans, and signs of trauma and dismemberment were evident.
Investigators quickly linked Sullivan to the crime. The two had been living together after Leagans had relocated to Arizona, and Sullivan’s violent tendencies were well-known. He had been on probation for a previous aggravated assault charge at the time of Leagans’ death, further highlighting his criminal history.
Sullivan eventually admitted to the murder, describing the events that led to Leagans’ death. He claimed that after an argument in which Leagans yelled at him, he “snapped” and choked her. The crime occurred in her apartment, and he kept the body there for two days before burying it in his yard. His decision to exhume the body, dismember it, and dispose of the parts in various trash bins showed the extent of his efforts to cover up the crime.
At his sentencing, Leagans’ family expressed their anguish and anger over what had happened. Her sister told the judge that Sullivan had treated her sister like “trash” by discarding her body in the desert. The victim’s family described the dismemberment as akin to the way a butcher would cut up an animal. They expressed their pain over the brutality of the crime and Sullivan’s manipulation during the investigation.
Sullivan offered an apology in court, citing a traumatic brain injury as a factor in his actions. Despite this, the judge described him as a “danger to society” and condemned the way he had treated Leagans. Sullivan’s history of violent behavior, including a previous assault charge, painted him as a dangerous individual who had finally escalated his violence to the ultimate crime.
This case highlighted the disturbing lengths to which Sullivan went to conceal his crime, as well as the profound impact on Leagans’ family and loved ones. While Sullivan will spend decades in prison, the trauma of his actions will leave a lasting impact on those who knew Amy “Ruby” Leagans.
