‘Repeat offender’ sentenced for killing Arizona woman in 2020

PHOENIX — The man who admitted to murdering and dismembering his one-time roommate in 2020 was sentenced Friday to over 30 years in prison. 

Timothy Sullivan, 66, pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of Amy Leagans and concealing the victim’s remains throughout the Valley.

Sullivan apologized for his violent actions in court and attributed his behavior to a condition he described as a traumatic brain injury.

“I take full responsibility for my actions,” said Sullivan, who described Leagans as a good person.

But Judge Justin Beresky seemed to take little weight for Sullivan’s excuses, calling the defendant a “danger to society” who “treated (Amy) like trash.”

The judge sentenced Sullivan to 25 years in prison for murdering Leagans and 6.5 years for attempting to hide the victim’s body parts.

Before the sentence was issued, Leagans’ family members described Sullivan as a “repeat offender” and reminded the judge of the brutal way the defendant mutilated the victim’s body — similar to how a butcher cuts up a cow.

“He deemed her trash to be dumped in the Arizona desert,” Amy’s sister told the judge.

The prosecutor said Sullivan is a “convicted liar” and a “predator” with a criminal history showing how he exploits the trust of others. 

The victim and defendant had lived together in the Valley after they met in the summer of 2020.

A few months before her death, Leagans called for help and told police that Sullivan tried to beat her up. At that time, the defendant was on probation for aggravated assault and had a history of probation violations.

The prosecutors further noted how other women who had been victimized by Sullivan previously were willing to travel from out of state to testify against the defendant in the murder trial. Sullivan decided to plead guilty to the charges before the trial began.

RELATED: Overlooked: Amy Leagans cried for help with violent roommate months before he allegedly confessed to murdering her

RELATED: I-Team: Family seeking justice 2 years after Chandler woman murdered

Learn more about other 12News investigations by subscribing to the 12News YouTube channel and watching our I-Team playlist. 

You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12News+ app! 

The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like “Today in AZ” and “12 News” and our daily lifestyle program, “Arizona Midday”—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV. 

12News+  showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona. 

Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives. 

Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for “12 News KPNX.” 

Amazon Fire TV: Search for “12 News KPNX” to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.