Five years later, Sullivan homicide remains unsolved
Man run down by black pickup over ‘misinformation’
Every year on the anniversary of Michael Sullivan’s homicide, Hamilton police put out an appeal for information — but they’re actually speaking to a “small group” of people who know what happened.
“Those persons know exactly who they are and are encouraged to do the right and decent thing, and contact investigators,” Det. Sgt. Peter Thom, of the major crime unit, said outside police headquarters Thursday.
Sunday will mark five years since the 51-year-old son, brother, father and grandfather was chased down by the driver of a black Ford F-150 pickup truck, who set out to run Sullivan down, based on misinformation. On his bike, Sullivan tried to outrun the pickup but was eventually hit in an alley behind a Barton Street East store, causing head injuries that led to his death three months later.
“It has been a very frustrating case,” Thom said.
Police recovered the black Ford F-150 several days later and had it forensically examined. There is security video of the truck following Sullivan, but it’s not clear enough to identify the driver. Police have spoken with a group of people tied to the truck owner.
There are “nuances of who had access to the truck at what times,” Thom said. “And a lack of co-operation of those individuals in that small group.”
But things can change in five years. Perhaps loyalties have shifted, maybe someone let something slip?
Sullivan had been out on his bike on Barton and Lottridge streets that afternoon to shop at a second-hand electronics store — his hobby was fixing up old computers for donations. Detectives believe that while he was in the area around 2:30 p.m., he had a “brief interaction” that led to misinformation being passed to the truck driver.
Police won’t detail what the misinformation was about, but family has previously said they believe there was a confrontation with a woman who mistakenly believed Sullivan was taking photos of her young daughter.
On Thursday, Michael’s mom, Gail Sullivan, said she’s heard two or three different stories and doesn’t know all the details.
“Somebody told this guy that Michael had done something he hadn’t,” she said.
Gail described her son as funny and always smiling. They had purchased a house together and he was helping people with addictions.
For her, the hardest part is knowing that all this time there are people who know what happened, but remain silent.
“As far as I’m concerned they’re as guilty as he is,” she said.
The family wants closure and justice.
“It’s been five long years, way There is a $50,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the killer of Michael Sullivan, who was deliberately run down in an alley behind Barton Street East five years ago.
too long, way too long for people not to do the right thing and come forward,” said his sister, Teresa Mummery.
There is a $50,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of Sullivan’s killer.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Michael McNaughton at 905-546-4123. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.