Detroit Woman Who Beat Friend To Death With Slow Cooker Over Politics Faces First-Degree Murder Charges

A 50-year-old Michigan woman, Tewana Sullivan, beat her friend to death with a slow cooker over a heated political debate, and was initially charged with assault with intent to kill, according to CBS News. However, once the Detroit judge learned of her friend’s demise, he upgraded her charge to first-degree murder.

On October 22, 2014, Detroit police officers arrived at the home of 66-year-old Cheryl Livy in a Livona senior living housing complex at 10:45 p.m., where they discovered her bloodied and barely breathing. Next to her badly beaten body was her hysterical and irate friend, Sullivan, hovering over her saying, “I’m sorry. I did it. I’m sorry. I did it. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

“She was sobbing. She was crying,” according to officer Michael Lewallen, who was one of the first officers at the scene.

She too was drenched in blood, and the walls contained splatters of Livy’s blood.

Police officer Thomas Blauvelt stated that upon his arrival, the cord of a busted slow cooker was wrapped around Livy’s neck.

“The crockpot is busted over her head with the cord around her throat. She was barely breathing.” Blauvelt testified in court.

Before Detroit police conduct an investigation, it was already evident that Livy was beaten to death with a slow cooker by her friend Sullivan.

According to the Detroit News, Livy was transported to a hospital in Farmington Hills, where she succumbed to her injuries two days later. Apparently, Livy and Sullivan were involved in a heated debate appertaining to politics, as well as over the controversial topics: Republicans and Democrats. The argument escalated, and a violent attack erupted between the two women, leaving one imprisoned and the other dead.

Sullivan repeatedly beat her friend to death with a slow cooker that Livy owned until police officers came the housing complex at Purlingbrook. Police officials say when they arrived, the assailant “seemed disoriented,” and a test confirmed that she was under the influence.

Medical Examiner Dr. Ljubisa Dragovic testified during Sullivan’s hearing where she explained the magnitude of the beating, and divulged that the blunt force trauma to Livy’s head, face, and mid-back is what ultimately killed her. However, the victim did fight for her life when they discovered defensive injuries to the back of her hand.

While the medical examiner gave vivid and gruesome details about the slow cooker murder, Sullivan broke down in court.

Sullivan’s initial charges were assault with intent to kill, but when Livy died from the injuries she sustained during the slow cooker beating, her charges were changed by a Detroit judge to first-degree murder, which requires a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole.

Sullivan is currently being detained at Wayne County Jail. Her arraignment is set for February 12.

[Image via the Detroit News]