Tewana Sullivan, also known as the slow cooker killer, has been sentenced to 23 years behind bars for the brutal murder of her friend, Cheryl Livy. According to the police, Sullivan, who beat her pal with a slow cooker over their political affiliations, has been confirmed to be mentally ill.
Tewana Sullivan appeared in front of Circuit Judge Michael Hathaway in Michigan on Monday. Sullivan learned that she had been sentenced to 23 to 50 years in prison for the killing of her friend, 66-year-old Cheryl Livy.
In May, Tewana Sullivan, 51, who was charged with first-degree murder, had pleaded guilty but mentally ill or GBMI, which can be defined as followed:
…it is merely an alternative for defendants who are found to be mentally ill, but whose illness is not severe enough to relieve him of criminal responsibility. A defendant who receives a GBMI verdict is sentenced in the same way as if he were found guilty.
Sullivan broke down in court after finding out that she will be behind bars instead of a mental institute. Sullivan told the court that she will get killed in prison and added:
“I took this plea thinking that I was going to be going to a place where I could get help. I didn’t think I was going to be going to jail.I didn’t take my medication like I was supposed to, so I did mess up. Without me taking my medication, that was the worst thing I could ever have done.”
On October 22, 2014, Tewana Sullivan visited Cheryl Livy in Detroit where the two ladies – one a Republican and the other a Democrat – drank few beers and had a heated debate about the 2016 presidential campaign.
Sullivan, who has been dealing with multiple mental issues and has had several brain surgeries to repair an aneurysm, became intoxicated and severely beat her friend. Officer Thomas Blauvelt revealed that Sullivan smashed Cheryl Livy’s head, face and mid-back with a slow cooker.
Sullivan, who was covered with blood, told the officer:
“I’m sorry. I did it. I’m sorry. I did it. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. “I didn’t take my medication like I was supposed to, so I did mess up. Without me taking my medication, that was the worst thing I could ever have done.”
Livy was rushed to the Botsford Hospital in Farmington Hills, where she succumbed to her injuries two days later. Cheryl Livy’s sister, Ann McDonald, told Judge Hathaway that through her pain and sorrow, she and her family have decided to forgive Tewana Sullivan. McDonald said:
“I’m forgiving her for what she has done. I don’t know what else to say.”
Prior to being sentenced, Sullivan passed two competency exams that concluded that she was competent to stand trial. However, her attorney still believes that she should be placed in a mental hospital rather than being imprisoned for 23 years.
What are your thoughts on Tewana Sullivan’s sentence?
