Current Whereabouts of Jim Sullivan: Insights Ahead of ABC’s 20/20 Special

Jim Sullivan, once living a life of affluence, is currently enduring a life sentence without the possibility of parole for orchestrating the murder of his wife, Lita McClinton, back in 1987. Lita McClinton, a prominent socialite aged 35, was tragically shot on her doorstep on January 16, 1987. Subsequent investigations revealed that this gruesome act was a premeditated plan set in motion by Sullivan himself.

Sullivan remained a fugitive for twenty years until his arrest in 2006, which led to his conviction. At present, he is incarcerated at the Augusta State Medical Prison in Grovetown, Georgia. His story gained national attention when it was featured on ABC News’ 20/20 episode “A Puzzled Murder,”which aired on October 25 at 9 PM EST.

Jim Sullivan employed a hitman to execute his wife’s murder

The first encounter between Sullivan and Lita McClinton occurred in 1975 at an upscale boutique in an Atlanta mall, where Lita was working. Sullivan had already experienced a divorce from his first wife and soon tied the knot with Lita. Their marriage was fraught with difficulties, stemming from financial strains and allegations of cheating.

Despite attempting to mend their relationship by relocating to Palm Beach, Florida, Lita ultimately chose to file for divorce and moved to another residence in Buckhead, Atlanta. Following their contentious separation, Sullivan devised a plan to eliminate Lita to avoid the financial ramifications of the divorce.

Jim enlisted the services of Phillip Anthony Harwood, agreeing to pay him $25,000 for the assassination of his wife. On January 16, 1987, Phillip arrived at Lita’s residence bearing a bouquet of roses; when she opened the door to receive them, he fatally shot her. That day, Lita was supposed to attend a divorce hearing — it was also on that morning that Phillip used a payphone to call Sullivan and confirm that the deed was done.

How Jim Sullivan successfully evaded justice for years

Although Jim Sullivan was at his Florida residence when Lita was murdered, law enforcement remained suspicious of his involvement. Friends and neighbors of Lita assisted police in creating a composite sketch of the hitman, but this led to no significant leads.

Numerous suspects were briefly considered, but investigators struggled to establish any firm connections. Eventually, attention shifted back to Jim, and in 1992, enough evidence was gathered to justify Sullivan’s arrest. He faced trial in November of that year but was acquitted.

In 1994, Lita’s family filed a wrongful death civil suit against Sullivan, resulting in a $4 million judgment in their favor. Shortly after, Sullivan declared bankruptcy and left town. His eventual downfall came in 1997 when Phillip Harwood’s ex-girlfriend approached authorities, revealing that Harwood was the hired gun.

Phillip later confessed to being paid by Jim Sullivan to kill Lita. An indictment was issued against Sullivan in 1998, but he managed to evade capture by fleeing to Thailand.

Jim Sullivan’s capture and subsequent conviction in 2006

In 2002, authorities tracked Sullivan to a condo in Cha-am, Thailand, where he was living with a girlfriend. He was arrested on July 2, 2002, and extradited back to Atlanta in 2004. It wasn’t until 2006 that Sullivan finally went to trial for the murder of Lita McClinton.

This time, the prosecution presented compelling evidence tying Sullivan to the crime. In March 2006, he was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.

Jim Sullivan was subsequently transferred to Augusta State Medical Prison in Grovetown, Georgia, where he receives medical and mental health care. Now in his 80s, he remains behind bars.

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