Millionaire Manhunt

January 21, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

🎙️ The Voices & The Context

The Format: Narrative true crime documentary in the style of a 48 Hours episode, blending interviews, reenactments, and archival footage to recount a real-life murder-for-hire saga.
The Key Players:
- Jim Sullivan: Charismatic but ruthless millionaire businessman, convicted of orchestrating his wife Lita's murder to protect his fortune.
- Lita Sullivan: Vibrant victim, a 35-year-old socialite gunned down at her door; portrayed through loving family recollections.
- Belinda Trahan: Unlikely hero, ex-girlfriend of hitman accomplice Tony Harwood, whose guilty conscience cracked the cold case after 11 years.
- Supporting voices: Prosecutor Sheila Ross, Lita's friend Poppy Maribel, investigator John Lang, and family members delivering emotional testimony.
The Vibe: Intense and suspenseful, with gripping twists, raw outrage over greed-driven evil, and triumphant justice after decades of evasion.

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What you'll learn

1 (01:54) **The Murder of Lita Sullivan**
2 (03:50) **Prosecutors Introduce the Case**
3 (05:01) **Lita and Jim's Early Relationship**
4 (08:00) **Marriage Deteriorates and Divorce Begins**
5 (10:13) **Murder Day Eyewitness Accounts**
6 (11:56) **Initial Investigation Stalls**
7 (15:36) **Belinda Trahan Breaks the Case**

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

When Lita Sullivan opened her door to accept a gift of a dozen roses, she had no idea it would be the last thing she would ever do. The man with the flowers shot her dead. Her husband, millionaire Jim Sullivan, became the primary suspect. Her murder would remain unsolved for years until two unlikely witnesses finally stepped forward. “48 Hours" Correspondent Susan Spencer reports.

This classic "48 Hours" episode last aired on 7/21/2007. Watch all-new episodes of “48 Hours” on Saturdays, and stream on demand on Paramount+.

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