Dark Downeast | "The Murder of Brandi 'Amy' Sullivan (Massachusetts)"

Host: Kylie Low
Release Date: January 15, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of Dark Downeast, hosted by investigative journalist Kylie Low, delves into the unresolved 1996 murder of 17-year-old Brandi "Amy" Sullivan from Tewksbury, Massachusetts. Kylie weaves together a narrative of Amy’s vibrant but troubled life, the heartbreak of her family, an investigation marked by lies and missed opportunities, and the lingering quest for justice. The episode relies on careful reporting, archival insights, and new interviews – notably with Amy’s former boyfriend – while maintaining a tone of empathy and respect for Amy and her loved ones.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Amy's Disappearance (00:03–08:00)

• Background: Amy Sullivan, an independent and restless teenager, left home frequently but always checked in with her family. When she vanished in June 1996, her parents at first hoped she was just taking space.
• Timeline:
  • Last seen by her parents in the early hours of June 6, 1996.
  • Amy asked her mom, Barbara, for a ride home from the Oakdale Mall before 1:30am (00:50); she “didn’t seem like herself.”
  • After quietly talking about a doctor’s appointment, Amy went to bed after making a phone call to an unidentified person.
  • “The last words her mother remembers saying to her were simple: ‘I love you.’” (01:45)
• Initial Family Response:
  • Her history of leaving home led the Sullivans to hope for her return. “Amy always called… This time, there was nothing.” (02:30)
  • Despite early reluctance to panic, the Sullivans began searching after several days without contact.

2. The Investigation & Discovery (08:00–16:00)

• Missing Person Report: Amy’s parents formally reported her missing on June 25, 1996 (nearly three weeks later).
• Witness Reports: Friends claimed to see Amy in late June, even after she was reported missing, complicating the official timeline.
• Discovery of Remains: Amy’s skeletal remains were found on August 7, 1996, by an IRS employee in woods behind a warehouse (08:45).
  • “The wooded area sat close to everyday routines… Yet the remains had gone unseen for weeks.” (09:10)
  • Police withheld details about the crime scene, the condition of the body, and evidence of sexual assault.
• Cause of Death: Determined to be blunt force trauma to the head. Amy likely died at least four weeks before the discovery, though later events muddied this detail.
• Forensic Details: Clothing (jeans, sneakers, and a jacket) was found at the scene. Her parents recognized most items, except the jacket.

3. Amy's Life and Personality (16:00–20:00)

• Background: Amy had a turbulent adolescence involving substance use and time in recovery but was depicted as intelligent, creative, and caring.
• Ambitions:
  • She left high school but was two weeks from earning her GED.
  • "She liked the idea of shaping metal… making something expressive and permanent with her hands… She even talked about opening a welding studio of her own someday." (14:05)
• Family’s Memories:
  • “Amy was known for hitchhiking, for showing up and disappearing again, for living in motion.” (14:50)
  • Her parents remember her as a “social butterfly… with a heart of gold.”

4. Obstacles in the Investigation (16:30–23:39)

• Timeline Confusion & Perjury:
  • Neil Clough, a friend and employer of Amy and her boyfriend, lied to a grand jury about his last encounter with Amy.
  • On July 17, 1996, a police officer found Amy in Neil’s van at a mall but failed to realize she was a missing person (17:24).
    • “Had Neil spoken up in July, … [the] trajectory of the investigation would have changed entirely.” (21:23)
  • Neil was later charged and convicted of perjury for lying under oath.
• Missed Opportunities:
  • “Had Amy’s name and missing persons report popped up on the officer's computer screen that day... maybe we wouldn’t be talking about Amy right now at all.” (21:54)
• Reluctant Witnesses: Most of Amy’s friends refused to talk to police, stalling the investigation.

5. Main Suspects and Theories (23:39–31:00)

• Neil Clough: Despite his lies and proximity, investigators did not initially consider him a suspect but later acknowledged he was among persons of interest.
• Alexander, Amy’s Boyfriend:
  • Alexander was interviewed for this episode, recounting Amy as “amazing… intelligent, creative, beautiful and headstrong." (23:50)
  • He both suspected and doubted Neil’s involvement and referenced other rumors about possible suspects.
  • Denies any involvement and laments the toll of false accusations:
    • “While false accusations pale in comparison to losing somebody so close to you, they are still devastating and destroy your life.” (24:53)
• Other Figures:
  • Police released a composite sketch of a mystery man seen with Amy on July 18, 1996, but he was never identified.
  • Investigators later stated they believed Amy was killed by someone she knew and who had admitted to the crime.

6. Context of Broader Violence Against Girls (31:00–35:20)

• The 1996 murder of Amy coincided with other high-profile killings of local teenage girls (Jamie Snow, April Church, Kimberly Bolton).
• Comparison of cases brought attention to societal issues, media victim-blaming, and lack of support for victims’ families.
• “Much of the media coverage during that period shifted attention away from perpetrators and toward the lives of the victims themselves… implying that the girls' behavior… was to blame.” (33:44)

7. Family’s Ongoing Search for Justice (35:21–End)

• Community Efforts:
  • Amy’s family used purple ribbons (her favorite color) as a public call for remembrance and justice, only to find them slashed and removed by strangers.
• Civil Lawsuit:
  • In 2000, Amy’s parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against both Neil Clough and Alexander. The case ended without trial or finding due to procedural issues, echoing the unresolved criminal investigation.
• Lasting Grief and Advocacy:
  • The Sullivans continued to call for witnesses to come forward.
  • Dennis Sullivan: “How come people don’t talk about her anymore? … How come nobody’s called the police or the district attorney? It just seems like everybody’s forgot all about it.” (36:20)
• Emotional Legacy:
  • Amy is remembered as loving, creative, and gentle. Her mother Barbara: “She had this wonderful glow about her that made everyone who was near her comfortable to talk to her.” (37:40)

8. Closing Plea from Amy’s Parents (38:10–End)

• Episode closes with a letter from Barbara and Dennis Sullivan to Amy’s friends and acquaintances, urging them to break their silence:
  • “Do you have a conscience? Were you her friend? Why won’t you come forward and give information to the police? How can you protect a person or persons who murdered a defenseless young girl?… Please help bring Amy’s killer to justice.” (38:44)
• Kylie ends with contact details for sharing information, reiterating the importance of even the smallest tip to break decades of silence.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Kylie Low:

  • “Amy’s life, her plans, the momentum she had been building, all of it stopped in the woods behind that warehouse building in Wilmington.” (15:05)
  • “Silence has a cost, and it has cost Amy her justice. It has cost her family decades of unanswered questions.” (40:10)

• Amy’s Father, Dennis Sullivan:

  • “How come people don’t talk about her anymore?... It just seems like everybody’s forgot all about it.” (36:20)

• Alexander (Amy’s boyfriend):

  • “While false accusations pale in comparison to losing somebody so close to you, they are still devastating and destroy your life.” (24:53)

• Amy’s Mother, Barbara Sullivan:

  • “She had this wonderful glow about her that made everyone who was near her comfortable to talk to her.” (37:40)

• Investigative Frustration:

  • “If anyone thinks we’re going away, they’re crazy. We’ll haunt them every single day until this case is closed.” — Sgt. Dennis Peterson, Tewksbury Police (36:50)

Important Timestamps

• 00:03–02:30: Amy’s last night home, family’s early reactions
• 08:00–10:45: Discovery of Amy’s remains, investigative secrecy
• 16:00–17:24: Neil Clough’s interaction with Amy after she was reported missing
• 23:39–24:53: Interview excerpts with Alexander, Amy’s boyfriend
• 33:44: Media coverage and victim-blaming context
• 36:20: Amy’s father expresses grief and frustration over fading public attention
• 38:44–40:30: Powerful closing letter by Amy’s parents, plea for witnesses to come forward

Summary Table: Key Persons and Events

| Name | Relation to Amy | Role in Case / Episode Content | |--------------------|----------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------| | Amy Sullivan | Victim | 17-year-old, ambitious, creative; murdered June/July 1996 | | Barbara Sullivan | Mother | Advocates for Amy, shares emotional recollections | | Dennis Sullivan | Father | Provided timeline, insight, voiced ongoing frustration | | Neil Clough | Friend/Employer| Lied under oath, convicted of perjury, later revealed as suspect | | Alexander | Boyfriend | Interviewed in episode, shared perspectives and denied involvement | | Unknown Male | Witness | Sketched by police, never identified, seen talking to Amy last day |

Episode Tone, Takeaways, and Call to Action

Kylie Low maintains a respectful and quietly urgent tone, portraying Amy Sullivan’s humanity beyond the headlines and rumors. The episode lays bare the ripple effects of incomplete justice on families and communities, and is anchored in hope that new witnesses will finally step forward.

Host's Closing Statement:
“You don’t need the whole story. You don’t need proof. You just need to tell what you know. Amy’s family is still waiting.” (40:18)

Contact Information:

• Tewksbury Police Department: 978-851-7373
• Anonymous Tip Line: 978-851-0175
• MA State Police (DA’s Office): 781-897-6600

For More Information

All source material and the police sketch of the mystery witness are available at darkdowneast.com.