True Crime with Kendall Rae

Episode: Young Nurse Disappears on Her Afternoon Jog: The Murder of Sydney Sutherland
Date: January 8, 2026
Host: Kendall Rae

Overview

In this deeply empathetic episode, Kendall Rae explores the tragic case of Sydney Sutherland, a 25-year-old nurse from Arkansas who disappeared while out for a run in August 2020. Kendall places strong emphasis on honoring Sydney’s legacy, the trauma endured by her family and community, and broader themes of runner and women’s safety. The case, which strongly echoes the murder of Eliza Fletcher covered previously, serves both as a tribute to Sydney and a sobering reminder of the dangers women face while engaging in everyday activities like jogging.

Episode Breakdown

1. Introduction & Importance of the Case

(01:12 - 06:47)

• Kendall opens by connecting Sydney’s case to that of Eliza Fletcher, noting alarming similarities and the importance of discussing “runner safety, and obviously being abducted while on a run is something that disproportionately affects women.”
• She expresses her emotional reaction to Sydney’s story and a personal sense of vulnerability as a pregnant woman who currently only runs indoors.
• Quote:

  "I want to highlight them for who they were, not just what happened to them, not just the headlines surrounding their names." — Kendall Rae (02:25)

• Frames the world as unacceptably dangerous for women, emphasizing the need for awareness—not fear.

2. Who Was Sydney Sutherland?

(06:48 - 11:30)

• Sydney is described as the "glue of her family," a devoted daughter, sister, and nurse with immense love for her nieces—affectionately called ‘Aunt Sassy’.
• Her personal philosophy:

  "The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away." — Kendall quoting Sydney’s senior quote (08:17)

• Sydney had just returned from a family vacation, was in a great place in life with her boyfriend Alex, and showed deep connections to her family and community.

3. The Day of Sydney’s Disappearance

(11:30 - 16:32)

• Timeline of August 19, 2020:
  • Sydney spends time with her trainer and visits her mother.
  • She planned to go for a run in the afternoon, reportedly leaving home around 2:00 pm.
  • When her boyfriend Alex returns at 5:00 pm and Sydney is still gone, panic sets in—her purse and keys are still home in rural Arkansas, making voluntary absence unlikely.
• Family quickly mobilizes, involving police and spreading word via social media.
• Noteworthy community efforts:

  "During the first day, over 150 people came out to help search for her... That's like 30% of the city of Grubs, which is pretty incredible." — Kendall Rae (16:20)

4. Search and Early Investigative Breaks

(16:32 - 26:45)

• Community and police use every available resource, including helicopters, search dogs, Ring cameras, and creative means like checking Sydney’s phone’s Bluetooth with her car.
• The rural setting hindered efforts:

  "It's not somewhere that has any kind of surveillance video, obviously. So if someone disappears from around there, the likelihood of it being seen are pretty slim." — Kendall Rae (18:03)

• Sydney’s phone is eventually found almost undamaged, only a tenth of a mile from her house, audiobook paused, hinting at a possible encounter with her abductor (22:40).

5. The Timeline Narrows: Witnesses and Suspects

(26:45 - 33:05)

• UPS driver sights Sydney at 2:30pm but notes she was gone 10-15 minutes later.
• Law enforcement homes in on local farmer Quake Llewellyn, who saw Sydney around 2:45pm.
• Community concern grows due to Quake’s strange reputation and connection as a former schoolmate.
• Kendall highlights disturbing rumors:

  "There were rumors that this dude would eat roadkill and that he would even put animals in the microwave to watch them die... there were also allegations that he previously stalked a young woman." (29:33)

• Maggie, Sydney's mother, bravely confronts Quake, who blandly denies involvement:

  "All he told her was that, yes, he saw her running, but that was it... And then he gave her a hug and said, I hope you find her." (31:33)

6. The Break in the Case: Forensic Technology and Confession

(33:05 - 37:48)

• Quake and his father meet with police. Evidence (truck damage, blood, hydraulic fluid as a cover-up attempt) links him to Sydney’s disappearance.
• Key evidence from Life360 app pins Quake near all the key locations at the right times:

  "It showed that he drove over the overpass and stopped and immediately turned around... then he stopped just on the other side of the overpass for eight minutes near where Sydney's phone was found." (35:55)

• Quake insists, “this may be the first time that [Life360] lied.” — (36:20)
• Under mounting evidence, Quake confesses after learning Sydney’s body was found.

7. What Happened to Sydney & The Aftermath

(37:48 - 41:56)

• Quake claims he accidentally hit Sydney and assaulted her post-mortem, a version Kendall forcefully rejects as implausible and offensive:

  "No one accidentally hits someone and thinks, might as well, you know, just... How stupid do you think people are, Quake? Clearly, you think they're as stupid as you." — Kendall Rae (39:50)

• Key corroborating evidence from Quake’s own wife, who hands over home security footage showing he returned home with a car dent and supports investigation.
• Quake is ultimately arrested and charged with capital murder, rape, kidnapping, and abuse of a corpse.
• Family’s reaction and courtroom: Over 60 supporters wear pink, Sydney's favorite color, at sentencing.

  "Her mom said that it brings her a lot of comfort when she drives around and sees all these lights and that she is always going to keep hers on." — (41:10)

• Maggie faces Quake in court:

  "She told Quake to look her in the eyes... She then told him that Sydney was not his to take and described how he had the nerve to hug her with the same hands that he used to kill her baby girl." — (41:23)

• Victim’s father Dion:

  "You're a 300 pound coward that hit my 100 pound daughter with a 3,000 pound truck." — (41:36)

• Quake takes a plea deal for life without parole to avoid the death penalty.

8. Community Response & Sydney’s Legacy

(41:56 - 44:13)

• Profound grief in the small community; Sheriff David Lucas retires after the trauma of the case.
• Sydney’s family and friends respond with commemorative efforts:
  • Pink crosses at the abduction site and cemetery.
  • “Sydney Sutherland Memorial Overpass.”
  • The Sydney Claire Sutherland Foundation, scholarships for medical students.
  • Annual “Finish Sydney’s Run” fundraiser and the Miss Sassy pageant upholding her love of life and pageantry.
• Parallels drawn to the Eliza Fletcher case; Sydney’s mother shares the agony of reliving trauma as more women are lost in similar scenarios.

9. Runners’ Safety: Insight and Resources

(44:13 - 45:15)

• Kendall advocates for continuing to do what you love, but stresses safety precautions for runners:
  • Share your route and return time
  • Run in well-lit areas, vary your route
  • Keep phone charged and accessible
  • Limit use of headphones or noise cancellation
  • Trust your instincts and be aware of surroundings
• Quote:

  "I just hate that someone can do everything right and still be faced with that kind of evil. Sydney didn't deserve that. Eliza didn't deserve that. Nobody deserves that." — Kendall Rae (44:40)

• Recommends organizations like Run Her Way, We Will Campaign, TrailblazHer for support and advocacy.

10. Closing Thoughts

(45:15 - 45:30)

• Kendall returns to her mission: to honor Sydney and other victims as people, not just headlines or tragedies.
• She invites audience discussion and support for runners, especially women.
• Quote:

  "By sharing their stories, I hope that we can honor their memory and remember them for all the good they brought this world, all the love they shared. How many people were positively impacted by them and not just remember them for how their lives ended." — Kendall Rae (45:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “She was the glue of their family... looking after others was definitely her gift, and nursing was her way of giving that gift to others.” — Kendall Rae (07:45)
• “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” — Sydney Sutherland’s senior quote (08:17)
• “If you put that, you know, into the lens of there only being 500 people there, 150... that's like 30% of the city of Grubs, which is pretty incredible.” — Kendall Rae (16:20)
• "No one accidentally hits someone and thinks, might as well, you know, just..." — Kendall Rae (39:50)
• “She told Quake to look her in the eyes when she was talking to him, and I thought that was so brave, so powerful...” — Kendall on Maggie Sutherland (41:23)
• “You’re a 300 pound coward that hit my 100 pound daughter with a 3,000 pound truck” — Dion Sutherland’s impact statement (41:36)
• “By sharing their stories, I hope that we can honor their memory and... not just remember them for how their lives ended.” — Kendall Rae (45:00)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:12 — Introduction; why this case matters
• 06:48 — Sydney’s background and early life
• 11:30 — Timeline and day of disappearance
• 16:32 — Community mobilizes, rural search challenges
• 22:40 — Finding Sydney’s phone near her home
• 26:45 — Witnesses and narrowing of timeline
• 33:05 — Police zero in on Quake Llewellyn
• 35:55 — Life360 data exposes Quake
• 37:48 — Quake’s confession and grotesque claims
• 41:10 — The community’s response, pink tributes
• 41:23 — Victim impact statements in court
• 41:56 — Memorials and foundation created in Sydney’s name
• 44:13 — Runner safety and broader awareness advocacy
• 45:00 — Closing tribute to Sydney’s life and message for listeners

Summary in Kendall Rae's Tone

Kendall balances compassion for the victim and outrage at the perpetrator while speaking candidly about the realities for women runners. She threads details of Sydney’s life with practical advice and heartfelt reactions, creating a narrative that’s both informative and deeply humane. The episode is not just a recounting of tragedy but a call for community action, remembrance, and continued advocacy for women’s safety.

Listeners are left with a poignant tribute to Sydney Sutherland’s short but impactful life, sharpened by candid discussion of runner safety and a call to both remember victims as vibrant humans and pursue justice and change.