A friend who went to her home that day – April 24 – to take her to the doctor found blood on two beds. A cigarette was found in the house, though Sullivan didn't smoke. The freezer door was left open, and half of Sullivan's dentures were in the house. Bessemer police found no signs of forced entry and blood splatter patterns didn't indicate a struggle. Sullivan's gun was on the bed. Her purse and $500 also remained in the home. Police and hundreds of volunteers combed the woods surrounding Sullivan’s home and came out with nothing but theories.