Authorities in Massachusetts have discovered a body they believe to be that of a woman missing for over a year. The body was found underneath a garage floor after the suspect allegedly confessed to a friend that he had committed murder.
Shawn Sullivan Faces Murder Charges
Shawn Sullivan, 40, is facing murder and several other charges, according to Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan. The body was discovered in a shallow grave beneath a garage in Tyngsborough, and although it has yet to be officially identified, investigators suspect the remains belong to 43-year-old Jill Kloppenburg, who vanished in January 2025.
Kloppenburg’s Disappearance
Kloppenburg was last seen on January 2, 2025, leaving her home on the 700 block of Broadway in Lowell. Activity on her cellphone ceased nearly two weeks later, and she was reported missing on February 26, 2025. Despite efforts to locate her, the case went cold until recently.
Confession Leads to Discovery
The breakthrough came on March 10 of this year when a friend of Sullivan contacted the Nashua Police Department in New Hampshire. The friend revealed that Sullivan had confessed to killing a woman named Jill around January 2025. Authorities soon realized Sullivan and Kloppenburg were acquainted and began investigating further.
Search of Tyngsborough Home Uncovers Body
Using missing persons databases, investigators determined that the woman Sullivan referred to was likely Kloppenburg. On Sunday, police conducted a search of a home on Audrey Avenue in Tyngsborough, where Sullivan had previously lived. Ground-penetrating radar indicated an anomaly beneath a two-car garage. Upon digging in the area, authorities uncovered the body of a woman wrapped in plastic.
Investigation and Charges
A medical examiner is currently working to confirm the identity of the body and determine the cause and manner of death. In addition to the murder charge, Sullivan faces assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, as well as improper disposal of human remains. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday.
Family Reaction
Friends and family of Kloppenburg were shocked by the discovery. Her friends had grown concerned when they could no longer get in touch with her. Ann Matlosz, a friend, expressed worry to local media, stating, “We’re very concerned because she hasn’t checked in. No matter what is going on in her life, she has always checked in with her friends.”
Her uncle, Steven Kloppenburg, posted on Facebook after learning about the discovery of the remains. He wrote that while he and his niece were not particularly close, he was devastated by her loss. “Though we were not particularly close, I find myself walking around since with eyes watery, on the edge of tears, for her loss, for what could have been,” he wrote. “There will be a resolution.”
