A Texas husband has been charged with murder more than a month after his wife went missing in San Antonio, according to court records.
Brad Chandler Simpson, 53, remained in jail Friday on a $2 million bond, according to online Bexar County Sheriff’s Office records.
Court records show: Simpson, who was in jail when the additional felony charge was filed against him in connection with his wife’s disappearance, appeared before a judge on Thursday.
During the hearing, the judge imposed bond conditions, including the requirement that he not possess a firearm and submit to routine drug testing, according to online records.
His wife, real estate agent Suzanne Simpson, went missing on the night of October 6, according to the Olmos Park Police Department.
Charges ‘bring some peace to family,’ relative says
Olmos Park Police Chief Fidel Villegas stated at a press conference on Friday afternoon that local authorities would continue to search for Suzanne Simpson but had gathered enough evidence to charge Brad Simpson in connection with his wife’s death.
“They’re not going to stop searching,” Deon Cockrell, a sergeant with the Texas Department of Public Safety, said at the news conference. Law enforcement did not provide any additional details about the case during the press conference.
Brad Simpson’s brother, Barton, sent a brief message thanking law enforcement for their tireless efforts to return Suzanne Simpson home and acknowledging the gravity of the charges brought against his brother.
“It’s always important to do what is right, especially when it is most difficult,” Simpson said. “The situation is heartbreaking for us, but it brings some peace to our family knowing that authorities have gathered enough information to move forward with charges.”
The charges, according to Barton Simpson, have enabled the family to begin the grieving process.
“This helps us come to terms with the reality that Suzanne is no longer with us, allowing us to continue the difficult process of grieving and focus on rebuilding our lives for the sake of the children and our extended family,” Barton Simpson told reporters.
Barton Simpson also urged his brother to do right by his family.
“It is our sincere hope that Brad will find the compassion and the courage to end his family’s suffering by cooperating with authorities to help us find his wife,” Brad Simpson said.
Simpson last seen outside of her home
According to police, the missing woman was last seen outside her home in the suburb of Olmos Park and reported missing the following day.
The small city is located in Bexar County, approximately four miles north of downtown San Antonio.
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by KSAT-TV, a neighbor witnessed Simpson and her husband Brad getting into a physical argument after returning from a party near their home the night she was last seen. A detective wrote in the affidavit that the neighbor heard two or three screams shortly after.
Husband given public defender
According to court records, a judge appointed Simpson as a public defender in this case.
Attorney Keri Mallon of the Bexar County Public Defender’s Office told USA TODAY Friday that the office had no comment on the case.
Steven Gilmore, a court-appointed attorney assigned to him after he was arrested last month for assaulting a family member, previously told the San Antonio Express-News that the charges against Brad Simpson were “ludicrous” and that the case was “theater to incapacitate him, to keep him in custody.”
Husband, business partner arrested as search continues
In the midst of their search for Simpson, authorities arrested her husband and his business partner, James Vallee Cotter. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by KSAT-TV, Brad Simpson was “uncooperative” with the investigation and did not appear for a follow-up interview.
According to the arrest affidavit, her husband “appeared to be separating himself from his family” and sought refuge at his ranch in Bandera County. He was arrested on October 9, according to the Austin American Statesman, which is part of the USA TODAY Network.
According to court records, he was charged with domestic-related unlawful restraint, assault resulting in bodily injury to a family member, prohibited weapon possession, and tampering with evidence. A federal complaint was also filed against him, alleging that he possessed a rifle that was not registered to him.
Last month, the Department of Public Safety announced the arrest of James Vallee Cotter, his business partner. Cotter was charged with possessing a prohibited weapon. There was no attorney listed for Cotter.
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by KENS-TV, Cotter is accused of hiding an AK-47 in the wall of his home after Brad Simpson asked him to.
Police have searched landfill, other sites for Suzanne Simpson
Authorities conducted sweeps at several locations, including a local basin and a landfill in the area, but to no avail.
Simpson’s abrupt disappearance was “highly unusual,” Villegas stated at the press conference. “Suzanne was and continues to be known as a very loving and reliable person, particularly with her children and at work. She hasn’t gone to work and hasn’t contacted her children.
Simpson, whose children range in age from 5 to 20, worked as a realtor for Nix Realty Company and was “very involved in the school and sports activities of (her) children,” according to an online biography obtained by the Statesman.
On Friday, the missing and presumed dead woman’s updated biography said the following:
“Suzanne Simpson is a devoted mother, sister, friend, and professional realtor. Her Nix Realty family is devastated by her disappearance and reports of physical violence against her. We will continue to pray for Suzanne, as will so many others who love her.
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