Missing Texas Woman's DNA Found on Husband's Saw

Law enforcement is still looking for the remains of Texas realtor Suzanne Simpson, who has been missing for more than two months. Her husband, Brad Simpson, was in court this week after reports said her DNA was found on a reciprocating saw that he is accused of hiding. On Dec. 3, 2024, a grand jury in Bexar County officially charged Brad Simpson, 53, with several serious crimes related to his wife's death. He had his first court appearance on Dec. 9 during a short hearing in San Antonio.

Critical Evidence

Authorities told the family of the missing real estate agent that her DNA had been found on the reciprocating saw mentioned in the legal charges, according to KABB. A reciprocating saw is known as a powerful demolition tool that can cut through tough materials like wood, hard plastic, and even metal, according to Pro Tool and Supply. Brad Simpson apparently tried hiding the saw earlier in the investigation, according to the indictment.

Witness Accounts

Suzanne Simpson, 51, was last seen on Oct. 6 after a reported argument with her husband, Brad Simpson, outside their home in Olmos Park, a neighborhood near San Antonio. The couple had been married for 22 years. Suzanne's sudden disappearance raised concerns, especially since she was last seen fighting with her husband. While her body has not been found, law enforcement believes that her husband, Brad, was involved in her death. According to the formal charges filed against him, authorities believe that he "intentionally and knowingly caused the death" of Suzanne on or around Oct. 6, as reported by Fox News. A neighbor is said to have seen Brad Simpson assault his wife the night she went missing and later heard screams coming from the woods nearby. Furthermore, Fox News reports the couple's five-year-old child told a school counselor that on Oct. 6, her father allegedly "pushed her mother against the wall, hit her mother on the face and hurt her mother's elbow inside their residence." The child also said her father "turned off her mother's phone because they were fighting," according to the legal documents.

Suspicion

Investigators noticed strange behavior from Brad Simpson in the days after his wife disappeared. This included turning off his phone, driving with suspicious items in the back of his truck, going to a dump site, and washing his truck at a car wash. Authorities said there is no evidence that Suzanne is alive since her husband reportedly attacked her on Oct. 6. This has been confirmed through her cellphone records, financial records, and information from her family, friends, and co-workers.

Charges

On Nov. 7, Brad Simpson was charged with Suzanne's murder. The charges are two first-degree felonies: murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon that caused serious injury to a family member. These charges could result in a life sentence in prison. He was also charged with tampering with a corpse, two counts of tampering with evidence, and possession of an illegal weapon. The charges also state that on Oct. 7, Brad "did then and there, knowing that an offense had been committed, namely a murder, alter, destroy, and conceal a human corpse, with intent to impair its availability as evidence in a subsequent investigation related to the murder," as reported by Fox News.

What's Next

Brad originally had an examining trial planned, but it was canceled after the grand jury issued an indictment. Brad's attorney, Steven Gilmore, had requested the examining trial, which would have forced prosecutors to share the evidence they collected. Gilmore has also filed a motion, obtained by Fox News Digital, to have the indictments against Simpson dismissed. He argues that the charges are "vague, indefinite, ambiguous, uncertain" and do not "set forth in plain and intelligible language the offense charged against [Simpson]."

A trial has been scheduled to begin Feb. 12, 2025.

The case of Suzanne Simpson's disappearance has shocked many, and her husband, Brad Simpson, is facing serious charges, including murder and aggravated assault. Authorities believe he was responsible for her death, and more evidence is coming to light. As the investigation moves forward, the court will decide if he will be held accountable. Suzanne's family and the community are hoping for justice and answers as they await the next steps in the case.

References: Suzanne Simpson's DNA Found on Murder Suspect Husband's Saw That Can Cut Metal | Suzanne Simpson's DNA Found on Saw That Husband Attempted to Hide, Sources Say | Trial set for February 2025 in Brad Simpson's murder case over wife's disappearance