A Texas man has been charged with the murder of his wife who disappeared more than a month ago, the Olmos Park Police Department said during a news conference Friday.
The charge comes after Suzanne Simpson, 51, was last seen on Oct. 6 outside the couple’s home in Olmos Park, a suburb of San Antonio. Her husband Brad Simpson, 53, was charged on Thursday in relation to her disappearance, police said.
Brad Simpson is currently held in Bexar County jail on a $5 million bond, facing multiple charges including murder, unlawful restraint, assault, tampering with evidence, and possession of a prohibited weapon, according to court and jail records obtained by the Associated Press.
Olmos Park Police Chief Fidel Villegas said Brad Simpson was charged by both the police department and DPS Texas rangers with the murder of his wife, upon collecting sufficient information to connect him to her death, despite Suzanne Simpson’s remains having yet to be found.
“We realize that this doesn’t bring closure to Suzanne’s family, but we hope it will allow them to enter the next phase of their grieving process with more clarity,” he said during the conference, which was televised by local television station WOAI, News 4 San Antonio.
He said Suzanne’s family is also asking for privacy, especially for their children, as they grieve.
Suzanne’s brother, Bart Simpson, briefly spoke during the conference.
“The situation is heartbreaking for us, but it brings some peace to our family, knowing that the authorities have gathered enough evidence to move forward with charges,” he said. “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.”
The Olmos Park Police Department (OPPD) had previously conducted searches at a local landfill and wooded areas near the couple’s residence, according to statements from the department. Chief Villegas said at the time he felt confident in potentially recovering Suzanne’s remains, citing “evidence, statements and solid police investigation” as the basis for their search efforts.
According to a police statement during the time of Suzanne Simpson’s disappearance, she was last seen on a Sunday night at 9:30 p.m., but her husband did not report her missing for 24 hours. The statement also mentioned that Brad Simpson had been arrested at the time on family violence charges, as “their sweet baby and neighbor” witnessed an attack on the night of Suzanne’s disappearance.