The disappearance and presumed murder of Suzanne Simpson, a 51-year-old Texas realtor and mother of four, has captivated public attention and led to the arrest and indictment of her husband, Brad Simpson, and his business partner, James “Val” Cotter. The case unfolds with a series of disturbing events beginning with a reported domestic dispute and culminating in murder charges and allegations of evidence tampering. Suzanne vanished on October 6th, 2024, after an alleged altercation with her husband outside their Olmos Park home, near San Antonio. A neighbor witnessed the assault and later reported hearing screams emanating from the nearby woods. Adding to the unsettling narrative, the Simpsons’ 5-year-old child confided in a school counselor, recounting witnessing her father physically assault her mother, injuring her elbow and face. The child also revealed that Brad Simpson confiscated Suzanne’s phone amidst the conflict.
Brad Simpson’s subsequent actions paint a picture of a desperate attempt to conceal evidence and evade capture. Two days after Suzanne’s disappearance, on October 8th, Simpson contacted his long-time business partner, James Cotter, via text message, urging Cotter to meet him urgently. The text messages, recovered by investigators, reveal Simpson’s distress and his request for Cotter to dispose of unspecified items, including a gun, in a pump house. The urgency and secrecy surrounding these requests immediately cast suspicion on Simpson. Cotter, responding to Simpson’s pleas, allegedly hid an AK-47, modified into an illegal “machine gun,” within the walls of his home. This act of concealment, coupled with the cryptic text exchange, solidified Cotter’s involvement in the unfolding investigation.
The subsequent investigation unveiled a series of disturbing details that further implicated Brad Simpson. Suzanne’s DNA was discovered on a reciprocating saw, a tool that investigators believe Simpson attempted to conceal. This discovery, along with the lack of any signs of Suzanne’s continued existence after the alleged assault, including a complete absence of activity on her cell phone and bank accounts, led authorities to believe that Simpson had murdered his wife and was actively attempting to cover up the crime. The totality of the evidence, including eyewitness testimony, the child’s account, the incriminating text messages, and the concealed reciprocating saw, painted a grim picture of a domestic dispute escalating into violence and ultimately, murder.
Both Brad Simpson and James Cotter now face serious legal repercussions. Simpson was arrested on October 9th, one day after contacting Cotter, and was subsequently indicted on December 3rd by a Bexar County grand jury on multiple charges, including murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury to a family member, tampering with a corpse, two counts of tampering with physical evidence, and possession of a prohibited weapon. These charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison. The indictment details the alleged timeline of events, accusing Simpson of intentionally causing Suzanne’s death on or around October 6th and subsequently attempting to conceal her body and destroy evidence related to the crime.
James Cotter, while not directly implicated in Suzanne’s murder, faces charges related to his role in aiding Simpson’s alleged cover-up. He was arrested on October 21st and indicted on charges of tampering with evidence with the intent to impair an investigation and possession of prohibited weapons. These charges, both third-degree felonies, stem from his alleged concealment of Simpson’s illegally modified AK-47. While Cotter was released on bond after having it reduced from $1 million to $100,000, he remains subject to strict conditions, including no contact with Brad Simpson, a prohibition on possessing firearms, and mandatory GPS monitoring. His association with Simpson and his apparent willingness to conceal a weapon have placed him firmly within the scope of the investigation.
The ongoing search for Suzanne Simpson’s remains continues to be a central focus for law enforcement. Despite extensive searches and investigative efforts, her body has not been recovered. The absence of her remains adds another layer of tragedy to this case, leaving her family and friends without closure. The collaborative efforts of law enforcement, coupled with the evidence gathered thus far, paint a compelling case against Brad Simpson, portraying him as the primary suspect in his wife’s disappearance and presumed murder. James Cotter’s involvement, while seemingly secondary, underscores the importance of thoroughly investigating all individuals connected to the case, as their actions can shed light on the circumstances surrounding Suzanne’s disappearance and contribute to the pursuit of justice.
