The search for 51-year-old Suzanne Simpson, a mother of four from Texas, has entered its third week with no leads on her whereabouts. Suzanne was last seen on the morning of October 7 outside her home in San Antonio, in what has now turned into a highly emotional and complex investigation.
Neighbors reported a disturbing incident that morning, recounting to NBC affiliate WOAI that Suzanne was seen arguing with her husband, Brad Simpson, before disappearing. One neighbor reported seeing the couple in a physical altercation, stating that Brad had “grabbed her upper torso area to gain control of her body.” The witness also mentioned hearing screams coming from the nearby woods shortly afterward. About an hour later, Brad Simpson’s truck was seen leaving the area, sparking further concern.
Suzanne’s mother, Barbara Clark, has publicly expressed her growing despair. Speaking during a candlelight vigil for her daughter, Clark said that while she was aware of one prior physical altercation between the couple, she never thought it would escalate to this point. “It wasn’t part of their life or his behavior, and I’ve known him a long time,” Clark shared. Tragically, she also admitted, “I don’t believe my daughter is alive.”
Brad Simpson was arrested just three days after his wife’s disappearance on October 10. He now faces two charges of family violence, according to court records. In a separate federal complaint, he was also charged with unlawfully possessing a short-barrel rifle that was found at his residence during a police search. The rifle, a Grand Power Stribog SP9 A3, was not registered to him, according to federal officials. Brad is currently being represented by the San Antonio Public Defender’s Office, which has declined to comment on the case.
The investigation took another twist when Brad’s business associate, James Vallee Cotter, was also arrested. Cotter faces charges of tampering with evidence and is currently out on bond, which has been set at $500,000. Cotter has been placed under house arrest and is required to surrender his passport as part of the court’s conditions. His attorney has yet to respond to media inquiries.
Law enforcement agencies, including the Texas Department of Public Safety, have been tirelessly searching for any sign of Suzanne Simpson, even going so far as to search through a landfill. However, their efforts have yet to yield any evidence. “After conducting an extensive search consisting of digging and sifting through the municipal solid waste, no evidence was found,” the Department of Public Safety said in a statement.
The case continues to develop, but for now, the Simpson family and the community are left with more questions than answers as they hold onto hope for a breakthrough in the search for Suzanne.