Husband of Suzanne Simpson charged with murder

The charge, which was filed Thursday, comes a month after Suzanne Simpson went missing. She was last seen alive on Oct. 6.

Authorities arrested Brad Simpson, 53, on Oct. 9, charging him with unlawful restraint and assault causing bodily injury to a family member — his wife. He also faces two felony charges — tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and possession of a prohibited weapon.

Brad Simpson also faces a federal felony charge of possessing an unregistered firearm that was filed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. A detainer — a formal notice that someone in state custody is also wanted on federal charges — seeks to prevent Simpson's release from jail.

Law enforcement officials have searched extensively for Suzanne Simpson's remains, including in wooded areas near the Simpson home in Olmos Park, a wooded expanse off Interstate 10 in Boerne and a landfill on San Antonio's East Side, but found nothing.

An arrest affidavit with details of the murder charge against Brad Simpson was filed, but it is sealed to the public for 30 days by Judge Kristina Escalona of the 186th district court.

In a statement to the Express-News, Barton Simpson, Brad Simpson's brother, said it was heartbreaking to hear that his brother had been charged with murder.

"It brings our family some peace to know that authorities have gathered sufficient evidence to feel confident in moving forward with charges," Barton Simpson said. "This also helps us to come to terms with the reality that Suzanne is no longer with us, allowing us to begin a difficult grieving process and focus on rebuilding our lives, especially for the sake of the children and our extended family."

According to an arrest affidavit for Brad Simpson, a neighbor saw him struggling with his wife outside their home on the night of Oct. 6. A short time later, the neighbor heard screams in a wooded area nearby.

The neighbor also told police he saw Brad Simpson's black GMC pickup leave the Simpsons' home and return an hour or two later.

The couple's youngest child told a teacher her parents had been fighting, and that her father had struck her mother in the face and taken away her cell phone, the affidavit states.

Brad Simpson reported his wife missing to police on Oct. 7 after staff at their youngest child's school called to say Suzanne Simpson hadn't picked her up from school as she usually did.