Suzanne Simpson Case: Husband Allegedly Asked Business Partner to Hide AK-47 Amid Search for His Missing Wife

In the ongoing search for Suzanne Simpson, who has been missing for over two weeks, her husband, Brad Simpson, faces new charges while his business associate, James Vallee Cotter, has also been arrested. Olmos Park Police Chief Fidel Villegas reports that Suzanne and Brad Simpson reportedly had a public altercation on Oct. 6, which may have turned physical. The altercation, first reported by Brad Simpson a day later when he filed a missing person report, has led police to further investigate Simpson’s involvement in her disappearance.

Escalating Charges and Disturbing Evidence

Brad Simpson, initially charged with assault and unlawful restraint, is now also accused of tampering with evidence and possessing a prohibited weapon. According to court records, a neighbor reported seeing Simpson trying to control Suzanne as she attempted to get away. The witness also heard screaming, observed Brad Simpson leaving the area, and saw him return later that evening. Investigators report Suzanne’s phone last pinged at a parking lot early on Oct. 7 but has been inactive since. In addition, Suzanne’s absence became evident when she missed picking up her children from school, a deviation from her usual routine.

The couple’s youngest child also reported that her parents had been fighting and that her father hit her mother, possibly pushing her into a wall. Brad Simpson then reportedly took his wife’s phone, possibly in an attempt to restrict her actions or communications.

Partner’s Involvement and Ongoing Search Efforts

Amid mounting suspicion, officials expanded their search efforts and began sifting through a Bexar County landfill for Suzanne’s remains. Meanwhile, Texas Rangers detained James Vallee Cotter, Brad Simpson’s business partner, for evidence tampering. Records show that Brad Simpson messaged Cotter urgently on Oct. 8, asking him to meet and referencing items to be hidden, including a gun, in a pump house.

Police executed a search warrant on Cotter’s property and discovered an AK-47 concealed behind a wall. Additionally, a search of Simpson’s home revealed a room with several firearms similar to those found at Cotter’s residence. Simpson, who reportedly distanced himself from his family by retreating to his Bandera ranch, had allegedly instructed Cotter to retrieve a rifle from his home.

While Simpson’s family members report a history of prior violence, his legal predicament has intensified, with his bond set at $3 million. Investigators remain hopeful as they continue their efforts to locate Suzanne Simpson, with Chief Villegas expressing confidence that the ongoing search in Bexar County may provide key evidence in the case.