A newly unsealed affidavit reveals more about the hours leading up to the disappearance of Olmos Park mother Suzanne Simpson.
news4sanantonio.com
11/12/24 -- TIMELINE
TIMELINE: Affidavit reveals Brad Simpson's movements after wife went missing
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6
Evening
Suzanne Simpson and Brad Simpson attend a party at the Argyle Club in Alamo Heights. Their 5-year-old daughter was also there with them.
Brad Simpson Arrest Affidavit Locations
We obtained a previously-sealed arrest affidavit for Brad Simpson, who is charged with murdering his wife. These are the places highlighted in that affidavit, laying out where Simpson went the morning after his wife was last seen.
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OpenStreetMap contributors
Simpson Home
Howard Early Childhood Center
Whataburger
The Home Depot
Kendall County Solid Waste
Valero/Stripes
Bubble Bath Carwash
10 km
Simpson Home
Howard Early Childhood Center
Whataburger
Home Depot
Kendall County Solid Waste
Valero/Stripes
Howard Early Childhood Center
Bubble Bath Carwash
Excerpts from Brad Simpson's arrest affidavit
8:40 p.m. to 8:51 p.m.
Video surveillance from H-E-B shows Suzanne and her young daughter visited the store. Authorities believe they went home after.
9:15 p.m. - 9:25 p.m.
Suzanne calls a friend to say she was coming over. Her car is seen on surveillance video arriving at that friend's home at 9:25 p.m.
During the drive, Suzanne called her mother saying Brad had just assaulted her, causing pain to her arm, back, and neck.
Investigators learned from Suzanne's cell phone carrier that her service was suspended around this same time, by request of the subscriber. They believe Brad Simpson called to do this.
This contradicts Brad's original story, which was that Suzanne lost her phone at H-E-B.
10:22 p.m.
Suzanne's family member later provided authorities with a screenshot showing that her Find My Friends location was back at their home.
This is the iPhone's last known location.
After 10:22 p.m.
A neighbor tells police he saw Brad and Suzanne "loudly arguing" in his front yard and saw a "physical struggle."
After that, the neighbor said Suzanne broke free and ran toward a wooded area and Brad followed. He later heard screaming.
About an hour later, the neighbor says he heard Brad's truck start up and then return an hour after that.
11:09 p.m.
Investigators say Brad "intentionally engaged" in on/off cycles to completely shut down his phone. This prevents it from collecting data. This is referred to as a lock down, and officials say this is rare to see. They describe it as something someone would do to "avoid detection."
MONDAY, OCTOBER 7
7:53 a.m.
Brad Simpson drops his daughter off at Howard Early Childhood Center. Surveillance video shows that Brad's truck bed area contained at least two white trash bags with red strings and what appeared to be a large ice chest.
9:12 a.m.
Officials say Brad Simpson drove through a Whataburger in Boerne and got food with his debit card.
Surveillance cameras also provided a clearer picture of what was in the back of his truck: Three white trash bags, a large grey heavy-duty trash can, an ice chest, a large bulky item wrapped and secured In a blue tarp with a silver in color metal firewood rack placed on top of the blue tarp in a manner to conceal and weigh the tarp down.
Upon further observation of the blue tarp, Your Affiant believes that there is an unknown object concealed within the blue tarp due to its shape and size, and it being secured by a strap/rope. In Your Affiant's training and experience and past investigations, Your Affiant is aware that criminals will commonly conceal, transport, or disguise their victims in a manner described above to purposely avoid detection by law enforcement.
9:53 a.m.
Simpson arrives to The Home Depot on Bandera Road in Boerne.
Using cash, officials say video shows him buying two bags of Quikrete cement, an orange Home Depot construction bucket with a lid, a box of 32-count heavy duty trash bags, one bottle of 30-ounce Clorox disinfectant spray, and insect repellant.
Officials also learned Simpson approached a stranger in the parking lot to ask where the nearest dump was.
The person directed him to Kendall County Solid Waste.
Brad Simpson then "intentionally shuts off his cellular device," the affidavit says. He continued to cycle his phone on and off.
Between 9:53 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.
Vehicle location data shows that Brad's truck was near the Kendall County Solid Waste Surveillance video from a nearby business captured Simpson's truck driving away from the waste site.
11:15 a.m.
Simpson arrives to a gas station in Boerne. Video shows him using his debit card to fill up on gas, then using cash to buy water jugs.
Upon further review of the surveillance video, the white trash bags are now missing from [Simpson's] truck bed, but the blue tarp, firewood rack, and trash can are still present.
The affidavit also says Brad switched footwear from black sandals into dark colored, cowboy style boots.
After 11:15 a.m.
A video canvassing team located a surveillance camera showing Brad's truck driving westbound from Boerne into Bandera. The blue tarp with the fire rack on top of it remain in the truck bed.
Location data captured Brad's truck traveling westbound through Bandera County into Medina, Texas.
The on/off cycle of his cell phone continued.
His vehicle remained in the Medina area for approximately 13 minutes prior to heading eastbound back Into Kendall County.
1:41 p.m.
Brad's truck is seen on cameras entering the Boerne area.
"Upon further observation that the blue tarp is no longer visible, and the firewood rack is now repositioned within the truck bed," the affidavit reads.
3:27 p.m.
Brad Simpson arrives back at Howard Early Childhood Center to pick up his daughter.
The truck bed was clear of the blue tarp and the metal firewood rack. The ice chest and the large grey, heavy-duty trash can remained.
4:07 p.m.
Officials say Brad arrived to the Bubble Bath Carwash on San Pedro. Surveillance cameras show him washing and cleaning the driver front side and the rear left passenger side of the passenger compartment.
Later, photographs show dried cement splashes in the rear passenger compartment of the vehicle to include in the truck bed. Another photograph showed a 30-ounce Clorox bottle within the rear passenger compartment of the vehicle. The truck bed contained only the ice chest with no other items that were observed in previous surveillance videos, the affidavit says.
4:35 p.m.
Simson texts James 'Val' Cotter:
"If you're in Bandera can you haul
and meet me at your house?" and "I don't have much time..."
Cotter responded, "I will be there in 40 minutes."
Simpson responded, "OK, make sure and leave all that
into the pump house, especially the gun."
8:31 p.m.
Cotter texts Simpson: "Get over here!! I won't tell anyone."
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8
A Bandera County Sheriff's Deputy contacted Simpson as he was standing by an active fire at a property in that area.
Three cell phones and a laptop were found in that burn pit. Officials believe all three phones belonged to Brad.
Your Affiant's training and experience has taught him that criminals often engage In destruction of evidence in an effort to Impair or hinder a criminal investigation.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9
Officials arrest Brad Simpson and say he "did not appear surprised" or question why he was being arrested. He tells police Suzanne lost her phone at H-E-B on Sunday. Officials say he appeared unconcerned about his wife being missing.
OTHER INFORMATION
Brad Simpson had a cell phone on him at the time of his arrest. Officials located two notes, titled "This next life" and "Last will and testament."
In the notes, Simpson apologizes for physically assaulting Suzanne Simpson one time in August of 2023, and again on 10/06/2024. Officials say these notes were created 10/08/2024.
Blood was found in Simpson's truck, but authorities write in the affidavit that it belonged to Brad.
The affidavit says Suzanne told her banker that Brad often took her phone away from her, but told her to tell her children that she lost it. Suzanne also told the banker, "if she went missing to look for her in a lake."
VIEW BRAD SIMPSON'S AFFIDAVIT
