A Virginia husband was arrested in Pennsylvania hours after allegedly shooting his wife dead in their Loudoun County home.
Roger Bradford, 60, of Aldie, now faces first-degree murder and firearms charges in the killing of Lisa Bradford, 54, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday. Deputies discovered the real estate agent’s body shortly after noon inside the couple’s residence on the 24000 block of Quimby Oaks Place.
The search for Roger Bradford spanned three states and ended roughly 180 miles from the crime scene. Pennsylvania State Police took him into custody in Bedford, Pa., at about 3:15 p.m., approximately three hours after deputies first responded to the home, according to FOX 5 DC.
Authorities launched the manhunt after a relative contacted law enforcement, reported that Bradford was allegedly involved in his wife’s death and asked them to check the home, Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman said during a Tuesday news conference. When deputies arrived, Roger Bradford had already fled in a rental car. Investigators tracked the vehicle north through Virginia and Maryland before Pennsylvania authorities located their suspect.
“We just don’t know,” Chapman told reporters when asked whether the couple had a history of domestic incidents.
A handgun was used in the killing, though authorities had not recovered the weapon as of Tuesday afternoon. Chapman noted that Bradford has some prior criminal history but could not immediately provide details.
No one else was believed to have been inside the home at the time of the shooting. The couple’s three children — two in college and one enrolled at a local high school — have been notified of their mother’s death.
Lisa Bradford had built a 16-year career in Northern Virginia real estate after a decade at Ford Motor Company, according to her Compass profile. The Miami University graduate had held her real estate license since 2008.
Roger Bradford remained in Pennsylvania pending extradition to Virginia. The sheriff’s office said there was no continuing threat to the public.
Authorities believe the shooting was domestic in nature, though the investigation remains ongoing.