SAN ANTONIO — Olmos Park Police and the Texas Department of Public Safety held a news conference Friday, one day after Suzanne Simpson's husband, Brad, was charged with murder.
Brad Simpson, 53, has been jailed since Oct. 9. Weeks of searching at multiple sites in the region have turned up no evidence indicating what may have happened to his 51-year-old wife after she disappeared a month ago.
Then, on Thursday, Texas DPS announced they had enough evidence to charge him with murder.
A realtor and mother of four, Suzanne Simpson was last seen near the family's home on East Olmos Drive on Oct. 6. A neighbor told investigators he saw Brad physically restraining his wife after he heard the two arguing. Brad was initially charged with assault and unlawful restraint of a family member as well as a charge for illegally possessing a rifle, police said.
On Friday, Olmos Park Police, along with Texas DPS, Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales and Brad Simpson's brother, spoke to the media for the first time since the murder charge was filed.
In his remarks, Olmos Park Police Chief Fidel Villegas said that, despite the charge of murder and confirmation of Suzanne's death, there is still no sign of her remains.
"We realize this does not bring closure to Suzanne's family, but we hope this will allow them to enter the next phase of their grieving process with more clarity," Chief Villegas said.
Brad's brother, Barton Simpson, also spoke to the media. He said he and the rest of the family remain heartbroken, but they're also relieved that charges have been filed.
"It's always important to do what is right, especially when it is most difficult," Barton Simpson said. "The situation is heartbreaking to us, but it brings some peace knowing that the authorities have gathered enough evidence to move forward with charges. This helps us come to terms with the reality that Suzanne is no longer with us."
He also said he and the family will continue to put pressure on Brad to cooperate with police as to the location of Suzanne's remains.
"This is our sincere hope and prayer, that Brad will find the compassion and courage to end his family's suffering and cooperate with authorities to help them find his wife," Barton Simpson said.
Later in the news conference, DPS spokesperson Deon Cockrell confirmed that authorities are searching the Bandera area, adding to the list of locations law enforcement have looked for Suzanne. They have also scoured locations in Olmos Park and Kendall County, along with a landfill east of San Antonio.
"That is one of the areas where the evidence had turned us to and we continues to search wherever any of the evidence comes up," Cockrell said of the Bandera-area location.
Because of the active search for her remains, Cockrell pleaded with the public to come forward with any new information, echoing a sentiment law enforcement have repeated over the last month.
"We ask that if the public knows anything, please contact the Olmos Park Police Department or the Department of Public Safety," Cockrell said. "The district attorney starts their process in the prosecution phase, even though we are not stopping our search for Suzanne Clark Simpson."
Cockrell also said Brad Simpson has not had contact with his children since his arrest.
Suzanne was last seen in their Olmos Park neighborhood north of downtown San Antonio on Oct. 6. Brad's bond for the murder charge was set at $2 million, bringing his total bonds from all charges filed against him to $5 million.
A judge has sealed his murder warrant until Dec. 7.
See the full press conference below: