Virginia Realtor Found Dead in Mansion, Husband Charged
Data center consultant Roger Bradford faces first-degree murder charges in the death of his wife, Lisa Bradford, a respected local realtor.
Lisa Bradford, a 54-year-old realtor in Aldie, Virginia, was found shot dead last Tuesday inside her $1.4 million mansion. Her husband, Roger 'Paul' Bradford, 60, a data center consultant, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with her death.
The couple was just days away from celebrating their 22nd wedding anniversary. Friends and colleagues expressed shock, stating they were unaware of any marital problems.
"She was always smiling," said Christy Stuart, a friend of Lisa's. "No matter every time I saw her, she would greet me with a smile and a hug."
Authorities were alerted after Roger Bradford contacted a relative and indicated he was involved in his wife's death. Sheriff Mike Chapman stated that Roger Bradford fled the scene in a rental car, leading to a manhunt that concluded with his arrest in Bedford, Pennsylvania. He has since waived extradition.
Court records reveal that Roger Bradford had previously served 20 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud in a construction-related kickback scheme. In a declaration filed earlier this year, he wrote that the conviction had financially devastated him, impacted his mental health, and strained his marriage to Lisa.
"My marriage with my wife Lisa is now headed to divorce as the pressures and injustice of this nightmare took its toll on our marriage and our life together," he stated in the filing, describing the prospect of losing his marriage as "too much to bear." He also identified himself in court filings as a "gun enthusiast" who was upset about losing his right to possess firearms due to his felony conviction. His data center consulting business also recently went out of business.
Despite Roger Bradford's legal troubles, Lisa had previously written a letter to a judge in his fraud case, describing him as a loving father and a supportive husband who put his own dreams aside to help her achieve hers.
Lisa Bradford was a successful realtor with Compass and was remembered by colleagues as a devoted mother and a pillar of the community. The Dulles Area Association of Realtors noted that colleagues were devastated by the news. "People are struggling to accept that something like this could have happened to someone that they knew and respected," said CEO Ann Rushlo.
Friends gathered over the weekend for a vigil at the Hal and Berni Hanson Nature Center in Aldie. A GoFundMe page has been established to support the couple's three children, two of whom are in high school and one in college.