Murder Charges Often Handled by Investigators Without Wait for Bodies to be Found
Investigations of missing individuals often lead to murder charges being filed by law enforcement, but detectives may or may not find a body before making such a decision. In two recent high-profile cases in Texas and Massachusetts, accused husbands faced murder charges, despite not having been able to recover the victims’ bodies.
Suzanne Simpson, a Texas realtor, vanished four months ago, and police found no signs of forced entry at her home, leading many to believe foul play is involved. However, when her husband Brad Simpson denied any knowledge of her whereabouts, police suspected him, and authorities then found signs of violence against her after a review of her movements and conversations from the previous night.
An investigation followed, during which police retrieved a reciprocating saw with her DNA on it, a clear indication she was still within the reach of Brad when she allegedly disappeared. Based on available evidence, such as signs of struggle around the crime scene and other circumstantial evidence, it was discovered that her movements had seemingly stopped around this time frame.
A parallel case that unfolded in Massachusetts involved another missing mother and real estate executive, Ana Walshe. Discovered under suspicious circumstances New Year’s Day, detectives were later able to retrieve evidence hinting at violent behavior when her husband.
