A well-known Virginia realtor who authorities said was shot to death by her husband last month was one of several names included in a hit list he allegedly kept in a journal.
Roger Paul Bradford fled Virginia after allegedly killing Lisa E. Bradford at their family home in Loudoun County on September 22, leading to a multi-state search, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.
Within hours, Roger, 60, was arrested in Pennsylvania by state police after he was spotted in a rental car.
Inside the vehicle, authorities found a hit list he had handwritten in a journal that “detailed several people Bradford planned to kill, one of which was his wife Lisa,” according to a search warrant affidavit obtained by NBC4 Washington.
Roger, who’s facing a second-degree murder charge and a gun offense in relation to his wife’s death, appeared in court on Wednesday, October 7, for an arraignment, the outlet reported.
Loudoun County Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Jason Faw said in court that it’s possible the second-degree murder charge will be elevated to first-degree murder, as he believes “there was clear evidence for premeditation,” per the Washington Post.
In Roger’s journal, investigators said he wrote “Lisa was to be killed on Tuesday,” according to the newspaper, which reported she died days ahead of their 22nd wedding anniversary.
Roger allegedly called a family member to confess to the killing after fatally shooting Lisa the afternoon of September 22, which was a Tuesday, Us previously reported. Lisa was 54 years old.
She was a mother and longtime realtor who worked for the national real estate brokerage Compass ahead of her death, according to her LinkedIn page.
Her three children “meant more to her than anything in the world,” Lisa’s mother, Mary Arquette, wrote in a GoFundMe created to support the children.
“Lisa was a warm, caring, and a truly remarkable person,” Arquette wrote. “She will be remembered for her beautiful smile, generous spirit, wonderful sense of humor, and the way she made people feel welcome, valued, and cared for. Above everything else, she was a devoted mother.”
According to Faw, others named in Roger’s alleged hit list potentially include individuals in Iowa, where he was previously convicted in federal court of wire fraud in 2023 and served 20 months in prison, the Washington Post reported.
In an appeal related to the case, Roger claimed the case drained his finances and negatively impacted his relationship with Lisa and their children, according to the newspaper.
While appearing in court on Wednesday, Roger reportedly said he wanted to defend himself in connection with Lisa’s death.
He rejected a bond hearing and reportedly told the judge, “I’m right where I need to be.”
Roger’s direct contact information wasn’t immediately available.
