TX SUZANNE CLARK SIMPSON: Missing from Olmos Park, TX - 6 Oct 2024 - Age 51 *ARREST*

Missing Mom Suzanne Simpson Murder Case: Defendant seeks to suppress evidence
James Cotter, the longtime business partner of Brad Simpson, filed several motions in court Monday amid the ongoing investigation into the murder of Suzanne Simpson. Brad Simpson is accused of murdering his wife, and Cotter is alleged to have assisted him in hiding an unregistered fully automatic firearm during the investigation into Suzanne's disappearance.
Among the filings, Cotter's motion to suppress seeks to exclude any evidence obtained by law enforcement, claiming authorities took him into custody without lawful authority. This motion aims to suppress any statements made to law enforcement and communications obtained during the investigation. An arrest affidavit for Cotter indicates he permitted authorities to review his phone, revealing communications with Brad Simpson about concealing a gun in a pump house. Simpson allegedly apologized for the urgency of the request, telling Cotter, "You're all I got now... social media is destroying me."

Another significant filing is the motion in limine, requesting that prosecutors and investigators refrain from mentioning Cotter's prior convictions or alleged legal violations. Jason Goss, a former prosecutor and now a criminal defense attorney, explained the motion will likely seek to distance Cotter from what Simpson is alleged to have done.

"The motion in limine is important because even though it doesn't say much there, what it's saying is, 'Judge, before trial, we want to have a hearing,'" Goss explained. "I think what they're going to end up specifying is they're really going to try to limit out anything that Mr. Simpson is alleged to have done, because that would obviously really, really, really prejudice Mr. Cotter, right? So you have one defendant that doesn't want anything in his trial having anything to do with somebody alleged to have killed their wife."

The challenge remains in separating Cotter from the investigation into Suzanne Simpson's disappearance, given their intertwined nature.

"If I'm the prosecutor in this case, I'm like, 'Absolutely, you have to give context to why (Cotter's) hiding this firearm here. You have to talk about everything that's going on,'" Goss said. "But of course, the defense is going to say, 'Well, nobody's alleged or proven or shown that this firearm actually did anything over there, or was a part of that case over there, and you could theoretically try it in a silo, and just say, 'This guy has possession of an illegal firearm.'"

Goss said the judge will have to determine whether the prejudicial danger of bringing up any of the facts in Simpson's case in relation to Cotter's case outweighs any relevance and probative value that information could have in Cotter's case.

"What that really means is, if the jury would convict (Cotter), this defendant in this case based upon the alleged actions of another defendant in another case (Simpson), that's not a fair trial," he said. "So basically, the judge will have to make that balance."

Cotter also filed a formal request for evidence, though Goss noted it is unlikely the judge will rule on this motion. However, detailed arguments on the other two requests are expected to be heard as the case develops.

Brad Simpson’s motion to quash hearing set for 30 days in connection with wife Suzanne’s murder case​

Brad Simpson, the Olmos Park man charged with murdering his wife last year, made another court appearance on Wednesday morning.

The discovery hearing, originally scheduled for March 12, was held in Judge Joel Perez’s 437th District Court.

Perez had initially set the 30-day window as evidence from the Texas Rangers was still being collected.

On Wednesday, the situation remained unchanged, with state attorneys continuing to gather evidence from the Texas Rangers, who were still conducting their investigation.

Simpson’s attorney said they had enough evidence to proceed with a motion to quash the indictment.

That hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. on April 22, 2025.

It has been six months since Suzanne Simpson was last seen alive. This is where her case stands.​

It has been six months since Suzanne Simpson, the Olmos Park mother of four, vanished. Since then, investigators have charged her husband, Brad Simpson with murder.

It was a case that put a relatively quiet community of Olmos Park into the spotlight.

However, six months later, Suzanne’s remains have not been located. Right now, investigators, prosecutors, attorneys and the family are tight lipped because of a gag order.

However, we do know Brad’s defense team is working to get his indictment thrown out. A motion hearing will be held at the end of the month.

The indictment itself alleges Brad killed his wife and tried to hide a motorized saw that has her DNA on it.


Brad’s next hearing in April 22 at 9 a.m. for the motion to quash the indictment. A trial date has not been set.