Roger Bradford was arrested in Pennsylvania hours after deputies found his wife, Lisa Bradford, dead inside their Loudoun County home.
ALDIE, Va. — A 60-year-old Loudoun County man faces first-degree murder and firearm charges after authorities say his wife was shot and killed Tuesday at their Aldie home, setting off a search that crossed Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania before his arrest several hours later.
Roger Bradford was charged with first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in the death of Lisa Bradford, 54, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies found Lisa Bradford dead after responding about 12:10 p.m. Sept. 22 to a report of a shooting in the 24000 block of Quimby Oaks Place. Authorities said Roger Bradford had left before deputies arrived.
Sheriff Mike Chapman said a relative contacted authorities after Roger Bradford communicated with the family member about what had happened. That information directed deputies to the Aldie residence, where they found Lisa Bradford. Investigators believe the shooting was domestic in nature, the sheriff’s office said. Authorities have said they do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public.
The search for Bradford quickly expanded beyond Loudoun County. Investigators determined that he had left in a rental vehicle and tracked his movement as the search extended through Virginia and Maryland and into Pennsylvania. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office said Maryland State Police and the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office assisted as investigators worked to locate him.
Pennsylvania State Police took Bradford into custody at about 3:15 p.m. in Bedford, Pennsylvania, roughly three hours after Loudoun deputies were sent to the Aldie home. Local authorities said the arrest followed a traffic stop involving the rental vehicle. Bradford remained in Pennsylvania pending extradition to Virginia as of Wednesday.
The extradition process is expected to return Bradford to Virginia so the charges can proceed through Loudoun County’s court system. The sheriff’s office has announced the charges but has not released information about an initial Virginia court appearance or whether Bradford has an attorney representing him. A criminal charge is an accusation, and Bradford has not been convicted in the case.
Investigators also were searching for the handgun believed to have been used in the shooting. Chapman said Tuesday that the weapon had not been recovered. Authorities have not publicly detailed where they believe the gun may be or whether it was discarded during Bradford’s travel from Virginia to Pennsylvania.
The sheriff said Lisa and Roger Bradford had three children. Local reports said two are in college and one attends high school. Authorities said the children were not at the home when deputies responded and had been notified. Officials have not released additional information about their involvement, and there has been no indication that they were physically harmed.
The sheriff’s office said the investigation remains active as detectives continue gathering evidence and working with agencies involved in Bradford’s capture. Bradford remained in Pennsylvania pending extradition Wednesday, while authorities continued efforts to recover the firearm and establish a fuller sequence of events surrounding the fatal shooting.
Author note: Last updated September 23, 2026.