A well-known Virginia real estate agent and mother of three was found shot to death inside her home, and authorities say her husband fled the state before being captured hours later in Pennsylvania.
Lisa Bradford, 54, was found dead Sept. 22 inside the couple’s home in Aldie, an affluent community in Loudoun County.
Deputies were called to the residence in the 24000 block of Quimby Oaks Place shortly after 12:10 p.m. and discovered Lisa dead at the scene. Investigators quickly classified the case as domestic in nature.
Her husband, Roger Bradford, 60, had already left.
Authorities say a relative contacted law enforcement after Roger allegedly called and said he had killed his wife. Investigators then tracked the rental car he was driving as it moved through Virginia and Maryland toward Pennsylvania.
The search ended about three hours later.
Pennsylvania State Police arrested Bradford around 3:15 p.m. in Bedford, Pennsylvania, roughly 130 miles from the couple’s home. He was held there pending extradition back to Virginia.
Bradford has been charged with first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Investigators were still searching for the handgun believed to have been used in the shooting, according to Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman.
A motive has not been officially announced.
However, court filings from an unrelated federal criminal case reveal that Bradford had previously written that his marriage was “headed to divorce.”
Bradford had pleaded guilty in 2022 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a kickback and bid-rigging scheme. He was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison followed by supervised release.
After his release, he filed a declaration with the court in January 2026 describing the toll the case had taken on his marriage.
He wrote that his relationship with Lisa was likely coming to an end and referred to the possible divorce as difficult to bear.
That filing provides context about tension in the marriage, but authorities have not said whether the possible divorce played any role in Lisa’s killing.
Bradford also wrote in the filing that he had previously been a gun enthusiast but could no longer legally possess firearms because of his felony conviction.
Lisa, meanwhile, had built a successful career in Northern Virginia real estate.
She had worked in the industry since 2008 and was associated with Compass before her death.
Friends, neighbors and colleagues described her as warm, generous and deeply involved in the community.
One neighbor told NBC Washington that Lisa regularly checked on people around her and occasionally sent gifts.
“She was just a good person,” the neighbor said.
The Dulles Area Association of Realtors also publicly mourned her death, describing Lisa as a valued member of the local real estate community.
Authorities said the couple had three children together.
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office said there is no ongoing threat to the public and the investigation remains active.
