Jury Finds 76-Year-Old Man Guilty In Wife's Murder, Recommends Life In Prison Without Parole

A Tulsa county jury finds a 76-year-old man guilty of murdering his wife in their home in 2022.

Prosecutors say Charles Bradley shot and killed his wife Sandra over jealousy, then called 911 and told dispatch he may have killed her.

The jury deliberated just under two hours before finding Bradley guilty.

Bradley has said from the beginning he was having a nightmare and didn’t realize he killed his wife.

In closing arguments, prosecutors told the jury that Bradley’s elaborate story about nightmares, sleepwalking and PTSD was not an excuse for murder.

Bradley testified he’s had nightmares for decades because of his time serving in the Vietnam War and said thunderstorms that night triggered a nightmare where he thought he was in a mortar attack.

Bradley told investigators he didn’t realize he shot Sandra until after he fired the gun.

Prosecutors say it was all a made-up story, and Bradley shot Sandra once in the chest and once in the back. They say Bradley was jealous of his wife’s relationship with her boss.

They say Sandra worked for an elderly doctor and cared for him, and got back from a trip with her boss the night before she was killed.

They say Bradley saw Sandra and her boss once and he kept records of his wife’s phone calls with her boss.

Bradley's attorney says he's disappointed with the verdict.

"The other thing is, the way the criminal justice system works, he will probably die of old age before you could ever appeal it,” said Bradley’s attorney, Kent Morlan.

Prosecutors say they were thrilled the jury came back with a guilty verdict and gave justice to Sandra’s family.

"I think the important part is, while we can't give them closure, we at least have a just outcome to hold Mr. Bradley accountable for taking her away from them, from everybody,” said Tulsa County Assistant DA Ashley Nix.

The jury recommends Bradley serve life in prison without parole.

He will be sentenced later this month, when Sandra's family will be able to give victim impact statements.

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A Tulsa man testified in his murder trial Thursday afternoon.

Prosecutors say Charles Bradley shot and killed his wife Sandra Bradley at their home near 81st and Sheridan in 2022. He called 911 saying he may have killed ER. Bradley told the jury he didn’t deliberately intend to kill his wife. He said he’s had nightmares for decades because of his time serving in the war in Vietnam. He said he loved his wife and had no reason to kill her.

Prosecutors disagree and say the nightmares are just an excuse. Investigators learned from family members, the Bradleys had a rocky marriage. They say Charles Bradley disliked his wife’s relationship with her boss.

Investigators testified Sandra worked as an office manager for a doctor, and the two went on a business trip and got back the day before she was killed. Prosecutors showed the jury both of Bradley’s interviews with police, the first was on the day of the homicide, and the second was three days later.

Investigators say Bradley didn’t remember the shooting in the first interview, but in the second interview said he didn’t realize it was his wife until he fired the gun. Investigators say Bradley shot his wife more than once.

Bradley’s attorneys say Bradley didn’t have any issues with his wife or her boss, and told the jury, that Bradley has PTSD and was having a nightmare about a mortar attack the night of the homicide.

Prosecutors and Bradley’s attorneys will give their closing arguments tomorrow and the case will go to the jury.