Woman who murdered father at Spokane home gets 28 years in prison

A 33-year-old woman who murdered her father as he returned to his Spokane home from Hawaii was sentenced Thursday to 28 years in prison.

A Spokane jury one month ago found Alyssa Bradburn guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Timothy Bradburn.

Spokane police arrested Bradburn in June 2024 after she told police she shot and killed her father at their home. She told officers at the time that she planned his murder for weeks, seeking advice from a gun shop on how to handle her weapon and practicing her aim around the northwest Spokane house.

When Timothy Bradburn came home from his condo in Hawaii to fix a leaking roof, Alyssa Bradburn lied that she was sick, leading to him being “concerned” for her upon entering the house, she said during trial. With her dogs locked in a room out of harm’s way, she donned safety glasses and earplugs before shooting her father four times, killing him before he set his bag down.

“I killed Tim Bradburn, and I am guilty,” Alyssa said during trial, smiling. “I’m not afraid anymore. I’m OK with going to prison for however long.”

Alyssa Bradburn initially claimed self-defense, citing abuse against her and her dogs, but she waived her claim at the end of the trial, saying her brother’s testimony led her to decide that “I didn’t need to defend myself.”

Her older brother, Trace Bradburn, recounted a “close” and “loving” family history when called to the stand. Timothy Bradburn and his wife, Garland Bradburn, “would do anything” for their daughter, he said.

Garland Bradburn died from lung cancer in 2019.

At sentencing, Trace Bradburn said his “father was everything to me,” according to a Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office news release.

Prosecutors recommended 32 years in prison, saying Alyssa Bradburn, who has no prior criminal history, exhibited an elaborate degree of planning and carrying out the killing.

The defense argued for a 25-year term, saying she has a mental illness, the release said.

Superior Court Judge Julie McKay imposed the midrange sentence of 28 years. McKay ordered Alyssa Bradburn to serve three years of community custody after prison.