Washington Woman Sentenced to Decades in Prison for Premeditated Murder of Father

Alyssa Bradburn, 33, received a sentence of over 28 years in prison on Thursday for the June 2024 murder of her 68-year-old father, Timothy Bradburn. A Spokane County jury convicted the defendant of first-degree murder earlier this year after evidence revealed she spent weeks meticulously planning the attack. The fatal encounter occurred at the family home in Spokane, where Bradburn ambushed her father with gunfire the moment he stepped through the front door after returning from a trip to Hawaii.

Following the shooting, Bradburn contacted emergency services to report the crime and surrendered a journal that contained a detailed confession and outlined her premeditated intentions. While she initially attempted to justify the killing by alleging a history of abuse, she later retracted those claims. During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors emphasized the calculated nature of the violence, noting that the defendant had practiced at a local shooting range prior to the incident. Although the defense argued that Bradburn struggled with significant mental health issues that blurred her perception of reality, Judge Julie McKay ultimately imposed a sentence of 28 years and four months. The court also issued a permanent no-contact order between the convicted murderer and her surviving brother.