Alyssa Bradburn was convicted of first-degree murder in the 2024 death of her father, Timothy Bradburn.

SPOKANE, Wash. — A Spokane woman was sentenced April 2 to 340 months in prison for fatally shooting her father inside their Northwest Spokane home after prosecutors said she planned the killing and wrote about it in a journal.

Alyssa Bradburn, 33, was found guilty of first-degree murder with a firearm enhancement in the death of 68-year-old Timothy Bradburn. The sentence by Spokane County Superior Court Judge Julie McKay ended a case that began with a late-night 911 call on June 25, 2024, and grew into a trial centered on planning, mental health claims, family grief and a written record that prosecutors said showed premeditation.

The case moved from arrest to sentencing over nearly two years. Spokane police were called at 12:52 a.m. June 25, 2024, to the area of the 5600 block of North Cochran Street after a woman reported that she had shot her father. Officers arrived within minutes and detained Bradburn at the front of the home. Inside, police found Timothy Bradburn dead. The shooting happened just after he returned from a trip to Hawaii. Prosecutors said his daughter waited for him to enter the house, then fired several shots as he came through the front door with his travel items still nearby.

Bradburn did not deny the shooting when police arrived. Investigators said she told officers where the gun was located and gave them a journal. She also called 911 herself and waited outside for police. At first, Bradburn claimed she acted in self-defense and alleged that her father had abused her and harmed her dogs. Those claims became a major issue in the case. Her brother, Trace Bradburn, later rejected them in court and said Timothy Bradburn was a loving father. Investigators did not find evidence that supported the abuse claims, and Bradburn later withdrew them.

The journal became one of the state’s key pieces of evidence. Prosecutors said Bradburn had written about her plan before the killing and had practiced with a firearm at a local shooting range. The state argued that the shooting was not a sudden act or a response to danger in the home. Deputy prosecuting attorney Emily Sullivan told the court that evidence at trial showed an extreme and elaborate degree of planning. The defense argued for a lower sentence and said Bradburn had serious mental health problems. Defense attorney Brian Raymon told the court that Bradburn sometimes blurred fantasy with reality.

Court records show the case included a competency review before trial. A judge found Bradburn competent to stand trial in December 2025, and the trial began in February 2026. Jurors returned a guilty verdict in March on first-degree murder, along with a special finding tied to the firearm. The state asked for a longer prison term, while the defense asked for 25 years. McKay imposed 280 months for the murder count and 60 additional months for the firearm enhancement, making the total sentence 340 months.

The sentencing also brought the family’s loss into court. Trace Bradburn spoke about losing his father and about hearing claims against him after his death. He told the court the loss still affected him daily. McKay issued a no-contact order barring Alyssa Bradburn from contacting her brother. The court also ordered restitution proceedings and entered a notice of Bradburn’s right to appeal. During the hearing, Bradburn declined to give a formal statement. Courtroom reports said she appeared calm and was seen smiling at times.

Spokane police said after the arrest that detectives with the Major Crimes Unit took over the investigation once the home was secured. The case remained in Spokane County Superior Court through motions, trial and sentencing. The legal record now shifts from trial court findings to any post-sentencing filings, including appeal steps and restitution tied to Timothy Bradburn’s death.

Bradburn remained under the judgment entered April 2, with the prison term, firearm enhancement, restitution process and no-contact order in place. The next public milestone is any appeal filing or restitution action in Spokane County Superior Court.

Author note: Last updated April 27, 2026.