Love-Triangle Suspect Released Woman Accused Of Attempting To Kill Ex-Lover’s Boyfriend

A woman accused of trying to murder her former lover’s new boyfriend was released from the Spokane County Jail on personal recognizance Wednesday.

Judith R. Brand, 41, of Spokane is charged with attempted first-degree murder, second-degree assault and first-degree armed burglary.

Brand, who has no criminal record, had been in jail since her arrest last month.

The charges stem from a confrontation at the Otis Orchards home of Linda Bruseth, 35.

Sheriff’s deputies say Brand, armed with a pistol, went there May 14 intending to shoot Terry Simpson, Bruseth’s boyfriend.

Jealousy apparently was the motive, according to deputies.

Bruseth began dating the 45-year-old Simpson nine months ago, Deputy Jeff Duncan stated in an affidavit of probable cause filed in District Court.

Brand and Bruseth had a relationship for the previous five years but separated about a year ago, Duncan wrote in the affidavit.

There was bad blood between Simpson and Brand, who maintained contact with Bruseth after their breakup, the deputy wrote.

“(Simpson) can testify that he has met Judith three to five times in the past,” the deputy said in the affidavit. “He can testify that he had a feeling Judith did not like him, though she never said it verbally.”

On May 14, Bruseth told deputies Brand showed up at her house at 3509 N. Simpson just before midnight and pushed her way inside.

Brand, who was brandishing a pistol, rushed to the bedroom, where Simpson was sleeping, according to Duncan.

As Brand rushed past her, the affidavit states, Bruseth yelled to Simpson: “She has a gun!”

Simpson told deputies he jumped out of bed and met Brand at the bedroom door, where he grabbed the pistol barrel with both hands.

Brand and Simpson struggled for control of the gun, and it went off once, firing a bullet into the ceiling, according to the affidavit.

Simpson finally managed to wrest the gun from Brand. He knocked her to the floor and held her there until deputies arrived. No one was hurt.

Brand’s trial is expected to begin in late summer.

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