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- [00:00]
Advertiser 1
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- [01:03]
Narrator
Audible brings the magical realm of fantasy to life with Quicksilver by Callie Hart. Immerse yourself in this captivating tale where Sars Fane, a young woman with mysterious powers, faces death himself and finds herself transported to a frozen land of dangerous fey. When she becomes bound to the enigmatic warrior kingfisher, her world changes forever. With Audible, you can dive into this spellbinding adventure and thousands more audiobooks. Your membership includes one credit each month to use on any title, plus unlimited access to exclusive Audible originals and podcasts. Start your 30 day free trial today at audible.com wondery or text wondery to 500500 listen anywhere, anytime audible.com wondery terms apply a single mother finds love with a wealthy doctor.
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Witness 1
Things were going really well for them. They lived a lavish lifestyle. They had a successful business.
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Witness 2
We're going to be rich. We're going to be well known. Life's going to be great.
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Narrator
Until their fairytale life suddenly erupts with a violent death.
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Witness 3
She was hysterical. She had blood on her. She was frantic.
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Detective 1
We were being told it was spousal abuse and was defending herself.
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Narrator
As detectives talk to witnesses, they wonder who is telling the truth.
- [02:30]
Witness 3
He believed that someone was trying to harm him and he didn't know who it was. My experience tells me that there's more to this story than what they're telling me.
- [02:42]
Narrator
But when a young witness finally breaks her silence, is it too late?
- [02:48]
Witness 1
The women are plying to kill some of the key witnesses.
- [02:53]
Witness 2
She had a way of getting people to do what she wanted. She scared the daylights out of me.
- [03:00]
Employee 1
They've suggested that I didn't go anywhere until after the trial. So I started looking over my shoulder all the time.
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Witness 2
She just wanted to cause chaos. She wanted prestige. She wanted anything she could get at. Any way she was gonna get it.
- [03:28]
Narrator
March 28, 1980. Melbourne, Florida. It's 6:15pm when the Melbourne Police Department receives a panic stricken 911 call.
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Witness 3
They received a call from a Priscilla Bradford who was hysterical on the phone saying that she had killed her husband.
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Narrator
Officers are dispatched and they quickly arrive at the home of 36 year old Priscilla Bradford.
- [04:00]
Detective 1
When the officer arrived on the scene, Mrs. Bradford blurted out and killed him or I had to kill him. It was self defense.
- [04:10]
Narrator
As they get further into the home, officers find Priscilla is not alone.
- [04:16]
Witness 3
The officer sees that there's four people. All three women were identified, Eden being Priscilla Bradford's daughter. Joyce Cummings and Janice Gould were identified as employees and friends of Priscilla Bradford.
- [04:32]
Witness 2
I remember little snippets where the cops had arrived and I was sitting on the couch. In my mind I still didn't grasp the reality, the enormity of this, that this is real.
- [04:49]
Witness 3
Priscilla had bruising on the face, she had a cut on her left arm. The other two girls had bruises.
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Narrator
As officers search the home, they quickly discover the body of Priscilla's husband, 53 year old John Bradford.
- [05:11]
Witness 3
They found him near the kitchen, on the floor, laying on his back. He was dead. He had several injuries to his head and torso, upper torso.
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Witness 2
I saw the whole scene. I saw John. He had a significant amount of blood loss from the head and facial injuries he sustained.
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Detective 1
It was horrific, it really was. It was just a bloody mess. He was unrecognizable.
- [05:42]
Narrator
The officers summoned detectives to the chaotic scene.
- [05:46]
Witness 3
All we know right then and there is that we have one person laying dead on the floor of his home. And that Priscilla Bradford hysterically is saying she had to do it to defend herself.
- [05:58]
Detective 1
You start breaking everything down and see if everything fits together. The stories that are being told to you. There are so many different things going on and it's like a big giant puzzle and you've got to put all the pieces together.
- [06:17]
Narrator
John Bradford was born in 1926 in Crowell, Texas.
- [06:22]
Witness 2
My stepfather, Dr. John Bradford was from a very large family. These were really devout, strong Texan men, good caliber of people.
- [06:34]
Witness 1
Given that strong work ethic, John decided to pursue a career in the medical.
- [06:39]
Narrator
Field after obtaining a degree in optometry John moved to Florida with his first wife where he opened his own practice.
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Witness 2
His office was in Melbourne, Florida. His focus was to make sure people could see well and he would do anything he could to help them.
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Narrator
After almost 30 years of marriage and having raised two kids together, John and his first wife divorced.
- [07:08]
Witness 2
I think that that was amicable because they had children together, of course they were grown. But he and his ex wife would.
- [07:15]
Narrator
Remain in contact even after splitting his assets. By then, John was a wealthy man.
- [07:23]
Witness 2
Dr. Bradford had a lucrative and successful practice as an optometrist and he liked what he did.
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Narrator
In 1976, one patient in particular caught his eye. A striking young woman named Priscilla Hadley.
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Witness 2
My mother Priscilla went to go see him to get an eye exam and get her glasses and that's how they met and they started dating pretty quickly after.
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Narrator
Priscilla Hadley was born in 1943 in Newark, New Jersey to Mildred and Ronald Hadley.
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Witness 2
Growing up, I think my mother had a good relationship with her parents. She adored her dad and her mom.
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Narrator
In her early 20s, Priscilla left the comfort of her parents sprawling New Jersey home to take on the role of an army wife. On January 11, 1966, Priscilla gave birth to a daughter, Eden.
- [08:31]
Witness 2
My parents met sometime in the northeast of the country, back probably around 1965. I was born in January of 66. My father was still active duty in the army, so we moved to Florida sometime in the mid-70s. My dad was gone a lot, you know, early, early. But by the time I started going to school, I think he had remained stateside.
- [08:57]
Narrator
After over 10 years together, the marriage was falling apart. And by the time Eden was 11, the couple divorced.
- [09:07]
Witness 2
I don't know what faltered between my mother and my father leading to their divorce, but I don't ever remember anything really bad. I was going into the sixth grade, my mother was going through her divorce and Dr. Bradford went through his divorce and they met in the middle.
- [09:32]
Witness 1
Priscilla was a beautiful woman. They started spending all their time together.
- [09:38]
Witness 2
Then, you know, a few months later, By November of 77, they were married. I liked him, you know, he was a really neat guy and he really, really worked hard at including me, you know, as a member of his family.
- [09:57]
Narrator
After the wedding, Priscilla and Eden moved into John's home. Priscilla quickly became an integral part of John's business.
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Witness 2
Dr. Bradford was real attracted to my mother's business sense, entrepreneurship, her ideas and thoughts about things.
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Narrator
John brought Priscilla in as a partial owner. Together they expanded the practice.
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Detective 1
Dr. Bradford is not only a doctor, but he had the lab there that created Lenses for glasses and things of that nature.
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Employee 1
It was one of the only labs in town and I think that they were bringing in some money, pretty good money. Dr. Bradford's role in the lab was that of he was the owner and he was the doctor that we were generally making lenses for at the lab.
- [10:48]
Witness 2
My mother was just so enthralled by this whole idea, this whole fairytale she had in her head. Gonna marry a doctor. We're gonna run a lab, we're gonna be rich. Life's gonna be great.
- [11:03]
Witness 1
Things were going great for John and Priscilla. They were living a lavish life. They were partying, running a successful business before it all came crashing down.
- [11:18]
Narrator
Now, less than three years into their marriage, the bride has killed the groom.
- [11:27]
Witness 1
Priscilla Bradford. She hysterical. She's in shock. The Officers also see three other women in the house. Janice Gould, 34, and Joyce Cummings, 18. They are both employees at the optometry lab. And also there is Priscilla's teenage daughter, Eden.
- [11:51]
Narrator
When detectives arrive, the women are being tended to by paramedics.
- [11:56]
Witness 1
Priscilla has a 2 inch cut on her wrist. She's got some bruising on her face and she's covered in blood.
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Witness 3
Joyce and Janice had bruises. The injuries were minor. Nothing that was, that I know of was showing any blood. So she was saying she had to defend herself. The other girls that were there were stating that, you know, they were trying to restrain him because according to them, he was going to kill Priscilla Bradford.
- [12:30]
Narrator
A look at the scene around John's body backs up Priscilla's claims of a violent confrontation.
- [12:37]
Witness 3
The house was also in disarray. Broken glass, things were thrown around. There was a steel skillet, frying pan that was broken laying near him. There was a bottle capper as well, near his.
- [12:57]
Narrator
Although the women insist this was self defense, detectives have to dig further to corroborate their claims.
- [13:05]
Witness 3
Looking at the scene of his body, they observed the frying pan the bottom had been broken out of. I guess that's they used to strike Dr. Bradford with. It's a heavy metal skillet. It would surprise the detective because it would take a lot of force to break that frying pan in half. You would have to strike continually, several times it appeared excessive because he might have felt that she needed more force because he's a man. But, you know, would it be suspicious? Yes. And my experience tells me that there's more to this story than what they're telling me.
- [13:52]
Narrator
Coming up, detectives encounter alarming behavior.
- [13:57]
Witness 2
My grandmother elbowed me and went, you talk too much.
- [14:02]
Narrator
And the truth begins to unfold.
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Employee 1
They just didn't get along at all. One time I do remember her saying that he slapped her.
- [14:19]
Narrator
Detectives with The Melbourne Police Department are investigating the death of 53 year old optometrist John Bradford. John's wife Priscilla claims she and her two friends Janice and Joyce fought back after John attacked her.
- [14:37]
Witness 2
After the police arrived, all of us ended up at the hospital. My grandparents also arrived at the hospital and believe I went home with them.
- [14:55]
Narrator
At the er, Priscilla, Joyce and Janice are separated and examined by doctors.
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Witness 3
Priscilla got cut during the confrontation. The doctor at the hospital wants to take a picture of it to just document that she was injured after receiving.
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Narrator
Five stitches on her wrist. A detective meets with Priscilla in her room. Priscilla says that earlier that day she had been hanging with her friends 18 year old Joyce Cummings and 34 year old Janice Gould.
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Witness 2
Janice Gould worked for my mother at the lab. And Joyce Cummings was also just another regular lab employee, making glasses, running errands.
- [15:40]
Witness 1
Priscilla had invited Joyce and Janice over for drinks and to spend some time at the pool. And they were going to leave before John Bradford came home. He was expected home at 8 o' clock, but he ended up coming home at 5:30.
- [15:56]
Narrator
Priscilla says when she went inside to meet John, it was clear an argument they had earlier was lingering.
- [16:04]
Witness 3
Priscilla says that earlier in the day before he went to work, they got into a big argument.
- [16:11]
Witness 2
So my mother had called Dr. Bradford and said I've got some real nice steaks, we're going to have steaks tonight, we can talk about things.
- [16:20]
Witness 3
So when he sees who's in the house, he becomes irate.
- [16:24]
Witness 2
Janice and Joyce heard my mother yelling for help and they ran into the house and saw that he was hitting her.
- [16:34]
Witness 3
They observed Dr. Bradford with the bottle capper about to strike Priscilla Bradford. Priscilla said Janice steps in the way somehow trying to assist her. And he's continued. Then all three women tried to get him down to make him stop.
- [16:57]
Narrator
Priscilla says they fought John off until he was unconscious on the floor, at which point Eden came out of her room.
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Witness 1
She says that Eden didn't see anything. She was taking a shower and the stereo was going.
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Narrator
When investigators attempt to speak with Joyce and Janice, they find the women are still in shock.
- [17:24]
Witness 3
The injuries were minor, but they appeared at the time to be so upset. So they told them to go home, relax and to come in the next day and give a statement.
- [17:39]
Narrator
Back at the station, detectives learn that police had been summoned to the home several times by Priscilla and John. In fact, they learn Priscilla reported the most recent incident. That same morning she was bruised and.
- [17:55]
Detective 1
Battered and she wanted to file a report against her husband. Dr. Bradford, Domestic Violence was treated quite differently than it is today. First of all, the victim had to file a complaint against the person. Then there was a follow up on the complaint itself. But however today if the wife had a bloody lip and she accused her husband or live in boyfriend of assaulting her, he would immediately be arrested by law taken into custody.
- [18:33]
Narrator
Before police were able to follow up on Priscilla's complaint, Dr. Bradford was dead.
- [18:40]
Witness 3
The detectives found out that there had been problems with the marriage. There had been domestic violence accused on both sides.
- [18:54]
Narrator
The day after the murder, detectives sit down with Janice and Joyce at the station. They start with Joyce and she tells detectives she and Janice arrived at the Bradfords around 4pm with plans to hang by the pool.
- [19:11]
Witness 1
Joyce and Janice and they were out by the pool when they heard John Bradford come home and the two began arguing. They go running in to see what's going on and they describe Dr. Bradford as raging, aggressive, a man possessed, screaming that he's going to kill him.
- [19:31]
Witness 3
I have a lot of problems with her statement. It's just unbelievable. It's more like ranting and raving than an actual incident. It's like it's prepared. We're concerned that there's something more to this story than what everybody's saying. Maybe they're establishing alibis for things that are about to happen and we needed to take a step back and let's check things out before, you know, jumping to a conclusion that this is a self defense case.
- [20:09]
Narrator
After getting both women on the record that same day, detectives circle back to Priscilla.
- [20:16]
Witness 3
The detectives felt like they need to re interview Priscilla so they went to the Hadley residence which is the parents of Priscilla Bradford.
- [20:26]
Narrator
But when they arrive they find two familiar but unexpected faces.
- [20:33]
Witness 3
Janice and Joyce were at the residence of the Hadleys when they arrived. We thought they were being extremely odd. After taking the statements of Janice and Joyce that they would be at the Hadley residents, they must be telling Priscilla what they said to the police.
- [20:57]
Narrator
Detectives consider the possibility that the women might be making sure their stories line up.
- [21:06]
Witness 3
We're starting to have concerns about what Priscilla, Janice and Joyce are saying. It seems awful convenient that they always and cahoots with each other. They're always with each other.
- [21:25]
Narrator
Priscilla repeats her account of the murder.
- [21:29]
Witness 3
Priscilla Bradford's claiming that he was abusing her and that she was fighting for her life.
- [21:37]
Narrator
But as they talk, detectives note some concerning body language between Eden and Priscilla's mother Mildred.
- [21:46]
Witness 2
I don't recall everything that they were asking me, but I remember my grandmother elbowed me and kind of went, you talk too much.
- [21:54]
Narrator
Quiet.
- [21:57]
Witness 3
Seeing the grandmother try to control Eden's statement. Now it seems that they're trying to hide something. So we would be worried about how to break this case open. Because as long as they stick to domestic violence story, the self defense claim would probably stick.
- [22:20]
Narrator
Detectives pay a visit to the optical lab hoping the employees might shed some light on the relationship between Dr. Bradford and Priscilla.
- [22:30]
Employee 1
There was animosity between Priscilla and her husband. I do remember her saying that he slapped her. There was talk of it, but no, I never saw any evidence of Priscilla being beaten or bruised or anything.
- [22:51]
Narrator
Employees say that rumors were flying that John was preparing to leave her.
- [22:57]
Witness 3
Dr. Bradford was seeking a divorce from Priscilla Bradford. He was known amongst the employees. They said Priscilla also tried to file for divorce but later changed her mind because it would not be profitable for her to get a divorce.
- [23:16]
Narrator
And then a bombshell is dropped.
- [23:20]
Witness 1
One of the employees told detectives that Priscilla had been plotting ways to get out of her marriage and hang onto the lamp.
- [23:29]
Witness 3
Then you start to question what Priscilla Bradford's saying. Okay, now we're getting to the real core of what happened.
- [23:39]
Narrator
Coming up, detectives uncover ruthless attempts to gain control of the lab.
- [23:46]
Witness 3
One of the ways they were talking were about planting drugs in his vehicle.
- [23:52]
Narrator
And a witness reveals shocking details.
- [23:56]
Witness 2
They took an 8 by 10 color photo that was just his head in his face. And that was that. I lost it.
- [24:10]
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- [26:32]
Narrator
Two days into the investigation, Florida detectives are growing suspicious of Priscilla Bradford's claims that she and two co workers, Joyce Cummings and Janice Gould, killed her husband John in self defense. Investigators look into statements of an impending divorce.
- [26:55]
Witness 2
I never heard anything vicious come out of John's mouth about the divorce. My mother on the other hand, oh boy, she was just very rude. I mean she would say this stuff in front of technically his employees.
- [27:15]
Witness 3
One of the co workers heard Janice, Joyce and Priscilla talking about planting drugs on him.
- [27:23]
Employee 1
Later I found out that the drugs were going to be planted in John's car in order that they could then call the police and have him arrested for carrying these drugs around.
- [27:34]
Witness 1
So they decided to search Dr. Bradford's car and see if the drugs had been planted there.
- [27:42]
Narrator
When detectives search John's vehicle, the rumors.
- [27:46]
Witness 3
Are confirmed they found the drugs underneath to see. Now detectives are dealing with three women that are conspiring together. What else would they do to discredit or kill him?
- [28:07]
Narrator
As investigators suspicions of Priscilla Grow, Dr. Bradford's divorce attorney reaches out to detectives with some startling information.
- [28:19]
Witness 3
John told his attorney that he believed Priscilla Bradford was trying to kill him.
- [28:26]
Narrator
John's attorney tells them that in the months leading up to John's death, he became terrified of Priscilla.
- [28:34]
Witness 2
He was trying to stay away as much as possible. Every time he'd show up, there's my mother telling him how it's going to be that she would cut John down and badmouth him.
- [28:47]
Narrator
Just one month prior to his murder, John's attorney says John felt worried enough to adjust his will.
- [28:56]
Witness 3
According to the will, Dr. Bradford removes Priscilla Bradford as having any ownership of the business and any ownership of the house and that he leaves all of his assets to his daughter.
- [29:16]
Narrator
After changing his will, his attorney says John wasn't completely ready to give up on his family. But on March 7, three weeks before John's murder, the attorney received a desperate phone call from him.
- [29:34]
Witness 3
John Bradford had reported that he had been struck in the head in his office with a two by four. He heard a woman's shoes, like a clicking sound, like a woman walking away.
- [29:48]
Narrator
His attorney says John believed it was Priscilla. But with no proof, no charges were pressed. Investigators look to the couple's employees to corroborate the new information. On April 4, they interview Linda Martino, a former employee at the lab.
- [30:13]
Witness 3
We found out through Linda that Priscilla believes that Dr. Bradford was having an affair with Linda.
- [30:22]
Employee 1
They did not have an affair, but Priscilla did make it known that she didn't like Linda. I think that the jealousy stemmed strictly from Priscilla wanting total control over everything.
- [30:42]
Narrator
She also tells detectives that following the attack with the two by four, John told her about another concerning event that took place March 27. The day before his murder.
- [30:58]
Witness 1
John Bradford said that he thought that poison had been added to his drink.
- [31:03]
Detective 1
He actually could taste something was wrong with the orange juice and he didn't drink it.
- [31:10]
Witness 1
Linda, I guess was so fearful of working there because of Priscilla Bradford that she ended up quitting.
- [31:20]
Narrator
Even as the accusations against Priscilla seemed stack up, detectives need more evidence. Investigators contact the one person who might reveal the truth. Eden.
- [31:34]
Witness 1
Before Eden's father will let her talk to police, he requests immunity for her. And it's granted.
- [31:43]
Narrator
On April 9, 12 days after John Bradford's murder, detectives talk with the 14 year old at her father's home.
- [31:53]
Witness 2
I know that I kept reciting the same sentences over and over. Daddy came home. He was beating her up.
- [32:01]
Narrator
Sensing she is holding back, detectives try a different approach.
- [32:07]
Witness 2
They took an 8 by 10 color photo. That was just his head in his face and that was that. I lost it. I broke out crying and screaming. And just going crazy. They shocked my system with the horror of that photo. Then the whole story started to come out. At that point.
- [32:34]
Narrator
Eden says her mother's relationship with John had really soured over the last several months.
- [32:42]
Witness 2
She didn't want him anymore. She just wanted the lab. She thought that maybe the only way to get the money that she wants out of it was to not divorce him, but kill him.
- [33:01]
Narrator
Eden says Priscilla put together a killing squad, recruiting her friends and employees, Joyce and Janice, to help.
- [33:11]
Employee 1
Joyce became involved with all of this because Priscilla had promised her a cut of the proceeds. And also Janice Gould. It was all about money. It was all about money and control.
- [33:27]
Narrator
Eden gives details that corroborate the two unsuccessful attempts on John's life.
- [33:34]
Witness 2
Priscilla hit John in the head with two by four. John told me what happened. He said, you need to call your dad, have him come get you. Also around that time, one of the women gets a hold of a bunch of black beauties. It's a speed I saw. My mother made a big thing of orange juice and stirred it up, put the pitcher in the fridge, said, well, he'll have that for breakfast.
- [34:06]
Narrator
When those schemes didn't work, Eden says her mom began laying the groundwork for a new plan.
- [34:13]
Witness 2
So she told everybody at the lab that Dr. Bradford had been hitting her. But I know that was not true and that never happened.
- [34:22]
Narrator
On the morning of the murder, Priscilla asked for Eden's help.
- [34:27]
Witness 2
She actually asked me to hit her, to quickly, quote, make it look like Dr. Bradford had hit her. My mother went in and reported to them that John had been beating her up. If I said or did anything contrary to what my mother wanted, I was afraid I'd have been hurt.
- [34:57]
Narrator
After filing the report, Priscilla, Joyce and Janice all gathered at the Bradford home that afternoon.
- [35:05]
Witness 2
My mother had called Dr. Bradford and said, come on home tonight, we'll talk things over. Kind of want to make peace.
- [35:13]
Narrator
Eden says she hid in the bathroom. When John came home, the three women attacked him.
- [35:20]
Detective 1
He was ambushed. He had not a clue what was going to happen to him when he walked through that door.
- [35:29]
Witness 2
And I was so scared about what was going on, not knowing what was going to happen next.
- [35:36]
Narrator
Coming up, an innocent victim fears for her life.
- [35:42]
Witness 2
If I'd have tried to stop it at that moment, I'd have been on the floor with him.
- [35:46]
Narrator
And later, a sting reveals the unthinkable.
- [35:51]
Witness 2
They wanted to kill off witnesses. That's some of the whacked out things she had running through her head.
- [36:06]
Narrator
Investigators are horrified as 14 year old Eden Bradford recounts the murder of her stepfather, Dr. John Bradford, at the hands of her mother and two of her employees.
- [36:20]
Witness 2
I'd heard him come in. I'm hiding in the bathroom, and then I heard a thud. And I believe that he had already been hit, and that's when he fell down.
- [36:38]
Narrator
Eden tells investigators. Around 15 minutes later, Janice summoned her to the kitchen.
- [36:46]
Witness 2
Janice says something to the effect that I have to come out and help them. The SOB won't die. My mother handed me the bottle capper. But she did instruct me to hit him, and I did, two, maybe three times. If I'd have tried to stop it at that moment, she definitely would have killed me too. No doubt about it.
- [37:24]
Narrator
Even as all four women took turns attacking John, he clung to life. That's when Eden says Priscilla called her mother Mildred.
- [37:37]
Witness 2
My mother, in so many words, told her that Dr. Bradford was murdered and he wouldn't die. But my mother said that my grandmother told her over the phone to hit him until they think he's dead, and then wait about 10 minutes before calling for an ambulance.
- [37:58]
Witness 3
We know now that Priscilla, Janice, and Joyce had conspired to commit murder. And we felt that we had enough evidence to arrest him for murder.
- [38:14]
Narrator
On April 10, 1980, two weeks after John's murder, Joyce is arrested at the lab. Priscilla and Janice are arrested later at Priscilla's home.
- [38:28]
Witness 3
They didn't resist. They knew they were being charged with murder.
- [38:32]
Detective 1
Priscilla was very subdued, not talkative at all. It was just like, you got me, you know, the game's over.
- [38:40]
Witness 2
I was told my mother had been arrested, and I immediately broke out crying. I still did not have a concept of I was never going to go home.
- [38:56]
Narrator
A few months after the arrest, detectives receive a shocking tip from Joyce's cellmate. She reveals that Joyce, Priscilla, and Janice came to her with an unexpected request.
- [39:12]
Witness 3
While in jail, Priscilla, Janice, and Joyce asked her if she knew someone that could put a hit, meaning kill witnesses that were going to testify against the.
- [39:25]
Narrator
Stunned. The woman agreed, but instead, she went straight to the police.
- [39:31]
Witness 1
The women are plotting to kill some of the key witnesses, and Priscilla wants to kill her own daughter.
- [39:41]
Witness 3
All three women were in the same jail awaiting trial. They were able to converse with each other, so we knew that all three took part in it.
- [39:51]
Witness 2
They wanted to kill off witnesses and people who were going to testify, including two detectives and his employees as well.
- [40:04]
Narrator
Investigators work with Joyce's cellmate to set up a sting.
- [40:09]
Witness 3
We then set it up with this person in the jail to go back and tell them that we did know someone that could do the job. The payment for the job was going to be $2,000.
- [40:23]
Witness 1
Joyce's cellmate tells her to have someone drop off the money in a phone booth so that the hitman can come and get it.
- [40:32]
Witness 3
They had me drawing the COVID as the hitman.
- [40:40]
Narrator
But when detectives see who Priscilla sent to drop off the money, they are in disbelief.
- [40:47]
Witness 3
At the time, I was sitting outside this restaurant where the phone booth was, and I witnessed Priscilla's mother come out of the restaurant and place the money in the phone booth. After she went back inside, I went inside the phone booth and got the money and drove it to the police station. I was a little surprised that Mildred Hadley was involved. You know, As a matter of fact, I was a little angry.
- [41:22]
Narrator
Prosecutors add solicitation of murder to the charges against Priscilla, Joyce and Janice. But they decide not to pursue charges against Mildred Hadley.
- [41:37]
Witness 1
They weren't certain, giving her age if she even had the mental capacity to understand what she was doing and what she was being asked to do.
- [41:51]
Narrator
Unsure whether Priscilla will try again, detectives advise all of the witnesses to lay low.
- [41:59]
Employee 1
The detectives even suggested that I didn't go anywhere until after the trial. I started looking over my shoulder all the time.
- [42:11]
Witness 2
I felt fear, you know, because I already saw what she could do and she had a way of getting people to do what she wanted. She scared the daylights out of me.
- [42:27]
Narrator
Coming up. Priscilla tries to make a deal.
- [42:32]
Detective 1
She knew the game was over, but she wanted to keep from getting the electric chair.
- [42:38]
Narrator
But one accomplice takes a different approach.
- [42:42]
Witness 2
Her whole life's about to be thrown away because she listened to this crazy woman.
- [42:54]
Narrator
Priscilla Bradford, along with her two co conspirators, Janice Gould and Joyce Cummings, are behind bars. They are all awaiting trial for the brutal murder of Priscilla's husband, John. As prosecutors get ready for trial, they zero in on identifying Priscilla's motive.
- [43:20]
Witness 2
She just wanted to cause chaos. She wanted that lab, she wanted money. She wanted prestige.
- [43:27]
Detective 1
She was hell bent on doing this guy in to try to eliminate him not only from the business, but from life itself.
- [43:39]
Narrator
Priscilla used her money and her position to lure her accomplices into her plot.
- [43:46]
Witness 2
Janice was single and was raising a small child. Joyce was on her own, you know, didn't have anyone to provide for her. And I think that the job at the lab gave them that stability.
- [44:06]
Narrator
The possibility of landing on death row proves too much for Priscilla and Janice. In August, they both plead guilty to John's murder.
- [44:20]
Detective 1
Mrs. Bradford, she knew the game was over. Her daughter was a prime witness in this case. She wanted to work out some kind of a deal to keep from getting the electric chair or getting the needle in the arm.
- [44:33]
Narrator
On August 4, 1980, Priscilla and Janice are sentenced.
- [44:39]
Witness 1
Priscilla and Janice both pled guilty, received life sentences each for the murder of John Bradford.
- [44:52]
Narrator
But Joyce chooses a different approach and takes her chances at trial.
- [44:58]
Witness 2
Joyce, probably because of her youth, fought it and said, no, I'm going to trial. She's 18, 19 years old. Her whole life's about to be thrown away because she listened to this crazy woman. But she had a choice.
- [45:12]
Narrator
Eden takes the stand to testify against her mother's accomplice, which is all the jury needs to hear. On August 14th, Joyce is convicted of murder.
- [45:24]
Witness 3
Joyce Cummings got 25 years in July. And for the solicitation she got 15 years.
- [45:42]
Narrator
With all three women behind bars, 14 year old Eden is left to pick up the pieces.
- [45:51]
Witness 2
I was probably upset, I was probably sad that I'm probably never going to see my mother again. You know, she was still my mother.
- [46:01]
Detective 1
What she took away from Eden was her of childhood basically. And that's a crime in itself.
- [46:10]
Witness 2
When my dad and stepmother realized, you know, I think she's going to be staying here, they started making arrangements. And when I got away from her and realized it was a whole great big world out here and there was a lot of good in it.
- [46:27]
Narrator
In July 2006, in 2007, Priscilla Bradford dies in prison.
- [46:34]
Witness 2
She had developed a major lung infection that had spread and so she was pretty much on life support. The last time I ever spoke with Priscilla was four days before she died and she couldn't speak, but she knew I was there. She knew that it was me. John has been remembered as a good man, a great doctor, a wonderful relative. He loved his heritage, he loved where he was from. I think John loved life.
- [47:16]
Advertiser 1
Joyce Cummings was released from prison on February 11, 2025. Janice Gold was released on parole in April 2011 after serving 30 years of her life sentence.
- [47:31]
Advertiser 2
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