An Arizona man was arrested after allegedly beating his wife to death with a baseball bat and driving 100 miles with her body in the back seat.
Brandon Gregory, 56, is charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter, tampering with physical evidence, and concealing a dead body in the death of his 41-year-old wife, Alison Gregory, according to a press release from the Surprise Police Department.
The investigation began on May 14, when the alleged victim was supposed to pick up a family member from the airport but did not arrive. Family members told police that the Gregorys were going through a “difficult divorce.”
Love true crime? Sign up for our newsletter, The Law&Crime Docket, to receive the most recent real-life crime stories directly to your inbox.
Officers searched the Gregory home and discovered “signs that a physical struggle could have occurred.” They began looking for the couple’s vehicles. They discovered Brandon Gregory in Mohave County, in the town of Wikieup, about 100 miles from Surprise. His wife’s body was found in the back seat, according to police.
Police arrested the suspect. He allegedly admitted killing his wife.
According to court documents, the suspect told CBS affiliate KPHO that their home was being sold and that his wife had told him to leave. According to the complaint, this sparked an argument that escalated into physical violence. He claimed she kicked him in the groin while wielding a wooden baseball bat, police reported. He then reportedly claimed that he wrestled the bat away from her, causing her to run around the house screaming. That’s when he allegedly struck her several times with the bat. He reportedly cleaned up the blood from the walls before driving to a nearby parking lot.
According to police, after taking an Uber home, he placed his wife’s body in her SUV and drove away. According to the complaint, he ditched her phone and Apple Watch at a gas station. Officers reported that the defendant then went to a campground in Wikieup and threw the bat into an open field.
Brandon Gregory also allegedly wrote a letter to his children requesting “forgiveness for his actions,” according to the complaint.
At a bond hearing, prosecutors stated that the “brutality of this case is alarming,” according to a courtroom report from KPHO. The victim’s family urged the judge to keep him behind bars, describing the couple’s volatile relationship.
“He deceived and manipulated his way back into her life.” “She uncovered more lies, lie after lie,” he explained. “The guy has spent his entire life lying. He is a manipulator and a murderer. We ask that you deny all bonds and never let him out again.”
Her mother said, “Alison worked so hard to get away from him, and she was almost there. “He took her away from us,” she explained. “Please don’t let him out again. It’s horrible. It is sickening for my grandchildren and children. He’s such a coward. If he wanted to kill someone, why not kill himself? I’m sorry, but I think that’s it. Brandon, I’ll hate you forever. “I hope you never, ever get out of prison.”
The judge set the bond at $2 million. His next court date is set for Wednesday.
According to her obituary, Alison Gregory was a Navy veteran and devoted mother of two daughters, ages 20 and 14.
“Alison had a deep love for the outdoors and found joy in hiking, running, and especially taking walks with her dog, Willow,” according to the death notice. “Passionate about health and wellness, she enjoyed cooking nutritious meals for her family and staying active at the gym.”
She worked as a surgical technician in a local hospital.
“Like her favorite flower, the sunflower, Alison radiated positivity and joy,” the obituary read. “She was known for always turning toward the light and inspiring others to do the same.”