In a chilling murder case from Arizona, a man is accused of killing and dismembering his best friend before discarding his remains in a desert town. Samuel Stephen Bush, 24, is facing charges of first-degree murder, concealing a dead body, and tampering with physical evidence, as per the prosecution’s statement.
The incident took place in Gilbert, a suburb approximately 22 miles southeast of Phoenix in Maricopa County. On August 12, 2024, Alijah Bradley, also 24, disappeared a day after his birthday. Bradley, a recent graduate from Northern Arizona University, was reported missing by his family three days later when he failed to make his daily morning call to his mother. Investigators suspect that Bradley was shot and killed by Bush on the day he missed his routine call.
According to grand jury documents recently obtained by independent Phoenix-based TV station KTVK and local CBS affiliate KPHO, Bush allegedly shot Bradley in the back. Following the shooting, Bush is believed to have bought a reciprocating saw from a home improvement store. Prosecutors allege that Bush used the saw to dismember his friend, removing his limbs and head.
The dismembered body was then discarded just east of Gila Bend, a lightly populated town about 90 miles southwest of Gilbert. Family members quickly suspected Bush. Using the Life360 app, Bradley’s mother was able to ping his phone, which was turned off but indicated its last known location as Bush’s apartment.
Bradley’s family initially contacted Bush, who denied any knowledge of Bradley’s whereabouts. They then reached out to Toyota for the GPS coordinates of Bradley’s car, which were subsequently provided to law enforcement. Bradley’s decapitated body was discovered on August 19, 2024.
A relative of Bradley’s expressed shock and disbelief at the brutal nature of the crime, unable to comprehend why Bush, described as Bradley’s best friend and only friend, would commit such an act. A GoFundMe page set up to cover funeral and related expenses described Bradley, an engineer, as a “bright and beloved soul” whose loss is deeply felt by all who knew him.
Bush was arrested on drug-related charges on August 20, 2024, and later charged with second-degree murder. The latest charges suggest a premeditated killing. Bradley’s aunt, speaking to Phoenix-based ABC affiliate KNXV, expressed her devastation, stating that Bradley was just starting his adult life and that the arrest brought no relief or resolution.