Where is Bradford King now? Details explored ahead of Killer Relationships with Faith Jenkins on Oxygen

In 1992, Bradford King, a criminal justice professor, was convicted of murdering his wife, Diane King, a well-known TV news anchor in Michigan. She was shot dead outside her home, and the murder investigation was highly publicized.

Bradford King taught criminal justice at Western Michigan University and had been an award winner in forensic science. However, his marriage with Diane Bradford was unhappy. It was rumored that she committed adultery which accelerated the tension in her marriage.

On February 9, 1991, Diane was found shot in her car outside the couple's Fredonia Township home, sending shock waves through their community. Initially, the case was dead-ended, but it ultimately focused on Bradford as the killer. He was charged with her murder in early 1992.

After a very publicized trial that had the whole nation buzzing, Bradford was convicted of first-degree murder and a felony firearms charge. He is serving his life sentence at the Gus Harrison Correctional Facility in Adrian. The case's details were examined in season 3, episode 12 of Oxygen’s Killer Relationships with Faith Jenkins.

The episode aired on November 2, 2024, at 8 p.m. and shed light on the factors leading to Bradford’s life sentence and his current status.

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The complex relationship of Bradford and Diane King

Reportedly Bradford and Diane King had a tense relationship. Diane was known within the community for being a local newscaster, and Bradford was viewed as a well-known scholar. Friends and colleagues testified about Diane’s concerns for her safety, citing instances of harassment and anonymous threats she received before her death.

As the investigation progressed, investigators began to suspect Bradford. Although there was scarce physical evidence, there were testimonies and circumstantial factors that suggested that Bradford could have had a possible motive tied to their rough marriage and alleged financial interests.

Diane's friends reported their concerns about her safety before she was killed. This also led the prosecution to suggest that Bradford's action followed a premeditated intent.

During the trial, the prosecution went through various steps to show the different alleged motives of Bradford, arguing these to be evidence of planning that led to Diane's death.

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Bradford King’s trial and appeal

Bradford King's case became one of the most publicized cases because of his background in the criminal justice field. On the other hand, his defense counsel requested a change of venue, arguing that the extensive coverage had influenced the potential jury pool in Calhoun County.

However, it was not acceded to, and this case proceeded in the same local court. The prosecution relied on multiple eyewitness accounts and circumstantial evidence including details about his financial background stating that he had the intention behind the murder. He was eventually sentenced to life imprisonment without possibility of parole.

In 2000, Bradford filed his application for the writ of Habeas corpus. This concerned the illegitimacy of jury selection and their decision over the transfer of venue. He argued that pre-trial publicity violated his right to a fair trial.

However, this appeal was dismissed as the court held that the jury was fair and reliable in the conduct of its proceedings. This ruling gave Bradford King only a few options to get his conviction overturned, sustaining his life sentence without eligibility for parole.

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Bradford King’s current status and incarceration

Bradford King is serving his life sentence at the Gus Harrison Correctional Facility in Adrian, Michigan. Since his conviction, he has spent more than 30 years in prison. The court has sustained his conviction despite his attempts to appeal against it.