A Louisiana man is accused of killing his wife during an argument in Baton Rouge, then driving for more than five hours through several states with her body positioned in the passenger seat before police stopped him in downtown Memphis.

Tyronne Brazille, 50, was arrested Thursday night after Memphis officers pulled him over and discovered his wife, 50-year-old Lanessa Bradford, dead from a gunshot wound in the passenger seat, according to WREG.

Brazille was booked as a fugitive and is awaiting extradition to Louisiana, where authorities expect him to face a murder charge in connection with Bradford’s death.

Investigators Say the Couple Had Been at a Baton Rouge Park

According to Baton Rouge investigators, Brazille and Bradford had been together at Independence Community Park in Baton Rouge, approximately 80 miles northwest of New Orleans, when an argument erupted.

Authorities allege Brazille shot Bradford during the confrontation.

Rather than remaining at the scene, investigators say he left with Bradford’s body in the vehicle and continued driving for more than five hours, crossing several states before reaching Memphis.

The journey ended Thursday night when Memphis police conducted a traffic stop downtown and found Bradford in the passenger seat.

Friend Says Bradford Had Been Planning to Leave

Shelicka Decker, a longtime friend of the couple, told WREG that Brazille and Bradford had been married for years, although exactly how long remains unclear.

According to Decker, their marriage had recently become troubled. She said Brazille had been experiencing mental health issues and that Bradford told her last month she intended to leave him.

Decker said Bradford had already saved money and developed a plan to get away.

“She had the money saved up. She had come up with a plan, and she was going to just vanish. That was the only way she would be able to get away from him,” Decker told WREG.

According to Decker, Bradford intended to leave her car and other belongings behind. She had also been communicating with relatives who lived out of town as she prepared to make the move.

“She was going to leave her car, she was going to leave all the things behind, and she had been in touch with her family that was out of town, and that’s how she was going to make this move to get away,” Decker said.

Previous Threats Had Allegedly Been Made

Decker said Bradford had previously told her that attempts to leave Brazille were met with threats that he would kill either Bradford or himself.

Despite those statements, Decker said she did not believe Brazille would actually harm his wife.

She also claimed there had not been a history of him physically putting his hands on Bradford until relatively recently, estimating that such behavior had begun two or three months earlier.

“It wouldn’t have surprised me if someone had called and said that he killed himself because he always says this,” Decker told WREG. “It surprised me that he killed her.”

For Decker, one of the most difficult aspects of the case to comprehend is the drive that allegedly followed Bradford’s death.

She said she was left with numerous questions about what happened during the hours Brazille allegedly spent traveling with Bradford’s body beside him.

“Where was his mind at during that ride?” she said, describing the situation as both shocking and heartbreaking.

Bradford Remembered for Her Work With Children

Bradford worked at an elementary school in Baton Rouge.

Decker said the couple did not have children of their own, but Bradford devoted herself to the children she worked with at the school.

She described her longtime friend as someone who supported and encouraged many people, including parents in the school community.

“It’s such an unfortunate situation,” Decker told WREG, adding that Bradford “was such a good person” who had uplifted many people.

Decker said her thoughts were with both families, noting that she had known Brazille as well and that the person accused in the case was not the same person she remembered growing up with.

Brazille Awaiting Extradition to Louisiana

Following his arrest, Brazille was booked by Memphis police as a fugitive.

He is due in court Monday while authorities work to extradite him to Louisiana.

Once he is returned to Louisiana, Brazille is expected to face a murder charge in connection with Bradford’s death.