The headlines were everywhere last summer, but they didn't really tell the whole story. If you live in the West Valley, you probably remember the name. Alison Gregory was a 41-year-old mother of two living in Surprise, Arizona. She was kind, she was loved by her co-workers, and she was so close to starting over.
Then everything went wrong.
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People often look at these cases and think they're just statistics or "true crime" fodder. Honestly, this one hits different. It wasn't some random act of violence in a dark alley. It happened in a quiet neighborhood near Sarival Avenue and Cholla Street. It’s a place where people move to raise families and enjoy the Arizona sun. But for Alison, it became the site of a tragedy that the local community is still trying to process.
The Events Leading Up to May 2025
The situation wasn't a sudden explosion. Life is rarely that simple. Alison and her husband, Brandon Gregory, were in the middle of what police later described as a "difficult divorce." You've probably heard that phrase before, but in this context, it was a powder keg.
They were actually finalizing things. The house they shared was under contract. It was literally set to close on May 19th. Alison was days away from a clean break—from a new chapter.
But on May 14, 2025, she didn't show up to the airport to pick up a family member. That was the first red flag. When you’re someone like Alison—reliable, dedicated—not showing up for family means something is deeply wrong. Her family knew it instantly. They called the police.
The Investigation and the 100-Mile Drive
When Surprise police officers arrived at the home, they didn't find a happy couple packing for a move. They found evidence of a struggle. Blood. A mess that someone had tried, and failed, to clean up.
Brandon Gregory wasn't there. Neither was Alison’s car, a Subaru SUV.
Technology ended up being the key here. Using license plate readers and GPS data from the vehicle, investigators tracked the car moving northwest, away from the suburban sprawl of Surprise and into the rugged landscape of Mohave County.
Brandon had driven over 100 miles.
He stopped at a gas station in Wickenburg to throw away Alison's cell phone and Apple Watch. It's a chilling detail—trying to erase her digital footprint while her physical body was still in the car. He eventually ended up at the Burro Creek Campground, a remote spot off Route 93.
When authorities finally surrounded the vehicle, they found Brandon inside. Alison was in the back seat. She had been beaten to death with a baseball bat.
Remembering Who Alison Gregory Was
It’s easy to get lost in the "how" of the crime, but the "who" is what actually matters to the people of Surprise. Alison wasn't just a victim. She was a mother to two daughters—one a 14-year-old and the other a 20-year-old in college.
Her sister and her co-workers described her as "full of life." She was the person you wanted in your corner.
There was a candlelight vigil. People cried. Neighbors talked about how "Alli’s story" needs to be a wake-up call. Because the reality is, domestic violence doesn't always look like a movie. Sometimes it’s a quiet struggle behind a nice front door in a nice neighborhood.
The Legal Fallout and Public Record
Brandon Gregory, 56, was arrested and booked into the Maricopa County Jail. The charges were heavy:
- Second-degree murder
- Manslaughter
- Tampering with physical evidence
- Concealment of a dead body
During his initial court appearance, the details became even more gruesome. Prosecutors alleged that after the killing, Brandon wrapped Alison’s body in a carpet and hid her in the garage before eventually moving her to the SUV. He even wrote an apology letter to his daughters, asking for forgiveness for what he had done.
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The judge didn't show much leniency. While prosecutors asked for a $1 million bond, the judge actually doubled it to $2 million cash.
Why the Alison Gregory Case Still Matters
This case is a stark reminder of the "lethality gap" in domestic situations. Experts often point out that the most dangerous time for a victim of domestic abuse is right when they are leaving. Alison was so close. The house was selling. The divorce was happening.
It also highlights how much we rely on technology now. Without the GPS in that Subaru and the license plate cameras, Brandon might have stayed in that remote campground for a lot longer.
What can we actually do with this information?
If you're in the Surprise area or anywhere else and you're seeing signs of escalating conflict in a relationship—whether it's your own or a friend's—don't ignore the "small" things.
- Trust the "Gut" Feeling: Alison's family knew something was wrong the second she missed that airport pickup. If a reliable person goes dark, act fast.
- Understand the Risks of Transition: Moving out or finalizing a divorce is a high-risk window. If you're in that spot, involve local resources like the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual & Domestic Violence.
- Support the Survivors: Alison’s daughters are left to navigate a world without their mother and with the trauma of what their father did. Community support for families in these situations is vital long after the news cameras leave.
The story of Alison Gregory in Surprise, AZ, isn't just a news clip. It’s a permanent part of the city's history now. It serves as a somber lesson on the importance of community vigilance and the reality of domestic violence in even the most seemingly peaceful suburbs.
If you or someone you know is facing a similar situation, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788. It's free, confidential, and available 24/7.