Bethesda Father Sought for Killing Family Likely in Italy Says WTOP

The Bethesda father of three sought by local and federal authorities for allegedly using a hammer to kill his wife, mother and sons in 1976 is likely living in Italy, according to WTOP.

William Bradford Bishop Jr. -- wanted for the brutal murders of his wife, mother, and three sons in Bethesda in March 1976 -- was named to the Most Wanted list on Thursday, authorities announced. A reward of up to $100,000 is being offered for information leading directly to the arrest of Bishop, who investigators believe may be hiding in plain sight.

A Montgomery County grand jury indicted Bishop in 1976 for the murders of his mother, wife and three sons, ages 5, 10, and 14. Authorities have no sightings of him, and say they don’t know if he’s still alive or if he died in the past four decades. But they want to resolve the brutal slayings.

"In all likelihood he is in Italy," Jim Garret, an author who has studied the Bishop case extensively, told WTOP.

Garret has worked alongside Montgomery County police, providing and gathering information over the years. In an exclusive interview, Garret tells WTOP he has received credible information that Bishop is living in the southwest corner of Italy.

"The area that would suit him very well is along the coast between Naples and Sorrento," Garret says. "He has been sighted in other places that are close to this area."

Bishop, who worked for the U.S. State Department, is fluent in numerous languages, including Italian.

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