A man has pleaded guilty to the brutal murder of his wife in 2020, resulting in a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Joshua Brown admitted to violently beating his wife, Shawntae Brown, to death using various objects such as a belt, a shoe, a flagpole, and a handgun over a two-day period in September 2020. He then forced his three children to clean up the aftermath and instructed them not to disclose the incident to anyone, as per investigators.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the body of his wife showed multiple bruises, contusions, and lacerations consistent with a severe beating.
Mark Myers, the public information officer for the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Department, described the scene as “very gruesome” and expressed sympathy for the children who had to witness the tragic event.
Police responded to the Browns’ residence in Spencer on September 30, 2020, where they discovered signs of a violent altercation. The couple’s three children, aged 7, 14, and 15, were present at the time.
Brown informed responding officers that he had gone “too far” during a confrontation with his wife. Surveillance footage later revealed him violently assaulting and strangling his wife.
The 14-year-old child mentioned that Joshua Brown made him and his siblings clean up the blood and mess, instructing them to keep silent about the incident.
Authorities recovered a semi-automatic handgun believed to have been used in the attack, showing severe damage consistent with beating the victim.
Brown was arrested and faced charges of child abuse and murder. He remained in custody without bail until accepting a plea deal for four life sentences.
The Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office consulted Brown’s children before offering the plea agreement. His daughter expressed that while she did not support his release, she opposed the death penalty.
Following his guilty plea, District Attorney Behenna stated that while the outcome cannot erase the family’s pain, it ensures that the defendant will not harm others again. The commitment to seeking justice for victims and their families remains unwavering, even in challenging circumstances.
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