An Oklahoma man, Joshua Brown, has confessed to the brutal murder of his wife, Shawntae Brown, in the presence of their three children. The incident, which occurred over two days, involved the use of a belt, a shoe, a flagpole, and a handgun as weapons. Following the assault, Brown forced his children to clean up the crime scene and instructed them to remain silent about the incident, investigators revealed.
The victim’s body bore the signs of a violent attack, with numerous bruises, contusions, and lacerations. Joshua Brown was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole this week, after accepting a plea deal. The severity of the crime was evident, according to Mark Myers, a public information officer for the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Department, who described the scene as “gruesome” and “tragic” for the children involved.
The Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office received a distress call from the family’s residence shortly before 2 a.m. on September 30, 2020. Upon arrival, emergency personnel discovered the body of 34-year-old Shawntae Brown inside the house. Joshua Brown, 39, and their three children were also present at the scene.
Joshua Brown admitted to authorities that he had “gone too far” during a dispute with his wife, resorting to physical violence and strangulation in front of their children, aged 7, 14, and 15. He was accused of assaulting her over two days, leaving her battered body in a bathroom.
The couple’s 14-year-old son provided a chilling account of the incident, stating that he witnessed his father assault his mother with various objects. The affidavit also revealed that Joshua Brown forced his children to clean up the crime scene and instructed them not to disclose the incident to anyone.
Investigators found a significant amount of blood throughout the house, along with damage to the drywall that seemed to be the result of punches or kicks. A semi-automatic handgun was recovered from the scene, which appeared to have been used in the assault, as it was covered in blood and hair.
Joshua Brown was arrested and charged with murder and child abuse. He was held without bond until he accepted a plea deal, which resulted in four life sentences. The plea deal was offered after consultation with the children, who expressed their desire for their father to be punished but not executed.
Joshua Brown’s daughter, Aliesha Brown, expressed relief at the conclusion of the case, stating that she could finally find some peace knowing justice had been served. As part of his plea agreement, Joshua Brown will not be able to appeal his life sentences.