An Oklahoma father has admitted to beating his wife to death in front of their three children using a belt, a shoe, a flagpole, and a handgun over the course of two days. He then forced the children to “clean up the blood and mess” and told them “not to talk to anyone” about the incident, according to investigators.
The victim, Shawntae Brown, was found with bruises, contusions, and lacerations consistent with a severe beating, a probable cause affidavit revealed. Joshua Brown, her husband, was sentenced this week to life in prison without the possibility of parole after accepting a plea deal, local Fox affiliate KOKH reported.
“It was very obvious that a violent crime had happened in that house,” said Mark Myers, public information officer for the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Department, to NBC affiliate KFOR after Shawntae’s body was discovered in the couple’s Spencer home. “It was just a very gruesome scene. What a horrible, tragic event for these kids to have to go through.”
### Incident Details
The Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office stated in a press release that dispatchers received a 911 call from the family’s home just before 2 a.m. on September 30, 2020.
“When emergency personnel responded, they found the body of 34-year-old Shawntae Lynn Brown inside the house,” the release said. “Joshua Christian Brown, who is married to the victim, and their three children were also inside the home.”
Joshua Brown, 39, admitted to authorities that he “went too far” during a fight with Shawntae, punching and strangling her in front of their children, who were aged 7, 14, and 15 at the time. He reportedly battered her over two days before leaving her bruised and beaten body in the bathroom.
The couple’s 14-year-old son told investigators he witnessed his father assault their mother with a handgun, a shoe, a belt, and a flagpole. According to the affidavit, Joshua Brown also made the children clean up the blood and mess and instructed them to remain silent about the incident, as reported by The Oklahoman.
### Crime Scene Findings
Investigators found a “large amount of blood” throughout the home, along with holes in the drywall that appeared to be caused by punches or kicks.
“A semi-automatic handgun was recovered, and it appeared that Joshua Brown had beaten the victim with it so severely that the fiber optic front sight had shattered and was caked with blood and hair,” the affidavit noted.
Joshua Brown was arrested and booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center on charges of murder and child abuse. He was held without bond until he accepted his plea agreement in exchange for four life sentences.
### Family Impact and Plea Agreement
Prosecutors revealed that the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office spoke with Joshua Brown’s children before offering the plea deal. His daughter, Aliesha Brown, expressed mixed feelings about the outcome.
“I know a lot of my family wanted the death penalty,” Aliesha told CBS affiliate KWTV. “It’s been a long journey, and I’ve grown a lot since then. Obviously, I was a kid, now I’m a young adult, but it’s not going to get any easier. Knowing justice has been served and due process has been done, I can finally get some peace.”
As part of his plea agreement, Joshua Brown will not be permitted to appeal his life sentences, KWTV reports.
Requests for comment from Joshua Brown’s lawyer were not returned by Law&Crime.
https://lawandcrime.com/crime/husband-who-slaughtered-wife-in-front-of-their-3-kids-then-made-the-children-clean-up-the-blood-and-mess-says-he-went-too-far/