A man has confessed to the vicious 2020 killing of his wife, leading to a lifetime imprisonment with no chance of parole.

Joshua Brown admitted to brutally assaulting his wife, Shawntae Brown, to death using various objects such as a belt, a shoe, a flagpole, and a handgun during a two-day period in September 2020. Following the assault, he coerced his three children into cleaning up the aftermath and instructed them not to speak to anyone, as per investigators’ statements.

Details from a probable cause affidavit indicated that his wife sustained extensive bruising, contusions, and lacerations consistent with severe physical harm.

Mark Myers, the public information officer for the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Department, described the incident as a “very gruesome scene” and expressed sorrow for the children having to endure such a tragic event.

Police responded to the Brown family’s 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 scene.

A press release from the sheriff’s office confirmed the discovery of Shawntae Lynn Brown’s body inside the house, along with Joshua Christian Brown and their children.

During the encounter with law enforcement, Brown admitted to crossing a line during a confrontation with his wife. Subsequent video footage showed him violently attacking and strangling her.

According to reports, the 14-year-old child revealed that Joshua Brown forced them and their siblings to clean up the scene and ordered them to keep silent about the incident.

Evidence recovered included a semi-automatic handgun that showed signs of being used to inflict severe injuries on the victim.

Brown was apprehended and faced charges of child abuse and murder, being detained without bail until accepting a plea deal that resulted in four life sentences.

Before finalizing the agreement, the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office consulted with Brown’s children, one of whom expressed opposition to his release but preferred against the death penalty.

Following the guilty plea, District Attorney Behenna emphasized that while the outcome cannot erase the family’s suffering, it ensures the safety of others from the defendant’s actions. The commitment to seeking justice for victims and their families remains steadfast, even amid challenging circumstances.