by SPENCER, OKLAHOMA — A 39-year-old Oklahoma man who brutally murdered his wife in front of their three children, then forced the kids to clean up the bloody crime scene, has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after admitting to the killing.
Joshua Christian Brown pleaded guilty this week to the 2020 murder of his wife, 34-year-old Shawntae Lynn Brown, inside the family’s Spencer home. Prosecutors said Brown beat, strangled, and bludgeoned his wife over the course of two days, using multiple household items, including a shoe, belt, flagpole, and handgun, while their children were forced to watch.
A Brutal Crime Inside a Family Home
According to a probable cause affidavit, deputies with the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) were called to the couple’s home just before 2 a.m. on September 30, 2020, after receiving a 911 call from inside the residence.
When first responders arrived, they discovered the body of Shawntae Brown inside the bathroom. Her husband and their three children—ages 7, 14, and 15—were also present. Investigators described the scene as “gruesome,” with blood throughout the house and visible damage to the walls.
“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. “What a horrible, tragic event for these kids to have to go through.”
Children Forced to Clean Crime Scene
The couple’s 14-year-old son told investigators he had witnessed his father repeatedly beating his mother with a handgun, belt, flagpole, and shoe during a violent, prolonged assault.
The boy also said that after his mother was killed, Joshua Brown forced him and his siblings to clean up the blood and mess and instructed them “not to talk to anyone” about what had happened.
Investigators found a semi-automatic handgun at the scene that had been used to strike Shawntae so severely that its fiber optic front sight had shattered and was “caked with blood and hair,” according to the affidavit.
“I Went Too Far” — Confession and Arrest
When questioned by authorities, Joshua Brown admitted he had “gone too far” during an argument with his wife. He told detectives he punched and strangled her in front of the children, acknowledging that his rage had spiraled out of control.
Evidence suggested the violent abuse spanned more than 48 hours, leaving Shawntae’s body covered in bruises, lacerations, and contusions consistent with a severe beating.
Brown was immediately arrested and booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center on charges of first-degree murder and child abuse. He was held without bond for nearly four years while awaiting trial.
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Sentencing and Plea Agreement
Facing the death penalty, Brown accepted a plea deal this week that spared him execution but sentenced him to life in prison without parole. He also received three additional life sentences for child abuse and related charges.
Prosecutors said they consulted with Brown’s children before finalizing the plea agreement. His daughter, Aliesha Brown, now an adult, told that she supported the decision.
“I know a lot of my family wanted the death penalty,” she said. “But it’s been a long journey, and I’ve grown a lot since then. Knowing justice has been served and due process has been done, I can finally get some peace.”
A Family Shattered by Violence
Authorities described the killing as one of the most disturbing domestic violence cases seen in Oklahoma County in recent years. “It was just a very gruesome scene,” Myers said. “This family has endured unimaginable trauma.”
Neighbors in Spencer expressed shock, saying they rarely saw signs of trouble from the family before the murder. “They seemed quiet,” one local resident said. “Nobody could’ve imagined something like that happening behind closed doors.”
Ongoing Pain and Call for Awareness
While Joshua Brown will spend the rest of his life in prison, advocates say his children will carry the emotional scars forever. The case has reignited calls for stronger domestic violence prevention and early intervention programs in Oklahoma.
“This tragedy underscores how domestic violence often escalates quietly until it’s too late,” said a representative from the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. “We have to make sure victims and families have somewhere safe to turn before it becomes fatal.”
As the community mourns Shawntae Brown’s death, her surviving children are now under the care of relatives and continuing to receive counseling and support.
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