In an unimaginable tragedy that unfolded in Oklahoma, a father has confessed to the brutal murder of his wife, witnessed by their three children. Over two harrowing days, Joshua Brown attacked his wife, Shawntae Brown, employing a belt, a shoe, a flagpole, and a handgun as weapons. After the horrific act, he forced his children to clean the scene and instructed them to remain silent about the incident, as reported by investigators.

Shawntae’s death in 2020 was described in a probable cause affidavit as resulting from a savage beating, leaving her body marked with severe bruises, contusions, and lacerations. This week, Joshua Brown accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. This outcome was reported by local Fox affiliate KOKH.

Mark Myers, public information officer for the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Department, commented on the scene of the crime to NBC affiliate KFOR, saying, “It was very obvious that a violent crime had happened in that house.” He described the scene as “gruesome,” lamenting the traumatic experience the children were forced to endure.

The grim discovery came after a 911 call was made from the family’s residence in Spencer, Oklahoma, at approximately 2 a.m. on September 30, 2020. According to a press release from the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office, emergency personnel arriving at the scene found the lifeless body of 34-year-old Shawntae Lynn Brown. Her husband, Joshua, along with their three children, were present in the home at the time.

The Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release at the time of the slaying that OCSO dispatchers received a 911 call from the family’s home just before 2 a.m. on Sept. 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, told authorities that he “went too far” while fighting with Shawntae Brown and began punching and strangling her in front of their kids, who were 7, 14, and 15 at the time. He was accused of pummeling her over a span of two days before leaving her bruised and beaten body inside a bathroom, KOKH reports.

The couple’s 14-year-old son told investigators that he watched Joshua Brown beat his mother with a handgun, a shoe, a belt, and a flagpole.

“The 14-year-old also made statements that Joshua Brown made him and his siblings clean up the blood and mess and told them not to talk to anyone about the incident,” the affidavit said, according to The Oklahoman.

A “large amount of blood” was reportedly found throughout the couple’s 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 added.

Brown was arrested and booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center for murder and child abuse, where he was held without bond until accepting his plea agreement in exchange for four life sentences.

Prosecutors told KOKH that the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office spoke with Joshua Brown’s children before offering a deal, and his daughter said she did not think he should be free but also did not want him to be executed.

“I know a lot of my family wanted the death penalty,” the daughter, Aliesha Brown, told local CBS affiliate KWTV. “It’s been a long journey, and I’ve grown a lot since then,” Brown said. “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.”

Joshua Brown will not be allowed to appeal his life sentences as part of his plea agreement, KWTV reports. His lawyer did not respond to Law&Crime’s requests for comment on Thursday.