Joshua Wade
Alaska Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Anchorage, Alaska
TIME PERIOD
1994-2007
VICTIMS
5 confirmed
Joshua Alan Wade, an American serial killer, was convicted of two murders committed in Alaska in 2000 and 2007, and sentenced to 99 years imprisonment. He pled guilty to one murder to avoid execution and later confessed to three additional murders dating back to 1994 as part of a plea deal. Wade died in custody on June 14, 2024, marking the case as solved with a total of five confirmed victims.
The community theories surrounding Joshua Wade's case speculate on the motivations behind his violent behavior, particularly his expressed hatred towards women and Alaska Natives, which some believe could have stemmed from his traumatic childhood experiences and failed relationships. Additionally, there is speculation regarding the potential for more undiscovered victims, given his confessions and the span of his criminal activities. The plea deal he accepted to confess to additional murders also raises questions about the reliability of his confessions and whether he might have been involved in other unsolved cases.
Joshua Wade
Overview
Joshua Alan Wade (March 18, 1980 – June 14, 2024) was an American serial killer whose heinous crimes shocked the state of Alaska and left a lasting impact on the community. Convicted of two separate murders in 2000 and 2007, Wade was sentenced to 99 years in prison. To avoid the death penalty, he pled guilty to one murder in federal court. Seven years later, as part of a plea deal, he confessed to three additional murders dating back to 1994, including one for which he had previously been acquitted—this confession came in exchange for a transfer to a federal prison.
Quick Facts
- Born: March 18, 1980, Great Falls, Montana, U.S.
- Died: June 14, 2024, Indiana State Prison, Michigan City, Indiana, U.S.
- Convictions: Federal carjacking resulting in death (18 U.S.C. § 2119), First-degree murder
- Criminal Penalty: Life imprisonment (federal), 99 years imprisonment (Alaska)
- Victims: 5
- Span of Crimes: 1994–2007
- Country: United States
- State: Alaska
- Date Apprehended: September 2, 2007
Early Life
Wade’s early years were marred by tragedy and trauma. Born in Great Falls, Montana, he moved to Anchorage at a young age to live with his father. His mother, struggling to work, placed him in the care of an acquaintance who began sexually abusing him when he was just five years old. This dark chapter of his childhood likely contributed to the anger issues that began surfacing during his teenage years, especially after a failed romance. By this time, Wade openly expressed his hatred for women and developed a particular disdain for Alaska Natives, as noted by his father, sister, and friends.
Murders
Wade's criminal activity began in the early '90s, with his first confirmed murder being that of John Michael Martin, a 38-year-old unemployed man with schizophrenia. Martin's body was discovered along a bike trail in Anchorage in May 1994, shortly after he left a local Village Inn where he often gathered with friends. At just 14 years old, Wade had no known connection to Martin at the time.
Fast forward to December 1999, Wade claimed to have murdered Henry Ongtowasruk, a 30-year-old man who struggled with mental illness. Ongtowasruk had been living at a motel in Knik-Fairview for about a week before an employee found him shot to death in his room—again, with no links to Wade.
The tale took a much darker turn in September 2000. While out with friends, Wade spotted Della Brown, a 33-year-old Alaska Native woman battling drug and alcohol addiction. After dropping off his friends, Wade returned to attempt a robbery. A struggle ensued, and in a brutal act, he smashed Brown's head with a rock before leaving her half-naked body in a trash-strewn shed. What’s chilling is that he later showed the body to acquaintances, almost as if it was a trophy.
Wade's violence didn't stop there. He claimed to have killed an unidentified man who accompanied him to the shed that night. According to Wade, after knocking the man out and placing him in the trunk of his car, he returned to finish the job. He drove to a secluded area in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, where he executed the man by stomping on his head and shooting him twice.
Prosecution and Acquittal for Brown's Murder
Eventually, one of the acquaintances who had seen Della Brown’s body reported the incident, leading to Wade's arrest. However, the physical evidence against him was scant. During the trial, his defense team portrayed him as a "big talker," suggesting that his violent claims were mere exaggerations aimed at impressing his peers. Given that Wade's associates were also criminals, their testimonies were easily dismissed. Ultimately, he was acquitted of most charges, save for evidence tampering, for which he received a six-and-a-half-year prison sentence. Remarkably, he was released on probation the following year, despite being a known suspect.
Murder of Mindy Schloss and Arrest
In 2007, Wade moved into a new home in Anchorage, next door to Mindy Schloss, a 52-year-old nurse practitioner. On August 3, after a tough day at work, Wade decided to rob Schloss, who was home at the time. He broke into her house, restrained her with zip ties, and forced her to divulge her ATM card and PIN before tossing her into the trunk of her red Acura Integra.
Driving north towards a remote area near Wasilla, he forced Schloss into the woods at gunpoint and shot her in the back of the head with a Glock. After making sure she was dead, he burned her body and fled the scene.
Schloss’s absence was quickly noticed when friends reported her missing after she failed to show up at work. A search led authorities to discover her partially burned body on September 13. Investigators soon found evidence of ATM withdrawals made using Schloss’s card, leading them to surveillance footage of an unidentified white male making the transactions. Coincidentally, a similar-looking man was seen dumping Schloss's car at an airport in Anchorage.
With Schloss's partner cleared as a suspect, investigators turned their attention to Wade. Two of his ex-girlfriends identified him as the man on the surveillance footage. However, when authorities arrived at his home, he had already fled.
He was on the run until September 2, when a friend reported seeing him lurking outside her house. Police arrived, but Wade fled to another acquaintance’s home, where he held hostages at gunpoint. After tense negotiations, he surrendered.
Trial, Sentence, and Confessions
Following his arrest, Wade was taken to the police station, where he refused to speak to investigators. They attempted to trick him into confessing by claiming that they had already spoken to Schloss, but he remained silent. The breakthrough came when Schloss’s body was located, leading to a positive DNA match linking Wade to her car. Additional evidence included a receipt with Schloss's PIN, a coat matching the one worn by the man on the surveillance footage, and a photograph of the Glock used in the murder found on his phone.
Wade was charged with Schloss' murder in state court, facing federal charges for carjacking and theft, making him eligible for the federal death penalty. To avoid this outcome, he accepted a plea deal that resulted in a 99-year sentence in state prison and a life term in federal custody in exchange for his guilty plea. In a shocking twist, he also confessed to killing Della Brown, expressing remorse and suggesting he deserved a harsher punishment.
After the trial, Wade was transferred to Spring Creek Correctional Center in Seward. He initially tried to amend his plea deal, but when that failed, he reached out to authorities in 2014 with a proposal. During this conversation, he confessed to three additional murders, demanding a transfer to federal prison as part of the deal. His request was granted, and he was moved to USP Terre Haute, later ending up at Indiana State Prison, where he was incarcerated until his death.
In the aftermath of his admissions, the FBI and state police sought to uncover the identities of Wade's unknown victims and potentially link him to further violent crimes.
Death
On June 14, 2024, Wade was discovered unresponsive in his cell at Indiana State Prison. He was later pronounced dead, and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death is currently underway.
In the Media and Culture
Wade's chilling crimes have been the subject of numerous true crime television shows, including Murder She Solved, Cold Blooded Alaska: Winter Kill, Fatal Frontier: Evil in Alaska, and Most Evil Killers. His story continues to captivate and horrify audiences as they delve into the mind of a serial killer.
Sources
- Pemberton, Mary. "Alaska man sentenced to 99 years in nurse's murder." The San Diego Union-Tribune, February 17, 2010.
- Shedlock, Jerzy and Burke, Jill. "Authorities: Joshua Wade admits to 3 additional killings." Anchorage Daily News, June 20, 2014.
- James, David A. "Exceptional account traces path of Alaska serial killer Joshua Wade." Anchorage Daily News, November 27, 2016.
- "Convicted Murderer Joshua Wade Says He Killed Five Times in Alaska." Alaska Native News, June 20, 2014.
- Vanapalli, Viswa. "Mindy Schloss Murder: Where is Josh Wade Now?" The Cinemaholic, November 22, 2021.
- Sambeck, Becca Van. "'What About The Men I've Killed?' Man Yells At Judge After Being Called A Coward For Murdering Women." Oxygen.com, November 14, 2021.
- "Convicted Killer Joshua Wade Claims Responsibility for Additional Murders." Federal Bureau of Investigation, June 20, 2014.
- Boots, Michelle Theriault. "Alaska serial killer Joshua Wade dies in Indiana prison." Anchorage Daily News, June 21, 2024.
External Links
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First Murder Committed
Joshua Wade murders John Michael Martin, found shot dead.
Murder of Della Brown
Wade kills Della Brown and leaves her body in a shed.
Murder of Mindy Schloss
Wade kidnaps and murders Mindy Schloss, a nurse practitioner.
Arrest of Joshua Wade
Wade is apprehended after holding hostages at gunpoint.
Plea Deal Accepted
Wade pleads guilty to Schloss' murder to avoid death penalty.
Confession to Additional Murders
Wade confesses to three more murders in exchange for a transfer.
Joshua Wade Dies
Wade found unresponsive in his cell and pronounced dead.
Joshua Alan Wade, an American serial killer, was convicted of two murders committed in Alaska in 2000 and 2007, and sentenced to 99 years imprisonment. He pled guilty to one murder to avoid execution and later confessed to three additional murders dating back to 1994 as part of a plea deal. Wade died in custody on June 14, 2024, marking the case as solved with a total of five confirmed victims.
The community theories surrounding Joshua Wade's case speculate on the motivations behind his violent behavior, particularly his expressed hatred towards women and Alaska Natives, which some believe could have stemmed from his traumatic childhood experiences and failed relationships. Additionally, there is speculation regarding the potential for more undiscovered victims, given his confessions and the span of his criminal activities. The plea deal he accepted to confess to additional murders also raises questions about the reliability of his confessions and whether he might have been involved in other unsolved cases.
Joshua Wade
Overview
Joshua Alan Wade (March 18, 1980 – June 14, 2024) was an American serial killer whose heinous crimes shocked the state of Alaska and left a lasting impact on the community. Convicted of two separate murders in 2000 and 2007, Wade was sentenced to 99 years in prison. To avoid the death penalty, he pled guilty to one murder in federal court. Seven years later, as part of a plea deal, he confessed to three additional murders dating back to 1994, including one for which he had previously been acquitted—this confession came in exchange for a transfer to a federal prison.
Quick Facts
- Born: March 18, 1980, Great Falls, Montana, U.S.
- Died: June 14, 2024, Indiana State Prison, Michigan City, Indiana, U.S.
- Convictions: Federal carjacking resulting in death (18 U.S.C. § 2119), First-degree murder
- Criminal Penalty: Life imprisonment (federal), 99 years imprisonment (Alaska)
- Victims: 5
- Span of Crimes: 1994–2007
- Country: United States
- State: Alaska
- Date Apprehended: September 2, 2007
Early Life
Wade’s early years were marred by tragedy and trauma. Born in Great Falls, Montana, he moved to Anchorage at a young age to live with his father. His mother, struggling to work, placed him in the care of an acquaintance who began sexually abusing him when he was just five years old. This dark chapter of his childhood likely contributed to the anger issues that began surfacing during his teenage years, especially after a failed romance. By this time, Wade openly expressed his hatred for women and developed a particular disdain for Alaska Natives, as noted by his father, sister, and friends.
Murders
Wade's criminal activity began in the early '90s, with his first confirmed murder being that of John Michael Martin, a 38-year-old unemployed man with schizophrenia. Martin's body was discovered along a bike trail in Anchorage in May 1994, shortly after he left a local Village Inn where he often gathered with friends. At just 14 years old, Wade had no known connection to Martin at the time.
Fast forward to December 1999, Wade claimed to have murdered Henry Ongtowasruk, a 30-year-old man who struggled with mental illness. Ongtowasruk had been living at a motel in Knik-Fairview for about a week before an employee found him shot to death in his room—again, with no links to Wade.
The tale took a much darker turn in September 2000. While out with friends, Wade spotted Della Brown, a 33-year-old Alaska Native woman battling drug and alcohol addiction. After dropping off his friends, Wade returned to attempt a robbery. A struggle ensued, and in a brutal act, he smashed Brown's head with a rock before leaving her half-naked body in a trash-strewn shed. What’s chilling is that he later showed the body to acquaintances, almost as if it was a trophy.
Wade's violence didn't stop there. He claimed to have killed an unidentified man who accompanied him to the shed that night. According to Wade, after knocking the man out and placing him in the trunk of his car, he returned to finish the job. He drove to a secluded area in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, where he executed the man by stomping on his head and shooting him twice.
Prosecution and Acquittal for Brown's Murder
Eventually, one of the acquaintances who had seen Della Brown’s body reported the incident, leading to Wade's arrest. However, the physical evidence against him was scant. During the trial, his defense team portrayed him as a "big talker," suggesting that his violent claims were mere exaggerations aimed at impressing his peers. Given that Wade's associates were also criminals, their testimonies were easily dismissed. Ultimately, he was acquitted of most charges, save for evidence tampering, for which he received a six-and-a-half-year prison sentence. Remarkably, he was released on probation the following year, despite being a known suspect.
Murder of Mindy Schloss and Arrest
In 2007, Wade moved into a new home in Anchorage, next door to Mindy Schloss, a 52-year-old nurse practitioner. On August 3, after a tough day at work, Wade decided to rob Schloss, who was home at the time. He broke into her house, restrained her with zip ties, and forced her to divulge her ATM card and PIN before tossing her into the trunk of her red Acura Integra.
Driving north towards a remote area near Wasilla, he forced Schloss into the woods at gunpoint and shot her in the back of the head with a Glock. After making sure she was dead, he burned her body and fled the scene.
Schloss’s absence was quickly noticed when friends reported her missing after she failed to show up at work. A search led authorities to discover her partially burned body on September 13. Investigators soon found evidence of ATM withdrawals made using Schloss’s card, leading them to surveillance footage of an unidentified white male making the transactions. Coincidentally, a similar-looking man was seen dumping Schloss's car at an airport in Anchorage.
With Schloss's partner cleared as a suspect, investigators turned their attention to Wade. Two of his ex-girlfriends identified him as the man on the surveillance footage. However, when authorities arrived at his home, he had already fled.
He was on the run until September 2, when a friend reported seeing him lurking outside her house. Police arrived, but Wade fled to another acquaintance’s home, where he held hostages at gunpoint. After tense negotiations, he surrendered.
Trial, Sentence, and Confessions
Following his arrest, Wade was taken to the police station, where he refused to speak to investigators. They attempted to trick him into confessing by claiming that they had already spoken to Schloss, but he remained silent. The breakthrough came when Schloss’s body was located, leading to a positive DNA match linking Wade to her car. Additional evidence included a receipt with Schloss's PIN, a coat matching the one worn by the man on the surveillance footage, and a photograph of the Glock used in the murder found on his phone.
Wade was charged with Schloss' murder in state court, facing federal charges for carjacking and theft, making him eligible for the federal death penalty. To avoid this outcome, he accepted a plea deal that resulted in a 99-year sentence in state prison and a life term in federal custody in exchange for his guilty plea. In a shocking twist, he also confessed to killing Della Brown, expressing remorse and suggesting he deserved a harsher punishment.
After the trial, Wade was transferred to Spring Creek Correctional Center in Seward. He initially tried to amend his plea deal, but when that failed, he reached out to authorities in 2014 with a proposal. During this conversation, he confessed to three additional murders, demanding a transfer to federal prison as part of the deal. His request was granted, and he was moved to USP Terre Haute, later ending up at Indiana State Prison, where he was incarcerated until his death.
In the aftermath of his admissions, the FBI and state police sought to uncover the identities of Wade's unknown victims and potentially link him to further violent crimes.
Death
On June 14, 2024, Wade was discovered unresponsive in his cell at Indiana State Prison. He was later pronounced dead, and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death is currently underway.
In the Media and Culture
Wade's chilling crimes have been the subject of numerous true crime television shows, including Murder She Solved, Cold Blooded Alaska: Winter Kill, Fatal Frontier: Evil in Alaska, and Most Evil Killers. His story continues to captivate and horrify audiences as they delve into the mind of a serial killer.
Sources
- Pemberton, Mary. "Alaska man sentenced to 99 years in nurse's murder." The San Diego Union-Tribune, February 17, 2010.
- Shedlock, Jerzy and Burke, Jill. "Authorities: Joshua Wade admits to 3 additional killings." Anchorage Daily News, June 20, 2014.
- James, David A. "Exceptional account traces path of Alaska serial killer Joshua Wade." Anchorage Daily News, November 27, 2016.
- "Convicted Murderer Joshua Wade Says He Killed Five Times in Alaska." Alaska Native News, June 20, 2014.
- Vanapalli, Viswa. "Mindy Schloss Murder: Where is Josh Wade Now?" The Cinemaholic, November 22, 2021.
- Sambeck, Becca Van. "'What About The Men I've Killed?' Man Yells At Judge After Being Called A Coward For Murdering Women." Oxygen.com, November 14, 2021.
- "Convicted Killer Joshua Wade Claims Responsibility for Additional Murders." Federal Bureau of Investigation, June 20, 2014.
- Boots, Michelle Theriault. "Alaska serial killer Joshua Wade dies in Indiana prison." Anchorage Daily News, June 21, 2024.
External Links
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
First Murder Committed
Joshua Wade murders John Michael Martin, found shot dead.
Murder of Della Brown
Wade kills Della Brown and leaves her body in a shed.
Murder of Mindy Schloss
Wade kidnaps and murders Mindy Schloss, a nurse practitioner.
Arrest of Joshua Wade
Wade is apprehended after holding hostages at gunpoint.
Plea Deal Accepted
Wade pleads guilty to Schloss' murder to avoid death penalty.
Confession to Additional Murders
Wade confesses to three more murders in exchange for a transfer.
Joshua Wade Dies
Wade found unresponsive in his cell and pronounced dead.