Alexandria man confesses to killing neighbour found dead in closet

Joshua Cochran, 44, was found dead in his neighbour's closet in Alexandria, Virginia. The suspect confessed immediately when detectives knocked on his door.

Alexandria neighbour found dead in closet after suspect confesses on the spot

A 44-year-old man reported missing in Alexandria, Virginia, was found dead inside a closet at his neighbour's apartment, nbcwashington.com reports. The suspect confessed to the killing the moment detectives came to his door.

Joshua Cochran was reported missing on Monday after his family contacted police and asked them to check his apartment on the 5700 block of Merton Court. Officers entered with the help of maintenance staff but found nothing unusual and no sign of Cochran.

When Cochran's family called again on Tuesday — noting his car was still parked at the complex but he remained unreachable — police escalated the search. Investigators established that Cochran had been at a bar with a fellow resident of the same apartment complex, John Stremple III, 63.

When detectives knocked on Stremple's door to follow up on that lead, he immediately admitted to the killing. "It is an unexpected statement. When our detectives knocked on the door, they were just following up on the leads that had been established. And when they opened that door, the suspect gave an immediate confession," Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire said.

Officers then searched Stremple's apartment and found Cochran's body in a closet. According to police, Cochran had suffered serious blunt force trauma to the head.

Stremple was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)