Joshua Alan Wade (March 18, 1980 – June 14, 2024) was an American serial killer who was convicted of two separate murders committed in Alaska in 2000 and 2007 respectively, and sentenced to 99 years imprisonment.
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, in exchange for a transfer to a federal prison.
Joshua Alan Wade was born on March 18, 1980, in Great Falls, Montana, but moved to Anchorage at a young age to live with his father, while his mother resorted to placing him in an acquaintance's care so she could work.
Physical evidence tying him to the crime was scarce, and at trial, his attorneys presented him simply as a "big talker" who would go to unbelievable amounts of exaggeration to impress his friends.
After creeping inside her house, Wade restrained her with zip ties and forced her to give up her ATM card and PIN before stuffing her in the back seat of her red Acura Integra.
[5] After ruling out Schloss' partner as a suspect, authorities began investigating the neighbors, taking particular interest in Wade due to his criminal convictions and his infamous murder trial.
[5] Following his arrest, Wade was brought to the police station, where he categorically refused to speak with investigators, who attempted to trick him into confessing by claiming that they had already talked with Schloss, but failed.
[6] While authorities feared that they would be unable to convict him due to the lack of a body, this all changed when Schloss' corpse was eventually located, followed in quick succession by a positive DNA match for Wade, found in her car.
Further incriminating evidence was located after it was confirmed that he wore the same coat as the man on the surveillance footage; that he had a receipt with Schloss' PIN on it; and a picture on his phone showcasing the same Glock used in the killing.
[1] In a bid to avoid this outcome, Wade accepted a plea bargain proposed by the prosecutors: he would be sentenced to 99 years in state prison and to a federal life term in exchange for admitting guilt in the murder.
Since his admission to the three additional killings, the FBI and state police have been attempting to uncover the identity of his unknown murder victim, as well as possibly linking him to any further violent crimes.