Violent offender Joshua T. Brown, 32, of West Columbia, has been sentenced to twenty-three (23) years for Attempted Murder following the repeated stabbing of his former spouse at the Cayce Riverwalk. The crime occurred on August 11, 2015, near the Granby Landing portion of the Riverwalk. The sentence was handed down by Circuit Court Judge R. Knox McMahon following a guilty plea on Friday, June 22nd, in Lexington County. The plea was entered during Brown’s trial last week. Attempted murder is classified as a “no parole” offense under South Carolina law.

Eleventh Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard stated, “Domestic Violence will always be a priority. Violent offenders must be held accountable in order to protect victims, families, and eliminate these crimes within our community.” The investigation was conducted by Investigators Cal Thomas and Jason Merrill with the Cayce Department of Public Safety. The prosecution of this case was handled by Deputy Solicitor Suzanne Mayes and Assistant Solicitor Kate W. Usry of the Eleventh Circuit Solicitor’s Office.

The female victim, who was legally separated from Brown at the time of the attack, sustained 20 stab wounds over her body, including injuries to her chest, torso, arms, and hands. The victim suffered 10 stab wounds directly to her back. The victim testified that she agreed to meet with Brown at the Riverwalk in order to discuss aspects of their marital separation. While walking along the Cayce portion of the Riverwalk pathway, she described that Brown became angry with her and confronted her with a knife. Following the initial stab wounds she suffered on the walkway, the victim testified that Brown pulled her off the path and up a wooded incline. She testified that Brown then stabbed her repeatedly in the back while she was face down on the ground. The victim reported that she “played dead” in order to stop the assault. She testified that Brown covered her with leaves and then fled the scene.

The victim was able to walk to the river in an attempt to seek help. She described submerging herself in the water and then floating downstream to the Granby Landing dock. She held on to the dock for approximately two hours until she was observed in the water by a kayaker. The man in the kayak heard her cries for help and called 911 for assistance. She was ultimately rescued by officers with the Cayce Department of Public Safety. The victim was transported to the Palmetto Health Richland Hospital Trauma Unit were she was treated for her injuries.

Following a multi-jurisdiction manhunt, Brown was apprehended in Richland County at a girlfriend’s home on August 12, 2015 after the Lexington County Fugitive Task Force obtained leads to his location. Brown had disposed of the knife and the clothing he had worn during the attack.

Brown has been transferred to the S. C. Department of Corrections to begin immediate service of his sentence.