JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – The former son-in-law wanted for questioning in the fatal beating of a Jacksonville Beach woman Sunday morning flagged down police early Monday. After questioning, he was charged with murder.
Officers responding to reports of screaming coming from an apartment in the 900 block of First Avenue South about 10:30 a.m. Sunday found the door open and a trail of blood leading to 51-year-old Pamela Jean Cross lying on the floor, barely conscious.
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Cross was transported by air ambulance to Shands-Jacksonville Medical Center, where she died.
"I called the officer and I said, 'It sounds like someone?s trying to kill someone because there's a lot of noise and I'm one building away and I'm on the corner,'" a resident of the apartment building told Channel 4's Diane Cho.
Jacksonville Beach police quickly announced they were seeking Joseph Tyrone Brown, 31, in connection with the beating.
Sgt. Thomas Bingham said Brown divorced Cross' daughter in 2002, but the two had reunited, then split up again in recent weeks.
Bingham said Brown has a history of assaults and was considered extremely dangerous.
Officers said Brown flagged down a police car about 6 a.m. Monday, identified himself and was taken into custody without incident.
Bingham said Brown told detectives he used professional wrestling moves on Cross, even reenacting the beating.
Police said it was one of the worst beatings they had seen.
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- August 10, 2008: Police Seek Man In Fatal Beating Of Woman