Whenever in conflict with her parents, Joshan Ashbrook would often leave home and spend the night elsewhere, returning the next day. However, after a dispute with her parents on July 31, 2002, the 16-year-old girl couldn’t return.
Tragedy after Conflict with Parents
Joshan Ashbrook, a 16-year-old girl with dreams of becoming a singer. Along with her sister, Joshan wrote music and wanted to record a song she had composed. Joshan’s backup plan was to become a lawyer specializing in entertainment law.
According to relatives, Joshan often clashed with her parents and would leave. She would spend the night somewhere else and return home the next day. In Joshan’s final argument with her parents, they confronted her about her use of stimulants. Joshan left on July 31, 2002, and has not been heard from since. After failing to locate Joshan and establish contact, her relatives reported her missing to the police.
The next day, a lineman stumbled upon the body of a woman by the roadside in a forested area in the outskirts of Tampa, Florida, USA. The victim’s identity was quickly determined to be Joshan.
The victim had a slash on her throat, severe facial trauma, head injuries, and wounds on her hands from defense. At the scene, Joshan’s pants were missing, but authorities found no evidence of sexual assault.
Police found a strand of hair in the wound on Joshan’s thumb. It appeared that the victim had grabbed the attacker’s hair while resisting. The hair root remained intact.
About 9 meters from the body, police found fresh tire tracks. This was an area with a lot of sand, so cars passing through left distinct tire tracks.
The Red Pickup Truck
Autopsy results determined that the throat wound on Joshan was not the cause of death. The medical examiner stated that the perpetrator had wrestled with Joshan, exerting pressure that broke her neck.
Police interviewed Joshan’s family about any possible suspects they could think of. Her family mentioned a friend named John Hanson, 60, who lived nearby. According to Joshan’s mother, John seemed overly familiar with his daughters. When the police went to John’s house to search for him, he had disappeared. John had a history of marital issues but no history of violence.
The tire tracks from the mysterious vehicle at the crime scene were measured and entered into a database containing around 20,000 different types of tires produced worldwide. The results were narrowed down to 7 types that could produce similar marks. Investigators also learned that the tire tracks came from a large-sized vehicle, such as a pickup truck or SUV.
At this point, the police received a call from a woman who had encountered Joshan on July 31. It was Joshan’s boyfriend’s mother.
The woman stated that she received a call from Joshan around 8:30 to inquire if her boyfriend was home. Afterward, Joshan suggested sending a letter to her boyfriend. A few minutes later, a red pickup truck rushed in. Joshan seemed to be in a hurry. The woman described the driver as a middle-aged white man.
Criminal’s Name Revealed
The woman provided the police with the mobile phone number that Joshan used. When the police called, a man answered. He said his name was Phillup Thompson.
When asked if he knew Joshan, Phillup stated that he and his daughter had given Joshan a ride. Phillup also admitted to allowing Joshan to use the phone and driving her to her boyfriend’s house to mail the letter. According to Phillup, he and his daughter then dropped Joshan off at a local convenience store. Phillup agreed to come to the police station to provide information but never showed up.
Upon checking the mobile phone Joshan used, the police found it was not registered under the name Phillup Thompson but under Phillup Partin, a convicted murderer.
Phillup Partin was convicted of killing a man named Gary Thorne in 1987. He picked up Gary at a club and took the victim to his place. Phillup then assaulted and strangled Gary with a telephone cord, stealing money, bank cards, and the victim’s car.
Phillup was convicted of second-degree murder but served only 6 years. He was released in 1995.
A Clue Beneath the Carpet
The police obtained surveillance footage from the convenience store. Phillup’s truck arrived at the lot around 8:48. They made some purchases inside before leaving together.
Police searched for Phillup nationwide. They knew he was living with his daughter – Patrisha – and a friend he met in prison.
The roommate stated that they hadn’t seen Phillup and his daughter since the news of Joshan’s murder aired on local news. The man also claimed Joshan had never been to their place, but the police decided to search after obtaining a warrant.
Initially, they found nothing unusual in Phillup’s room. Until they lifted the carpet between the two beds and noticed a large discolored stain. It was about 1.2 meters long and smelled of bleach.
When the carpet was lifted, investigators discovered traces of blood. All evidence was collected for DNA testing. Additionally, investigators found a remaining bloodstain on the wall. Its DNA matched Joshan’s.
At this point, the roommate disclaimed any involvement and ceased cooperation with the police.
Abandoned Vehicle
Although the suspect in the death of the 16-year-old girl Joshan Ashbrook was identified as Phillup Partin, the police couldn’t locate him. Nonetheless, Phillup frequently contacted them via mobile phone. He enjoyed conversing and questioning what the police had gathered about him. Phillup displayed a mocking attitude towards the authorities. Eventually, the phone calls ceased.
Two months after the murder, the police found a red pickup truck abandoned in a convenience store parking lot, about 80 km from where Joshan’s body was discovered. The vehicle was later identified as belonging to Phillup. The tires were Wild Country, matching the tire tracks near where the body of the 16-year-old girl was found.
Phillup’s daughter was subsequently found at a friend’s house. Phillup had dropped her off there after the murder. Phillup’s daughter stated she had never seen Joshan leave her bedroom. They had spent the entire day swimming and fishing, then returned home to play video games and watch TV.
The girl claimed she slept in the living room and when she woke up, Joshan was gone. She asserted that both her father and Joshan had left while she was asleep and didn’t know where her father was currently.
Death Sentence for the Killer
Upon receiving orders, the police wiretapped the roommate’s phone to see if Phillup called him. As predicted, Phillup did indeed make the call. From there, the police traced that Phillup had used a payphone in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Focusing their search on that area, they eventually located Phillup. He was immediately arrested.
At the police station, Phillup evaded most of the investigators’ questions. When asked about Joshan, Phillup replied, “Do you know how many girls I’ve met?”
Phillup’s DNA was compared with the hair found on Joshan’s body. The results showed a match.
At this point, the police still didn’t believe Phillup’s roommate was not involved. His car was searched. Blood was found in the front seat. However, it was not Joshan’s but belonged to his son. The man confessed he was working in Tampa the night Joshan died. This external alibi was later corroborated.
The prosecution accused Phillup and his daughter of picking up Joshan. They went fishing in the afternoon after shopping at the convenience store. Upon returning home, Phillup made inappropriate advances towards Joshan while his daughter was asleep. Eventually, Phillup killed Joshan when she rejected him, then disposed of the victim’s body in the woods.
Phillup was brought to trial on first-degree murder charges. Throughout the trial, this man remained arrogant and showed no remorse. Ultimately, the jury declared Phillup guilty in Joshan’s death and sentenced him to death.
