Alexandria, Virginia, police arrested a man last week in connection with the death of Joshua Cochran, a 44-year-old employee of Fox News Media, whose body was discovered hidden in a neighbor's apartment. John Stremple III, 63, a resident of the same apartment complex as Cochran, was taken into custody on Wednesday and charged with second-degree murder. He is currently being held without bond at the Alexandria Detention Center, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for January 6, 2027.
"When they opened that door, the suspect gave an immediate confession." Chief Tarrick McGuire, Alexandria Police Chief
The investigation began after Cochran's family grew alarmed when they could not reach him following Saturday evening, the last time he was seen. His dog remained alone in his apartment, and his vehicle had not moved from its spot outside the building. On Monday, relatives contacted authorities for a welfare check after calls to Cochran's phone went straight to voicemail. Officers, with assistance from maintenance personnel, entered Cochran's apartment but did not locate him.
Concern escalated on Tuesday when relatives again contacted police, pointing out that Cochran's car was still parked outside while he remained missing. Authorities then reclassified Cochran as a critical missing person, prompting detectives to intensify their efforts to reconstruct his final hours. Investigators utilized financial records and surveillance footage, which ultimately led them to trace Cochran's movements after his disappearance. This evidence indicated that Cochran had spent Saturday drinking at several establishments in Alexandria with Stremple, who resided in the same complex.
The trail of evidence led detectives directly to Stremple's apartment in the 5800 block of Merton Court. Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire detailed the pivotal moment of the investigation. "When they opened that door, the suspect gave an immediate confession," Chief McGuire stated. Following this admission, police entered the apartment and discovered Cochran's body concealed within a closet. Authorities confirmed that Cochran had sustained serious blunt-force trauma to the head. Investigators have not publicly identified the object used in the attack, but police specified that no firearm was involved in the killing.
As of now, police have not released a motive for the alleged murder, nor have they described the nature of the relationship between Cochran and Stremple prior to that Saturday night. Detectives continue their work to piece together the sequence of events that unfolded after the two men returned home from drinking.
Multiple reports indicate that John Stremple III is listed on Virginia’s sex-offender registry due to a 2014 conviction involving sodomy against a minor. However, police officials have not suggested any connection between this earlier case and Cochran’s death.
Joshua Cochran worked for Fox News Media. His family described his role as a video editor, while other reports identified him as a digital librarian, a position involving the management of the organization’s digital media. Fox News Media released a statement upon confirmation of his death, expressing profound sorrow. "We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of our colleague Joshua Cochran," the company said, adding that he was a dedicated team member who would be deeply missed by his colleagues.
Cochran had recently moved to Alexandria to be closer to his 8-year-old son, according to his family. Relatives portrayed him as an outgoing individual who easily befriended strangers. His sister-in-law, Michelle Cochran, mentioned that family members initially speculated he might have simply formed a friendship with an older resident of the complex. Cochran's mother remembered him as "smart and funny, a man with a soft soul," expressing the family's shock at the violent nature of his death. Neighbors in the complex also voiced their dismay upon learning that Cochran's body was allegedly hidden in an apartment just steps from his own. One neighbor recounted having shared beers with Stremple in the past and found the murder allegation difficult to reconcile with their ordinary interactions.
Police commended the role of surveillance cameras and financial transaction records in providing the crucial investigative path from Cochran's disappearance to Stremple's door. The homicide investigation remains active, and the Alexandria Police Department is appealing to anyone with additional information regarding Cochran’s death to contact investigators.
