A 44-year-old Alexandria man listed as a critical missing person was found beaten to death in the closet of a West End apartment, Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire told reporters today (Oct. 28).
The Alexandria Police Department listed Joshua Cochran as a critical missing person on Oct. 27, two days after he was reported missing by his family. APD said that he was last seen the evening of Oct. 24 in the 1400 block of N. Beauregard Street, and detectives were able to backtrack his movements to find that he was having drinks at a restaurant in the city with 63-year-old John Stremple III.
When detectives arrived at Stremple’s apartment in the 5800 block of Merton Court, he answered the door and told them that he’d killed Cochran, McGuire said.
“The victim was located inside the apartment in a closet with serious blunt force trauma to his head,” McGuire said.
McGuire did not speak to motives or the extent of Stremple and Cochran’s relationship.
Stremple was charged with second-degree murder and is being held without bond. His preliminary court hearing is set for Jan. 6, 2027.
