Joshua Wade was indicted on 8 counts by a federal grand jury. File photo, Alaska Suerstation ABC®.
Story Created:
Apr 17, 2008 at 11:28 PM AKDT
Story Updated:
Apr 18, 2008 at 10:29 PM AKDT
Joshua Wade was indicted by a federal grand jury in the torture and killing of Anchorage nurse Mindy Schloss last fall. On Thursday the eight-count indictment was added to several other charges that the 28-year-old Wade faced.
Prior to the recent indictment Wade was charged with carjacking, using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence resulting in death, bank fraud, identity theft, being a felon in possession of a firearm and being a drug user in possession of a firearm. If guilty Wade could face a death penalty sentence.
Initially Wade was held in Anchorage but has since been moved to Seattle.
Filed with the indictment was a "special findings" which asserts that Wade, "committed the offense in an especially heinous, cruel and depraved manner, in that it involved torture and serious physical abuse to Mindy Schloss."
Wade, according to the indictment, took Scloss' red Acura with the intent "to cause death and serious bodily harm, by force, violence and intimidation, resulting in her death."
According to the Schloss family, federal investigators told them months ago they believed Wade was responsible for Mindy Schloss's murder. They told her at the time they were still gathering evidence to build their case. Few details have been shared with the family, because they didn't want any information to be leaked to Wade's lawyers.
Although the death penalty is not sanctioned under Alaska law, federal law can supersede that, and the Schloss family said that they would support it.