Oklahoma cops responding to a welfare check got more than they bargained for last week when a disturbed man sitting on a highway admitted to a years-long cold case.
Without provocation, Joseph Tyler Beck allegedly confessed to choking 19-year-old Jennifer Kyli Molloy inside her apartment near the University of Central Oklahoma on Oct. 5, 2016.
Beck slipped the 7-and-a-half-year-old secret around 10:30 a.m. Thursday to a state trooper responding to a report of a man sitting on the side of the highway, according to police.
The 28-year-old man — wearing a Super Mario T-shirt — “began voluntarily telling him about his involvement in a 2016 Edmond death,” the department said.
Based on the disturbing details he was sharing, the officers knew they had their man.
“The things he was saying added up to our investigation,” Emily Ward, a spokesperson for the Edmond Police Department, told News9.
In an interview with investigators, Beck allegedly said he had worked with Molloy and was attracted to her.
He went back to her apartment in the central Oklahoma city that fateful night with the intention to rape her, but became enraged when she asked him to leave, he allegedly confessed.
That’s when he allegedly began choking her until she died, police reported.
Although happy to put the case to rest, Molloy’s family is devastated to find out that their loved one’s accused killer was someone they’ve known for decades — and who had recently been in communication with them.
“Growing up with Joseph, he was the nicest guy. He was the sweetest guy,” Christina Stanfiel, Molloy’s sister, told the outlet.
“You would never think anything ill-mannered from him, and to know this happened and that he did this over something so stupid.”
According to Stanfiel, Beck had started reaching out to her in hopes of making plans to get together in the months after her sister’s death.
He continued trying up until last month — but luckily she never responded.
Molloy’s father described his feelings about the confession as shock and anger.
“I think about this every second of every day since it happened,” said Johnny Molloy.
“I’m glad this man has come forward and want to see justice done.”
Beck has since been charged with first-degree murder.