Eventually, one of the acquaintances who saw Brown's body reported the incident to police, which subsequently resulted in Wade's arrest. Physical evidence tying him to the crime were scarce, and at trial, his attorneys presented him simply as a "big talker" who would go to unbelievable amounts of exaggeration to impress his friends. As they were themselves criminals, the claims of Wade's acquaintances were easily dismissed, leaving little chance of conviction. As a result, he was acquitted from almost all charges presented against him, with the exception of evidence tampering, for which he was given a prison sentence of six and a half years. However, he was released on probation the following year. He was always known to law enforcement and suspected of being responsible but no evidence at the time was available.
