NEWTON COUNTY – Danetta Knoblauch has been sentenced to life in jail with out the potential of parole after she was convicted of murdering Newton County man Melvin Cooksey.
The Dec. 10 sentencing got here only a few weeks after a Newton County jury discovered her responsible of killing Cooksey. Knoblauch, who’s initially from Wichita, Kan., was discovered responsible of felony homicide, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, first diploma arson and concealing the demise of one other.
In the end, it was decided that Knoblauch would obtain the utmost sentence.
“The State then argued that life with out the potential of parole was the suitable sentence for Ms. Knoblauch, based mostly on the significantly heinous nature of her crimes, her steps to attempt to cover-up her homicide of Cooksey, her lack of regret or taking accountability, and her historical past,” a Dec. 10 press launch replace from the Newton County District Lawyer’s Workplace mentioned. “The Court docket in the end agreed that Knoblauch shouldn’t be eligible for parole.”
A November information launch from the Newton County District Lawyer’s Workplace detailed the occasions that sparked a virtually three-year investigation.
In response to the discharge, Cooksey, who was paralyzed on his left aspect, went lacking after his Mote Highway house burned down on Feb. 23, 2023 — which was later decided to be an act of arson by investigators.
“Fireplace investigators found that the hearth had been deliberately set and propane tanks had been unfold all through the home,” the discharge acknowledged.
An investigation facilitated by the Newton County Sheriff’s Workplace (NCSO), the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the District Lawyer’s workplace ensued.
Three months after the hearth, a pair climbing in Fannin County got here throughout a human cranium. As authorities investigated the realm, they positioned a pacemaker with a serial quantity figuring out it as belonging to Cooksey, based on the information launch.
Investigators then recognized Knoblauch as an individual of curiosity.
“Witness statements, social media information, cellphone information, and FLOCK (license plate reader) digicam information led investigation to figuring out Knoblauch,” the discharge acknowledged.
Trying into Knoblauch, investigators found that she was already wished in Kansas for allegedly attacking a person with a sledgehammer and screwdriver.
Knoblauch was positioned in Louisiana in Might 2023. She was arrested on the warrants out of Kansas after what the discharge calls “a prolonged standoff there with native and state police.”
Knoblauch was interviewed by Georgia investigators. Her youngster, who was with Knoblauch in the course of the standoff, was additionally forensically interviewed by an area youngster advocacy heart, based on the discharge.
“Each interviews supplied incriminating info to legislation enforcement,” the discharge acknowledged.
On July 4, 2023, Knoblauch was extradited to Newton County. One month later, a Newton County Grand Jury indicted her for Cooksey’s homicide.
Through the trial, the discharge says that the State introduced forth 25 witnesses and roughly 750 items of proof.
“This included intensive mapping of the Defendant’s actions with proof from cellular phone tower information of her telephones and Cooksey’s cellphone, FLOCK digicam information, and placement knowledge from CashApp,” the discharge acknowledged. “A forensic anthropologist testified about accidents to Cooksey’s cranium. In depth crime scene testimony and proof, in addition to GBI crime lab witnesses presenting DNA proof, implicated the Defendant in Cooksey’s demise. Textual content messages, social media messages, interviews, and physique digicam footage from Louisiana and Kansas have been additionally offered to the jury.”
In response to a Dec. 10 social media publish from the NCSO, the case was led by Cpl. Josh Kicks and Particular Agent Amelia Maddox from the GBI.
A number of folks have been credited in prosecuting Knoblaugh as effectively. The case was prosecuted by Deputy Chief Assistant District Lawyer Bailey Wilkinson, Assistant District Lawyer Madison Caito, Investigator Josh Shumate, Chief Investigator Kelly Whire, Sufferer Advocates Madison Sanders and Mollie Peacock, Trial Assistant Ellen Bales and Chief Authorized Assistant Cindi Hendrix.
The NCSO additionally prolonged gratitude to the multitude of companies who assisted within the case, together with the Fannin County Sheriff’s Workplace, Georgia Division of Pure Sources, Louisiana State Police, Baton Rouge Police Division, East Baton Rouge District Lawyer’s Workplace, Sedgwick County, Kansas, District Lawyer’s Workplace, Brazoria County, Texas, District Lawyer’s Workplace, Baton Rouge Youngster Advocacy Heart and A Youngster’s Voice Youngster Advocacy Heart.
