Courtney Coco was a 19-year-old college student who had a bright future ahead of her. She was studying criminal justice at Northwestern State University in Louisiana and working as a receptionist at a dental office. She was described as a kind and loving person who tried to help others whenever she could.
But her life was cut short in a brutal and mysterious way. On October 4, 2004, her body was found in an abandoned building in Willie, Texas, about 200 miles away from her home in Alexandria, Louisiana. Her death was ruled a homicide, but the cause of death could not be determined due to the state of her decomposed body.
For 17 years, her family and friends waited for answers and justice. They never gave up hope that someone would be held accountable for Courtney’s murder. They worked with a retired detective and a podcast host to bring renewed attention to the case. And finally, in April 2021, their prayers were answered when an arrest was made.
Who Killed Courtney Coco?
The suspect in Courtney’s murder is David Anthony Burns, a 43-year-old man from Boyce, Louisiana. He was arrested on April 13, 2021, after a grand jury indicted him on a second-degree murder charge.
According to The Cinemaholic, Burns was considered a suspect as early as 2011, when witnesses came forward claiming he talked about killing Courtney. He was also linked to the crime scene by DNA evidence found in the trunk of Courtney’s car, where blood from both Courtney and Burns was detected.
Burns had a connection to Courtney’s family. He was the ex-fiancé of Courtney’s sister, Stephanie. The police believe that Burns killed Courtney during an attempted robbery at her apartment, where he broke into her safe and ransacked her belongings. He then put her body in the trunk of her car and drove to Texas, where he dumped her body in an abandoned building. He later left her car in Houston, where it was found a week later with all of her possessions inside.
How Did the Case Get Solved?
The case of Courtney Coco was not easy to solve. It involved two states, multiple jurisdictions, and limited evidence. The police faced many challenges and dead ends along the way.
But they never gave up on finding the truth. They continued to follow leads, interview witnesses, and test DNA samples. They also collaborated with other agencies and experts to get more information and resources.
One of the key factors that helped solve the case was the involvement of Woody Overton, a retired homicide detective and a podcast host. Overton took an interest in Courtney’s case after being contacted by her mother, Stephanie Belgard, in 2019. He decided to feature Courtney’s story on his podcast, “Real Life Real Crime”, where he shared his insights and theories on what happened to her.
Overton’s podcast generated a lot of public interest and awareness about Courtney’s case. It also prompted new witnesses to come forward with crucial information that helped the police identify Burns as the killer.
Another factor that helped solve the case was the advancement of DNA technology over the years. The blood samples that were collected from Courtney’s car in 2004 could not be conclusively matched to Burns at the time due to the limitations of the testing methods. But in 2018, the police were able to use a new technique called STRmix, which allows for more accurate analysis of complex DNA mixtures from multiple sources.
Using STRmix, the police were able to confirm that Burns’ DNA was present in the blood found in the trunk of Courtney’s car, along with Courtney’s DNA. This provided strong evidence that Burns was involved in Courtney’s murder.
What Happens Next?
Burns is currently being held at the Rapides Parish Detention Center without bond. He faces a possible sentence of life imprisonment without parole if convicted of second-degree murder.
The trial date for Burns has not been set yet. The prosecution and the defense are expected to present their arguments and evidence before a jury of his peers.
Meanwhile, Courtney’s family and friends are relieved that an arrest has been made after so many years of waiting and wondering. They hope that Burns will be found guilty and punished for his crime.
They also hope that Courtney’s story will inspire others to never give up on seeking justice for their loved ones who have been victims of unsolved crimes.
Courtney Coco was a young woman who had a lot to offer to the world. She deserved to live a long and happy life. She deserved to have justice served for her murder.
And after 17 years, she finally got it.
