Body found in Pinson creek, TN (Identified-LaToya Cole) 03/24/08

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Police search for missing woman

Jackson police continued searching Sunday night for a missing 25-year-old Jackson woman they believe is in danger.

Police responded to a 911 hang-up call about 1:20 a.m. Sunday requesting that someone check on 25-year-old Latoya Cole at her 61 Sherwood Lane residence, according to a police press release.

Her home was empty, but police found blood and other evidence indicating possible foul play, the press release said.

Police arrived to find her door unlocked and the lights and a radio or a TV on, the release said.

Cole is described as a black woman with brown hair and brown eyes. She stands 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs 195 pounds. She has pierced ears and a tongue piercing. She also has a gold tooth in the left front of her mouth.

Cole has tattoos of her nickname, "Toya," and roses on her breast. A leopard is tattooed on her left upper arm, and a "G-Man" tattoo is on her right shoulder blade.

Anyone with information about this case is urged to call the Jackson Police Department at 425-8400 or Crime Stoppers at 424-8477.

http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071210/NEWS01/712100311/1002

[Grande]

Jackson police continue to search for missing woman

Jackson police are continuing their search for Latoyoa Cole, a woman who went missing on Sunday under suspicious circumstances, according to authorities.

Anyone with information should immediately contact the Jackson Police at 425-8400 or Crime Stoppers at 424-8477.

Police responded to a 911 hang-up call to check welfare at 61 Sherwood Lane at 1:20 a.m. Sunday, according to a press release.

Officers found the residence deserted. They did note there was blood and other evidence that indicated possible foul play, the release said.

Cole is believed to have been at the Sherwood Lane residence alone before the police call was made. The release said Cole on Monday had still not contacted relatives and is considered missing and endangered.

http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071211/NEWS01/71211002

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Mom: 'I fear for her safety'
As police investigate, family and friends pray for safe return of missing woman

http://i5.tinypic.com/86zcjg1.jpg

By TYRONE TONY REED JR.
ttreed@jacksonsun.com

HUMBOLDT - One-year-old Fredrick Cole slept quietly in the arms of his grandmother Thursday afternoon, despite the fact his mother, 25-year-old LaToya Cole, has been missing for five days.

But, according to his aunt, Felicia Guyton, the baby usually sleeps only after exhausting himself with cries for his mother.

"We were driving one night, and he was saying, 'Momma, Momma,' until he fell asleep," Guyton said. "He misses her."

Added LaToya's mother, Wanda Cole, "He walks around here looking in people's faces. He's looking for his mom."

Jackson police officers responded to a 911 hang-up call from LaToya Cole's home at 61 Sherwood Lane in Jackson at 1:20 a.m. Sunday. LaToya, a single mother of four, is believed to have been at home alone before the call was made. Her children were at a relative's house early Sunday morning.

After getting the 911 call, officers went inside the house and found it deserted. The door was open, and lights and a radio or television were on. Officers noted blood and other evidence that indicated possible foul play.

Police still are investigating LaToya's disappearance. They have not named any suspects.

A wonderful mother
Wanda Cole said LaToya, the third of five children, was born and raised in Humboldt. She attended elementary, junior high and high school there.
LaToya received her G.E.D. about a year and a half ago and became a certified nursing assistant.

She and her 22-year-old sister, LeKenya Cole, moved to the home on Sherwood Lane in September.

The family said that LaToya was working at Bells Nursing Home in Crockett County.

"She just got accepted to nursing school at Tennessee Technology Center at Jackson," LeKenya said. "She passed the test. She was just waiting to fill out financial aid papers."

Outside of work, Wanda said that LaToya is "a really nice person" who loves and cares for her children.

"She is a hard worker, a good and wonderful mother and a great provider for her children," she said.

LeKenya added, "She liked to have fun and she liked to play with her children."

Griffin Cole, LaToya's 11-year-old son, said his mother also liked to play sports and liked to dance.

"She also liked to cook, and she liked to get her hair done, all day long."

LaToya's 7-year-old daughter Carisma added, "She liked to get her nails done."

Are'ayna, LaToya's 4-year-old daughter, said, "She like to make me go to sleep," which made the family burst into laughter.

'Safe return'
Wanda said that while Griffin and Carisma know that their mother is missing, Fredrick and Are'ayna do not.

"The other night, Are'ayna asked, 'When is my momma coming to get me,'" Felicia Guyton said.

Wanda said the last time she saw or talked to LaToya was Thanksgiving Day. Her daughter was in "good spirits," she said. Now, she is wondering what has happened to her daughter and if she is OK.

"We try not to think so hard about it; then it hits us hard," she said. "Every time the phone rings, we hope it's good news. Then sometimes we think we might not ever see her again."

LeKenya hasn't stayed at the Sherwood Lane house since LaToya went missing.

"I fear for her safety," Wanda said.

Wanda's son Brandon Guyton added, "Plus the emotions she will have had there with LaToya missing." That caused LeKenya's eyes to fill with tears.

"It's depressing," Wanda said. "It depresses everyone in the whole family."

The family are fighting their depression by wearing symbols of hope, said LaToya's cousin Sherita Emerson, of Humboldt.

"We are planning on getting gold ribbons and wearing them until she comes home," Emerson said. "We chose gold because it's her favorite color."

Wanda is praying for her daughter's safe return and that the family is going to take care of her grandchildren until LaToya returns.

"We are going to do our best to see after her family," she said.

Wanda's friend Bertha Palmer wants the community to pray for the family and to contact the police if they have any information on LaToya's whereabouts.

"I just want her to be found," she said. "I want the community to pray for her and her family. Pray to God that she is brought back home safely."

http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071214/NEWS01/712140320/1002

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Fund set up to help children of missing woman

The Jackson Sun

An account has been set up at First State Bank in Humboldt to help the family of a missing woman.

LaToya Cole went missing from her Jackson home on Dec. 9, according to Jackson police.

Police responded to her home, at 61 Sherwood Lane, after getting a 911 call at 1:20 a.m. from someone saying Cole needed to be checked on. The caller then hung up.

Cole, a single mother of four, is believed to have been at home alone before the call was made. Her children were at a relative's house when she disappeared early that Sunday morning.

After getting the 911 call, police officers went inside the house and found it deserted. The door was open, and lights and a radio or television were on. Officers noted blood and other evidence that indicated possible foul play.

Jackson police still are investigating LaToya's disappearance. They have not named any suspects.

Cole's four children — ages 11, 7, 4 and 1 — are staying with relatives in Humboldt. Money donated to the fund at First State Bank will be used to help the family. For more information, call the bank at (731) 784-1450.

http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071220/NEWS01/71220017

[Pauli]

Police will hold press conference today about missing woman

The Jackson Sun
January 17, 2008

The Jackson Police Department will hold a press conference for the family of LaToya Cole at 2:30 p.m. today in the front lobby of the department at 234 Institute St.Family members are expected to make an appeal to the media and the public today to continue to help police to search for the missing woman.

The family will also hold a candlelight vigil at 5 p.m. Sunday at Stigall Elementary School gymnasium. The school is at North 6th Avenue and Vine Street in Humboldt.

LaToya Cole, 25, went missing from her Jackson home on Dec. 9, according to Jackson police.

Police responded at her home, at 61 Sherwood Lane, after getting a 911 call at 1:20 a.m. from someone saying Cole needed to be checked on. The caller then hung up.

LaToya Cole, a single mother of four, is believed to have been at home alone before the call was made, police said. Her children were at a relative's house when she disappeared early that Sunday morning.

After getting the 911 call, police officers went inside the house and found it deserted. The door was open, and lights and a radio or television were on.

Officers noted blood and other evidence that indicated possible foul play.

Jackson police have not named any suspects. There have been no new developments in the case, police have said.

LaToya Cole was born and raised in Humboldt, according to her family. She attended elementary, junior high and high school there.

She received her G.E.D. about a year and a half ago and became a certified nursing assistant.

The family said LaToya Cole was working at Bells Nursing Home in Crockett County. She and her 22-year-old sister, LeKenya Cole, moved to the Jackson home in September.

LaToya Cole's four children — ages 11, 7, 4 and 1 — are staying with relatives in Humboldt.

An account has been set up at First State Bank in Humboldt to help LaToya Cole's family. For more information, call the bank at (731) 784-1450.

Anyone with information on LaToya Cole's disappearance is asked to call JPD at 425-8400 or Crime Stoppers at 424-8477.


http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080117/NEWS01/80117003

[Pauli]

Vigil held for Cole
Humboldt woman has been missing since Dec. 9
January 21, 2008

By WENDY ISOM
wisom@jacksonsun.com

HUMBOLDT - More than 200 people gathered together in prayer Sunday night at a candlelight vigil for LaToya Cole, a single mother of four missing since Dec. 9."We pray there is a light that comes through the darkness that will allow us to find Toya or for Toya to find us," said Joseph Montgomery, pastor of Higher Ground Assembly.

"If you know anything or have any leads, let it be known anonymously if you have to," Montgomery said. "... We're here as brothers and sisters. Regardless, if it's not blood, we still have the common bond of humanity."

Among the crowd holding white candles, many relatives and friends wore T-shirts that read, "We Love You Toya" on the front and "When will we see you again?" on the back."We're just trying not to let it die down. Still trying to keep the faith," said Bertha Palmer, LaToya's godmother.

Palmer said LaToya's disappearance was the topic of discussion Sunday on WFKX-96 Kix's "Community Feedback" show hosted by Richard Donnell. Palmer thanked the callers who lent their support to the family.

"It's so nice to see how many people have come out," said LaToya's mother, Wanda Cole.

The vigil was held inside the Weed and Seed Safe Haven gymnasium at the former Stigall Elementary School. People stood in line to sign a visitors' list at the entrance, some of them dropping monetary donations in a clear bucket for Cole's children.

Cole, 25, went missing from her Jackson home on Dec. 9, according to police.

Officers responded to her home at 61 Sherwood Lane after getting a 911 hang-up call at 1:20 a.m.

Cole is believed to have been at home alone before the call was made. Her children were at a relative's house when she disappeared that Sunday morning.

Officers found the house deserted. The door was open, and lights and a radio or television were on. Officers noted blood and other evidence.

"We believe Ms. Cole has been the victim of foul play," Jackson Lt. Mike Holt has said. Police still are investigating but have not named any suspects.

Cole was born and raised in Humboldt, according to her family. She attended elementary, junior high and high school there. She received her GED about a year and a half ago and became a certified nursing assistant.

The family said Cole was working at Bells Nursing Home in Crockett County.

She and her 22-year-old sister, LeKenya Cole, moved to the Jackson residence in September. Wanda Cole, their mother, said LaToya had joined Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Gadsden.

"She was a very nice person. She was easy to get along with," said a friend, LaTanya Shivers of Humboldt. "I pray that her family and friends stay strong and hope and pray that one of these days she will come home."

A cousin, Ann Patrick of Humboldt, said the disappearance has brought the family closer together.

"We miss her and we just want some closure," Patrick said after the vigil.

"It has made me more sympathetic to people who have missing relatives," said cousin Crystal Bradley of Humboldt.

"Not knowing, that's the hardest part," she said. "You don't know whether to grieve. You just don't know."

Another sister, Felicia Guyton, shared what she wanted people to know most about LaToya.

"Toya cared a lot about her kids," Guyton said. "Even when we argued, I would call Toya to check on her kids."

LaToya's two oldest children Griffin, 11, and Carisma, 7, shared some of their favorite times with their mom before the program started Sunday. Carisma said, "I liked it when she painted my nails and did my hair."

Griffin said he liked it when his mother played basketball and softball with him.

After Montgomery's remarks, his wife, Tiphannie, led the group in a song. People joined in as she started singing the words, "Reach out and touch somebody's hand, make this world a better place if you can."

http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080121/NEWS01/801210309

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Body found in Pinson creek sent to Forensic Center in Nashville
The Jackson Sun
• March 25, 2008

A body that was found in a creek in Pinson Monday night has been sent to the Forensic Center in Nashville to determine the identity and the exact cause of death, according to a press release from Madison County Sheriff David Woolfork.

Woolfork has said that some people were walking a creek bank in Pinson in the 4000 block of Oak Street around 6 p.m. Monday when they discovered the body.

Woolfork said that while investigators know that the body is that of an adult, "we cannot confirm whether the body is that of a male or female. We don't know the
race."

The Violent Crimes units of both the Madison County Sheriff's Office and the Jackson Police Department are still investigating and are currently reviewing missing person's reports, the release stated.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff's office at 423-6000 or Crime Stoppers at 424-8477.

http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080325/NEWS01/80325005

[packy]

http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080326/NEWS01/803260305

The family of LaToya Cole, the single mother of four who was reported missing in December, found closure Tuesday. But it is not the closure they had hoped for.


Jackson police on Tuesday identified remains found Monday night near Pinson as those of Cole, according to a joint press release from the Jackson Police Department and the Madison County Sheriff's Office.

Police have charged Fredrick Lamont Moore, Cole's estranged boyfriend and the father of two of her children, with first-degree murder.

(More at link with pictures)

My condolences to the family of this mom.

[Roamer]

:1222423:

[KittyMom]

http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080325/NEWS01/80325026

March 25, 2008
Jackson police have identified the remains found last night near Pinson as those of Lotoya D. Cole, according to a release. Police have signed a warrant charging Fredrick Lamont Moore with first-degree murder.

Moore surrendered to police shortly after the warrant was issued today.

Cole went missing from her Sherwood Lane home on Dec. 9. A 911 hang-up call to central police dispatch resulted in police responding to the home, the release said.

Officers found the residence unlocked, the lights on and the house unoccupied. They also found blood and other evidence that indicated foul play, the release said.

The release said an investigation has revealed that Moore, Cole's estranged boyfriend and the father of two of her children, had returned to Jackson from an out of town job about the time of her disappearance.

He was questioned by police soon after the disappearance.

Police continued the investigation acquiring forensic and other evidence that established that Cole was deceased and that Moore was responsible, the release said.

Pending some final results, police were prepared to pursue prosecution, absent the body, the release said.

[KittyMom]

http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080326/NEWS01/803260305/1002/NEWS01

March 26, 2008

The family of LaToya Cole, the single mother of four who was reported missing in December, found closure Tuesday. But it is not the closure they had hoped for.

Jackson police on Tuesday identified remains found Monday night near Pinson as those of Cole, according to a joint press release from the Jackson Police Department and the Madison County Sheriff's Office.

Police have charged Fredrick Lamont Moore, Cole's estranged boyfriend and the father of two of her children, with first-degree murder.

Police said Moore surrendered to authorities shortly after the warrant was issued Tuesday.

"We want to express how much it hurts," said LaToya's grief-stricken mother, Wanda Cole, in a Tuesday night phone interview. "I still don't understand why it had to happen like that."

LaToya Cole, 25, went missing from her Sherwood Lane home on Dec. 9. A 911 hang-up call to central police dispatch resulted in police responding to the home, the press release said.

Officers found the residence unlocked, the lights on and the house unoccupied. Police also found blood and other evidence that indicated foul play.

The release said an investigation revealed that Moore had returned to Jackson from an out of town job about the time of Cole's disappearance.

Moore was questioned by police soon after the disappearance. The release said that pending some final results, "police were prepared to pursue prosecution, absent the body."

In February, Governor Phil Bredesen had offered a $10,000 reward for information on the disappearance of the single mother.

Fliers were circulated throughout West Tennessee and a candlelight vigil was held in Humboldt.

"I do want to thank the governor and the Jackson police detective division for doing their part in bringing some closure to our family," Wanda Cole said. "I'm glad that the family has found some closure even though it was not what the family was praying about."

LaToya Cole leaves behind four children: Griffin, 11; Carisma, 7; Are'ayna, 4; and Fredrick, 1.

Wanda Cole was especially thankful to the people who discovered her daughter's remains Monday night near a creek bank in Pinson in the 4000 block of Oak Street.

"I really want to thank the people on the lake," she said. Wanda Cole said she is grateful "for God leading them that way."

Visit jacksonsun.com and share your thoughts.

- Wendy Isom, 425-9782

http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?template=zoom&Site=DQ&Date=20080326&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=803260305&Ref=H3&Profile=1002

[Pauli]

:1222423::1222423::1222423:for Latoya and her family

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Murder victim's family testifies
By TYRONE TONY REED JR.
ttreed@jacksonsun.com
• February 4, 2009

Family members of LaToya Cole testified Tuesday about how they called one another and Cole's estranged boyfriend, Frederick Lamont Moore, to ask about Cole's whereabouts when she went missing on Dec. 9, 2007.

They were among 15 witnesses who testified Tuesday during the first day of Moore's murder trial.

Moore is charged with first-degree murder, first-degree murder in the perpetration of a felony, aggravated kidnapping and two counts of tampering with evidence.

The trial continues at 8 a.m. today in the third-floor courtroom of Judge Roy B. Morgan in the J. Alexander Leech Criminal Justice Complex.

LaKenya Cole lived with her sister LaToya, 25, on Sherwood Lane in Jackson at the time of her disappearance. She said she called her mother, Wanda Cole Woodruff, and brother Brandon Guyton, 25, after finding Jackson police at their house early that morning.

Police were responding to a 911 call that was made at around 1:15 a.m. on Dec. 9, 2007. The caller hung up without talking. Officers found the home empty when they arrived.

"I asked them if they had seen LaToya or talked to her," LaKenya said. "They said no."

LaKenya also told jurors that LaToya kept a small silver gun, with white grips, under her pillow. LaKenya said even after moving from the house and packing all of LaToya's things, she never could find the gun.

Guyton on Tuesday testified that after he spoke with La-Kenya on the phone, he got out of bed and woke up Woodruff, whose house he was staying at in Humboldt.

"I asked my mom had she seen or talked to LaToya and she said no," he said.

Woodruff said it was 2:08 a.m. when she called Moore after receiving a call from La-Kenya that LaToya was missing. Woodruff said she called Moore's cell phone and after two rings, Moore answered.

"I asked him had he seen LaToya," Woodruff said. "He said he hadn't seen her since Thursday or Friday."

Moore didn't ask why Woodruff was looking for LaToya; he just hung up, she said.

Guyton said he called Moore about eight minutes after his mother did.

"I said, 'Yo, Fred, have you seen my sister,'" Guyton said. "He said no and told me that he was on his way to Nebraska."

Moore went to police later that day and consented to them searching his car and his phones and also gave police a DNA sample. He was not arrested at that time.

LaToya, who was a mother of four, was listed as a missing person until March 24, 2008, when her body was found near Turk Creek in Pinson. The State Medical Examiner's Office in Nashville determined she died from a gunshot wound.

Moore, who is the father of two of LaToya's children, was arrested soon afterward.

Jackson police Officer Buddy Crowell testified he was one of the first officers dispatched to Sherwood Lane. He said there were no signs of forced entry and the front door of the house was unlocked.

"No one was inside," he said. "There was a Christmas tree in the living room and a radio playing pretty loud."

Crowell said when he walked into the kitchen, "there was blood beside the phone on the floor."

Crowell said he also found what appeared to be teeth fragments and tissue, a .25 caliber shell casing in the middle of LaToya's bed, bullet holes in bed sheets, mattress and box spring and a bullet lodged in the carpet underneath the bed.

The comforter also had gunpowder residue on it and a bloody blue towel was found on the right side of the bed.

LaToya's next-door neighbors, Dennis Smart and his son, Bradley, also took the witness stand Tuesday.

Dennis and Bradley both testified that they saw a gray Ford Taurus in the driveway of their duplex the night LaToya went missing.

Bradley said he was sitting in his sister's car with a friend, smoking marijuana, when he saw two people coming from the direction of LaToya's house.

"It was a man holding a woman like she was wounded," he said.

Bradley said he couldn't identify the people, but he did notice what happened once they got to the car in the driveway.

"The man helped the lady into the car, put her feet in and closed the door," Bradley told jurors. "He walked around the car got into it and sped off."

-Tyrone Tony Reed Jr.,

425-9758

http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20090204/NEWS01/902040309