Tragic Case Of Brittany Cole: Ohio Woman Killed Her Father-in-Law, Went On A Vacation, Before Hiding His Decomposing Body
Following an extensive criminal investigation in Zanesville, Ohio, Brittany Cole was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of her father-in-law, David Cole Sr.
She brutally murdered him on Christmas Day 2024, as reported by Law & Crime.
This true crime case, which involved financial exploitation and a shocking cover-up, has gripped the nation and beyond.
But why did Brittany Cole murder her father-in-law?
Let's get into the details
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| Brittany Cole |
The Brutal Murder
On December 24, 2024, Brittany Cole, a 37-year-old nursing student, gave her 80-year-old father-in-law, David Cole Sr., a lethal combination of medications.
Using her daughter’s dental prescription, she gave David Cole Sr. Tylenol 3 tablets with codeine and a large amount of ZzzQuil, knowing it would kill him.
When David Sr. complained of pain around 11:00 PM that night, Brittany gave him another dose of the same medications and went to bed.
By 5:00 AM on Christmas morning, Brittany checked on David Sr. and discovered he was dead.
Instead of calling for help, Brittany Cole went on a weeklong vacation to Orlando with her family from December 26 to January 1.
When family members asked Brittany about her father-in-law, she lied to them, telling them David Sr. had “moved to Cincinnati.”
Tragically, while Brittany and her family enjoyed their vacation, David Sr.’s body was left in the bedroom of the house, where it began to decompose.
On January 8, 2025, seven days after the family returned from their holiday, David Cole Jr., Brittany’s husband, found his father’s body in the bedroom while Brittany was at nursing school.
Instead of contacting law enforcement, David Jr. texted Brittany about the smell, and together, they made plans to move the body, according to PEOPLE.
David Jr. ordered a mattress cover from Amazon, which they used to wrap David Sr.’s body along with a tarp.
They first moved the body to the sunroom and later to a shed behind the house.
The body stayed hidden in the shed for over a month until officers from the local police department found it.
The Criminal Investigation That Uncovered Disturbing Motives
On February 10, 2025, the Zanesville Police Department received a 911 call reporting a dead body in a shed behind 1292 Somers Street.
Officers arrived at the scene and discovered the decomposing body of David Cole Sr., wrapped in a tarp and plastic mattress cover.
The body was transported to the Licking County Coroner’s Office for forensic analysis.
An initial autopsy suggested natural causes, such as heart disease or Parkinson’s, as the cause of death.
However, an extensive criminal investigation revealed signs of foul play, leading to a search warrant for the Cole residence and David Cole Jr.’s phone.
During the search, detectives uncovered critical evidence, including text messages between Brittany and David Jr., discussing the smell of the decomposing body and their plans to move it.
Also, home camera footage from January 8, 2025, captured David Jr. discovering his father’s body in the bedroom.
Brittany’s Google search history further implicated her.
On December 25, 2024, she had searched, “when someone dies how long does it take for the body to start smelling.”
This search, along with her confession on February 13, 2025, confirmed her involvement in David Sr.’s death and the subsequent cover-up.
The investigation revealed a financial motive behind the crime.
David Cole Sr. received $2,300 monthly in Social Security benefits, which were deposited into a Park National Bank account.
The account was managed by David Cole Jr., who had power of attorney, according to a press release on this case.
After David Sr.’s death, the couple continued to collect and spend these funds.
Records showed that David Jr. sent Brittany $200 in December and January via Cash App for the water bill, while the rest was used for household expenses.
The Legal Proceedings
Due to the overwhelming evidence gathered by detectives, Brittany Cole confessed to killing her father-in-law, David Cole Sr., on February 13, 2025.
Following her confession, she was formally charged with murder and gross abuse of a corpse.
During her court appearance, Brittany pleaded guilty to both charges on February 26, 2025.
Judge Gerald Anderson, who presided over the case, sentenced Brittany to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 16 years.
David Cole Jr., Brittany’s husband, was also arrested and faced separate charges related to the cover-up.
He was charged with six felonies, including two counts of tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse, and obstructing justice.
Investigators uncovered his involvement through text messages, camera footage, and his purchase of a mattress cover used to move David Sr.’s body.
As of this time, David Jr. has not yet been arraigned, and his case remains pending.
During the proceedings, Muskingum County Prosecutor Ron Welch emphasized the calculated nature of Brittany’s actions.
“Brittany Cole’s actions reflect a shocking betrayal of trust. She not only ended her father-in-law’s life but then exploited his death for financial gain, hiding the truth for weeks while manipulating her family,” said Ron Welch.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney John Litle added, “This case underscores the devastating impact of elder abuse and the importance of protecting vulnerable individuals.”
The swift resolution of Brittany’s case highlighted the efficiency of the Muskingum County justice system.
Her guilty plea and sentencing brought a measure of closure to the case, though the emotional toll on the Cole family and the community remains profound.
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