Texts, web search tie Zanesville woman to Christmas murder of father-in-law
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A Muskingum County woman could spend the rest of her life in prison after pleading guilty to killing her father-in-law on Christmas Day.
According to the Muskingum County Prosecutor's Office, Brittany Cole of Zanesville pleaded guilty to the murder and abuse of corpse of her father-in-law, David Cole Sr., who was found in a shed behind a home on Somers Street in Zanesville.
On Jan. 8, Zanesville police received a 911 call reporting a body behind the Cole residence, and officers found Cole Sr.'s body wrapped in a tarp and plastic mattress cover.
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Initially an autopsy revealed that Cole Sr. died of natural causes related to heart disease or Parkinson's, but further investigation determined Brittany Cole's role in the cause of the death.
Detectives collected digital evidence, texts between Brittany Cole and her husband, David Cole Jr., prompting a more intensive investigation. Nearly three weeks after Cole Sr.'s death, Brittany Cole confessed to killing him during an interview on Jan. 13.
The prosecutor's office said that Brittany Cole gave Cole Sr. multiple Tylenol No. 3 with codeine tablets and a 'significant' amount of ZzzQuil on Dec. 24. When Cole Sr. complained of pain at 11 p.m. that night, she gave him additional doses of both medications, knowing it would be fatal.
Brittany Cole said she discovered Cole Sr. was dead on Christmas morning and instructed family members to say he had moved to Cincinnati. She told police the family then went on vacation to Orlando, Florida, returning on Jan. 1, leaving Cole Sr.'s body in the bedroom.
One week later, Cole Jr. and his son found Cole Sr. in the bedroom. Texts between Cole Jr. and Brittany Cole revealed plans to conceal and move the decomposing body. Evidence of an Amazon order for a mattress cover was discovered by detectives.
Additionally, Social Security payments in the amount of $2,300 per month were deposited into a Park National Bank account, managed by Cole Jr. After Cole Sr.'s death, the couple continued to deposit the funds, with Cole Jr. sending Brittany Cole her $200 in December and January via CashApp for the water bill, while using the remaining funds for household items.
Evidence collected also included camera footage of Cole Jr. finding the body, text messages about the smell and disposal plans, as well as a Google search by Brittany Cole entitled, 'when someone dies how long does it take for the body to start smelling.'
On Wednesday, Brittany Cole was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 16 years.
Cole Jr., 44, was arrested on Feb. 20 and charged with two counts of tampering with evidence, processing criminal tools, abuse of a corpse, obstructing official business and endangering children. He has yet to face a judge in Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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