CRESTVIEW, Fla. – Law enforcement in Okaloosa County, Florida, apprehended a man wanted for the murder of a woman in Marietta, Georgia. The victim, Melinda Jolly, 44, was discovered deceased at her home on Perch Drive. Charles Franklin Cook, 41, was identified as a suspect in her killing.
On January 18, special investigators with the Okaloosa Sheriff’s Office located Cook and his vehicle in a Publix parking lot in Crestview, Florida. He was taken into custody on Cobb County warrants and charged with murder and aggravated assault. Cook is set to be extradited back to Georgia to face the charges.
The arrest comes after a family member performed a welfare check at Jolly’s residence and found her deceased. The swift apprehension of the suspect in Florida was a result of coordinated efforts by law enforcement agencies. Despite being on the run, Cook was successfully captured thanks to the collaboration between the Okaloosa Sheriff’s Office and other authorities in both Florida and Georgia.
Once extradited to Georgia, Cook will have to appear before a judge to answer for the charges against him. The apprehension of the suspect brings a sense of closure to the grieving family and the local community in Marietta, Georgia. It also serves as a testament to the dedication and effectiveness of law enforcement collaboration across state lines.