Conviction in Murder of Melvin Cooksey:

A Newton County jury found Danetta Knoblauch guilty of the murder of Melvin Cooksey after a weeklong trial. The trial started Wednesday, November 12, 2025 and ended yesterday, November 20, 2025, around 3pm when the jury found Knoblauch guilty of Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Battery, Arson in the 1^st Degree and Concealing the Death of Another.

Melvin Cooksey

The investigation began in late February 2023 with the highly publicized missing person report involving Melvin Cooksey. On February 23, 2023, Newton County deputies and firefighters responded to a fire in a residence on Mote Road. Fire investigators discovered that the fire had been intentionally set and propane tanks had been spread throughout the house.

These events led to a lengthy investigation by the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the District Attorneys Office. In May of 2023, a couple hiking through the mountains in Fannin County, located a human skull. Law enforcement responded to the area and found a pacemaker. The pacemaker’s serial number matched to Cooksey.

Witness statements, social media records, phone records, and FLOCK (license plate reader) camera records led investigation to identifying Knoblauch. Investigators then discovered that she was wanted for attacking another man with a sledgehammer and screwdriver in Kansas. Also in May 2023, Knoblauch was tracked to East Baton Rouge, Louisiana. After a lengthy standoff there with local and state police, Knoblauch, who also had her child with her during the standoff, was arrested on the Kansas warrants.

Investigators from Georgia were present during the standoff and interviewed Knoblauch. Her child was forensically interviewed by a local child advocacy center. Both interviews provided incriminating information to law enforcement. Knoblauch was extradited to Georgia and booked into the Newton County jail on July 4, 2023. A Newton County Grand Jury then indicted her for Cooksey’s murder and other charges on August 4, 2023.

The case proceeded with numerous pretrial hearings before trial started last week. During trial, the State presented 25 witnesses and approximately 750 pieces of evidence. This included extensive mapping of the Defendant’s movements with evidence from cell phone tower records of her phones and Cooksey’s phone, FLOCK camera records, and location data from CashApp. A forensic anthropologist testified about injuries to Cooksey’s skull. Extensive crime scene testimony and evidence, as well as GBI crime lab witnesses presenting DNA evidence, implicated the Defendant in Cooksey’s death. Text messages, social media messages, interviews, and body camera footage from Louisiana and Kansas were also presented to the jury.

Danetta Knoblauch

After the State rested its case, the Defendant chose to testify. Closing arguments concluded after 5:30 pm on Wednesday, November 19. Numerous family members and friends of Melvin were present for the guilty verdict. Knoblauch remains in custody and will be sentenced on December 10, 2025.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Bailey Wilkinson, Assistant District Attorney Madison Caito, Investigator Josh Shumate, Chief Investigator Kelly Whire, Victim Advocates Madison Sanders and Mollie Peacock, Trial Assistant Ellen Bales, and Chief Legal Assistant Cindi Hendrix. 

The investigation was led by Newton County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Corporal Josh Hicks and GBI Special Agent Amelia Maddox. Other agencies assisting in the investigation include: the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office, the GA Department of Natural Resources, Louisiana State Police, East Baton Rouge Police Department, East Baton Rouge District Attorney’s Office, Sedgwick County (Kansas) District Attorney’s Office, Brazoria County (Texas) District Attorney’s Office, the Baton Rouge Advocacy Center, and A Child’s Voice Child Advocacy Center.  

“Because of the tireless work of the prosecution team and the lead investigators, the person responsible for this senseless and heinous crime has been convicted. This was a complicated case that required expertise in so many areas and a dedication to finding the truth. I want to thank the numerous agencies that assisted in the investigation and trial preparation for this case. This verdict shows the continued dedication of the DA’s Office to seeking justice for victims and their families.”

Randy McGinley

District Attorney

Alcovy Judicial Circuit