Jan.29,1985 7-year-old Cookie Dean disappeared after walking to a corner store on South Fourth Avenue in Laurel. At 7:30 a.m. the following day,her lifeless body was found.She had been raped and murdered.After 21,years in July,2006 her murder was solved.The person who killed Cookie Dean, was serving a life sentence plus 30 years for the murder of my uncle,Lester West,in 1986,who was robbed and beat to death, in Laurel,Ms.
Laurel Leader Call
Cookie Dean murder case solved
Alleged murderer behind bars; arrest forthcoming
By Brian Livingston, [email protected]
Rarely does the name of a little girl become synonymous with tragedy. But in the 21-year-old unsolved murder case of Cookie Dean, the tragedy of the incident has not only haunted the family, but much of Laurel as well.
"This case has been a dark cloud that's hung over this city for 21 years," said Laurel Police Department Assistant Chief Walter Martin at a press conference Thursday to announce the findings of the investigation. "But because of the work by past and present detectives and policemen, we have developed a prime suspect in this case with the help of today's forensic technology. We are very comfortable that an arrest is forthcoming."
Officials at the Thursday morning press conference would not as yet put a name with the suspect, but they were confident they had their man.
"He is being held at this time by another law enforcement agency," said LPD Lt. Layne Bounds, who was credited by authorities with solving the mysterious crime. "He isn't going anywhere."
At the time of the murder, LPD detectives and officers interviewed 30 different suspects. In 1999, when DNA testing became readily available to law enforcement agencies, physical evidence was submitted for testing. But there was no evidence from a suspect by which to compare it — not until Bounds, approximately six months ago, submitted evidence from a suspect. Bounds was notified Wednesday that a match had been obtained.
Dean's mother, Willie Mae Dean, said because of the diligent work by the LPD, the periodic media attention into the case and the attention given the case by such community leaders as Ward 5 Laurel Councilman Manuel L. Jones, her daughter's killer has been revealed.
Laurel Leader Call
Cookie Dean murder case solved
Alleged murderer behind bars; arrest forthcoming
By Brian Livingston, [email protected]
Rarely does the name of a little girl become synonymous with tragedy. But in the 21-year-old unsolved murder case of Cookie Dean, the tragedy of the incident has not only haunted the family, but much of Laurel as well.
"This case has been a dark cloud that's hung over this city for 21 years," said Laurel Police Department Assistant Chief Walter Martin at a press conference Thursday to announce the findings of the investigation. "But because of the work by past and present detectives and policemen, we have developed a prime suspect in this case with the help of today's forensic technology. We are very comfortable that an arrest is forthcoming."
Officials at the Thursday morning press conference would not as yet put a name with the suspect, but they were confident they had their man.
"He is being held at this time by another law enforcement agency," said LPD Lt. Layne Bounds, who was credited by authorities with solving the mysterious crime. "He isn't going anywhere."
At the time of the murder, LPD detectives and officers interviewed 30 different suspects. In 1999, when DNA testing became readily available to law enforcement agencies, physical evidence was submitted for testing. But there was no evidence from a suspect by which to compare it — not until Bounds, approximately six months ago, submitted evidence from a suspect. Bounds was notified Wednesday that a match had been obtained.
Dean's mother, Willie Mae Dean, said because of the diligent work by the LPD, the periodic media attention into the case and the attention given the case by such community leaders as Ward 5 Laurel Councilman Manuel L. Jones, her daughter's killer has been revealed.
Jan.29,1985 7-year-old Cookie Dean disappeared after walking to a corner store on South Fourth Avenue in Laurel. At 7:30 a.m. the following day,her lifeless body was found.She had been raped and murdered.After 21,years in July,2006 her murder was solved.The person who killed Cookie Dean, was serving a life sentence plus 30 years for the murder of my uncle,Lester West,in 1986,who was robbed and beat to death, in Laurel,Ms.
Laurel Leader Call
Cookie Dean murder case solved
Alleged murderer behind bars; arrest forthcoming
By Brian Livingston, [email protected]
Rarely does the name of a little girl become synonymous with tragedy. But in the 21-year-old unsolved murder case of Cookie Dean, the tragedy of the incident has not only haunted the family, but much of Laurel as well.
"This case has been a dark cloud that's hung over this city for 21 years," said Laurel Police Department Assistant Chief Walter Martin at a press conference Thursday to announce the findings of the investigation. "But because of the work by past and present detectives and policemen, we have developed a prime suspect in this case with the help of today's forensic technology. We are very comfortable that an arrest is forthcoming."
Officials at the Thursday morning press conference would not as yet put a name with the suspect, but they were confident they had their man.
"He is being held at this time by another law enforcement agency," said LPD Lt. Layne Bounds, who was credited by authorities with solving the mysterious crime. "He isn't going anywhere."
At the time of the murder, LPD detectives and officers interviewed 30 different suspects. In 1999, when DNA testing became readily available to law enforcement agencies, physical evidence was submitted for testing. But there was no evidence from a suspect by which to compare it — not until Bounds, approximately six months ago, submitted evidence from a suspect. Bounds was notified Wednesday that a match had been obtained.
Dean's mother, Willie Mae Dean, said because of the diligent work by the LPD, the periodic media attention into the case and the attention given the case by such community leaders as Ward 5 Laurel Councilman Manuel L. Jones, her daughter's killer has been revealed.
Laurel Leader Call
Cookie Dean murder case solved
Alleged murderer behind bars; arrest forthcoming
By Brian Livingston, [email protected]
Rarely does the name of a little girl become synonymous with tragedy. But in the 21-year-old unsolved murder case of Cookie Dean, the tragedy of the incident has not only haunted the family, but much of Laurel as well.
"This case has been a dark cloud that's hung over this city for 21 years," said Laurel Police Department Assistant Chief Walter Martin at a press conference Thursday to announce the findings of the investigation. "But because of the work by past and present detectives and policemen, we have developed a prime suspect in this case with the help of today's forensic technology. We are very comfortable that an arrest is forthcoming."
Officials at the Thursday morning press conference would not as yet put a name with the suspect, but they were confident they had their man.
"He is being held at this time by another law enforcement agency," said LPD Lt. Layne Bounds, who was credited by authorities with solving the mysterious crime. "He isn't going anywhere."
At the time of the murder, LPD detectives and officers interviewed 30 different suspects. In 1999, when DNA testing became readily available to law enforcement agencies, physical evidence was submitted for testing. But there was no evidence from a suspect by which to compare it — not until Bounds, approximately six months ago, submitted evidence from a suspect. Bounds was notified Wednesday that a match had been obtained.
Dean's mother, Willie Mae Dean, said because of the diligent work by the LPD, the periodic media attention into the case and the attention given the case by such community leaders as Ward 5 Laurel Councilman Manuel L. Jones, her daughter's killer has been revealed.
