The Longview News-Journal of Feb 22, 2014 reported the Upshur County Sheriff received a call about a house fire on Woodchuck Road, Gilmer, Texas. After the fire was under control they found the remains of a woman.
An autopsy ruled her death a homicide. The cause of death was not immediately made public. I assume she was identified by dental records.
On March 29, 2014 the Longview News-Journal published more information. Erica Nicole Cook (Aug 31, 1981 – Feb 8, 2014) was killed by multiple stab wounds to her head and neck. There was blunt force trauma to her head. That trauma led to a fractured skull bruising her brain. She also had cuts to her mouth. There were stab wounds to her neck. Erica (32) had been stabbed in the ear (unknown left or right), the trachea (windpipe), and her spinal cord (unknown left or right). The newspapers do not make it clear which wounds came first.
On this site you can read about Erica’s personal life, growing up, being a mother, and how she is remembered by friends and family. They said on February 9, she was packing to move out. The house fire was not an accident according to the above linked article. I have not found any articles about the exact cause of the fire.
In 2021, the last public call for help was posted by KYTX/CBS. Nobody has ever been arrested in this case.
Contact Information
If you have information, contact the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office at 903-843-2541 or call Lt. Gary Shirley at 903-680-8256. To remain anonymous, and possibly be eligible for a reward, call Crime Stoppers at (800) 396-3391 or (903) 843-3131.
Rest in peace, Erica Nicole Cook.
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In the series “Case of the Month” I highlight old unsolved cases. These posts are not an in-depth analysis and of course, more information can be found online and in newspaper archives.
We need to get these cases back in the mainstream media, to get people talking again, and if anything, to make sure that we do not forget the victims. Just because their cases are unsolved does not mean that we can forget about them.
With the advances in modern forensic sciences, we have a chance to find clues that previously remained hidden. So, let us review all these old cases once more.
I encourage you to share this post on your own social media platforms. By sharing these posts online, the cases reach new networks, new connections, and the latest news feeds. One day these updates may pop up in the right person’s news feed. That may be someone who can help advance the case and that is my goal.