Daughter-in-Law Kills 80-Year-Old on Christmas then Takes Family - Part ONE

On February 11, 2025, Zanesville Police responded to a report that the body of 80-year-old David Cole Sr. was inside a shed at the home on Somers Street where he lived with family. The ensuing investigation and police interviews revealed a story that began weeks earlier, when the elderly man had reportedly "moved to Columbus." Instead, his body had been wrapped in a mattress cover and stored in the backyard shed for over a month while his family continued to live in the house, collect his Social Security check, and tell anyone who asked that he had gone to live with his brother.

The Phone Call and the Initial Denial

The police were tipped off by a call from Emily Walls, a friend of the family who had learned about the body through text messages. When Detective Brian Ruff arrived and spoke with the daughter-in-law, Brittany Cole, she initially expressed complete confusion. She told the detective that David Sr. had moved out in early January because his Parkinson's was getting worse and he "didn't want to become a burden." She claimed his brother Bob had picked him up and taken him to Columbus. When asked about the shed, Brittany gave written consent for the police to search the property, insisting she had no idea what they might find.