Newton County Jury Convicts Woman in Complex Multi-State Murder and Arson Case

A Newton County jury has convicted Danetta Knoblauch in the 2023 murder of Melvin Cooksey, bringing an end to a complex case that stretched across several states and involved dozens of investigators and expert witnesses.

The weeklong trial began November 12 and concluded on November 20, when the jury found Knoblauch guilty of felony murder, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, first-degree arson, and concealing the death of another. The verdict followed nearly two years of investigative work that started with Cooksey’s high-profile disappearance in February 2023.

On February 23, 2023, deputies and firefighters responded to a house fire on Mote Road. Investigators quickly determined the blaze had been intentionally set and found propane tanks placed around the home. That discovery triggered a deeper investigation by the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the District Attorney’s Office.

In May 2023, hikers in Fannin County found a human skull and a pacemaker. The serial number on the pacemaker matched Cooksey, confirming the remains as his. As investigators pieced together Cooksey’s last known movements, witness interviews, social media messages, FLOCK camera data, and phone records pointed to Knoblauch as a suspect. They also learned she was wanted in Kansas for a violent assault involving a sledgehammer and screwdriver.

Later that month, authorities tracked her to East Baton Rouge, Louisiana. A lengthy standoff followed, during which Knoblauch had her child with her. She was eventually taken into custody on the Kansas warrants. Georgia investigators were on scene and interviewed her, and her child was forensically interviewed by a local advocacy center. Both interviews produced incriminating information.

Knoblauch was extradited to Georgia and booked into the Newton County Jail on July 4, 2023. A Newton County Grand Jury indicted her on August 4, 2023.

During the trial, prosecutors presented 25 witnesses and roughly 750 pieces of evidence, including detailed mapping of Knoblauch’s movements, cell tower data, CashApp records, FLOCK camera footage, crime scene documentation, and DNA findings from the GBI crime lab. A forensic anthropologist testified about injuries to Cooksey’s skull. The State also introduced text messages, social media conversations, interviews, and body-camera footage from the Louisiana and Kansas incidents. After the State rested, Knoblauch chose to testify.

Closing arguments were delivered on November 19, and the jury returned its verdict the following afternoon. Many of Cooksey’s family members and friends were present in court when the verdict was read. Knoblauch remains in custody and will be sentenced on December 10.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Bailey Wilkinson, Assistant District Attorney Madison Caito, and a large support team. The investigation was led by Newton County Investigator Corporal Josh Hicks and GBI Special Agent Amelia Maddox, with support from agencies in Georgia, Louisiana, Kansas, and Texas.

District Attorney Randy McGinley said the conviction reflects the dedication of investigators and prosecutors who worked relentlessly to uncover the truth in a complicated case involving multiple jurisdictions and extensive forensic evidence.