GUILTY MS - Donna Cochran, 44, found murdered, Carthage, 11 Aug 2010

[IWannaKnow]

I don't think she was shot thru the window. The two shots to the head seem to me to have been too precise for it to have happened that way. Even if the first shot hit her in the head, her head and body would have been in motion; falling or being propelled by the impact of the bullet. The entry wounds are reported to have been to the back of the head and to the temple. How does that happen if the shooter is firing from an odd angle, outside the window?

I think the killer was inside the shop. I think that Donna was shot in the back of the head, then the killer placed a final shot to the temple to be sure she was dead. Whomever did this wanted it to be quick; the killer didn't do this to watch her suffer, he/she just wanted her dead.

LE has stated that no one entered thru the window, so they had to come thru the door.

TGI-I'm thinking that the desk was positioned in such a way that when the window broke, Donna's head came up from being startled, and the killer would have had a very clear shot from where he was in the window. The wikipedia article leads me to think that those .25-caliber pistols are automatics, which would make squeezing off two rounds no big deal. If he caught her the first time in the back of the head (imagine the desk at a right angle to the window, putting her right side to the window), as she slumped over onto the desk, her temple would have been turned up and the second shot would have been easy (the reverse could also apply - first shot to the temple, head comes to rest with back of skull facing the shooter making the shot to the back of her head easy....). The news articles do state that she was found at the desk, not on the floor so I'm assuming she was slumped over on the desk. The real question is where were the shell casings located???? Inside or outside?? I guess if he stuck his whole hand and the gun into the window, you could still have shell casings inside without the perp ever entering the building. The shape of the missing glass implies to me that he broke the window with the gun in his hand. There is a very round end on the right (from the elbow I presume) and a sharp line on the left (from the top line of the gun I presume). I'm envisioning a gloved hand with the gun in it backhanding the window, glass breaks, Donna looks up and he shoots her in the back of the head, she slumps forward and he shoots her in the temple, scoops up as much money as he can reach and he is off. Huge questions for me as well as which direction did the desk face (the wall/window, the other wall or the open door?) are how much business did she do there and why wouldn't all the money be gone if this was a robbery - unless the robber was perched atop that barrell and couldn't reach the rest of the money?? Added to that, the perp had to know her well to know when and how she did her deposits and that that window was the "window of opportunity" - no pun intended.

If he as inside the whole time, what was the point of breaking the window? Wouldn't the missing money make it appear to be a robbery without the window being broken? Please don't think I am trying to argue with you or discount your theory. This is just how I work through mine - please forgive me. I want to understand what happened to Donna, rest her soul. I guess I'm looking for motive here.....I hope I haven't upset anyone with my graphic reenactment of her killing. My sincere apologies to any family members who might be reading here. My condolences for your great loss.

 

[IWannaKnow]

If you watch this tape there is a deadbolt & doorknob with lock on the door

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiCAM2c1k2c

Thank you for pointing that out fhc. I missed that in the close up of the door. The lock and the knob are about the same color as the door and I missed the closeup before.

So, the door opens away from the desk. You would open the door and the desk would be right there. And I stand corrected, there appear to be two steps.

 

[TGIRecovered]

No worries about people having different theories on how the crime occurred. Websleuths would be boring if we all thought exactly alike!
Reading what others think helps me to see things I may have overlooked and consider other possibilities...it's a good thing!

 

[jokie7348]

I would just like to add, after watching the video again, that Sheriff Waggoner states that Donna was found "behind the desk." That could have two interpretations in my opinion: She was found sitting behind the desk, or she was found lying on the floor behind the desk.
The only reason I don't like the idea of someone shooting through the window is that I can't figure out how he/she could get the money.
There is no new news and no one is talking much.
Still hoping and praying for answers. RIP Donna Ganann Cochran.

 

[Kris10 S]

The desk/counter is perpendicular to the front wall. It attaches to the wall between the left (broken) window and the door.

 

[fhc]

The desk/counter is perpendicular to the front wall. It attaches to the wall between the left (broken) window and the door.

Are there any updates in the investigation?

 

[Kris10 S]

Haven't heard any new info.

 

[jokie7348]

The desk/counter is perpendicular to the front wall. It attaches to the wall between the left (broken) window and the door.

Thanks, Kris, for the information. Then, that makes it plausible to me that someone could have shot through the window and grabbed the money off the desk.
Do you think that is possible since you are familiar with the layout?

 

[Kris10 S]

They might have been able to, but because of the barrels and remaining pieces of broken glass...I would expect to see some blood from the perp.

 

[TGIRecovered]

Anyone know the address for the tack shop? Is it the same as the house? Donna had a day job...did hubby usually stay at the tack shop during the day or did someone else work there too? Did the shop have regular hours of opening and closing?

Thanks in advance!

 

[TGIRecovered]

Bumping to the top...

Posted a few questions yesterday evening, maybe someone from the Carthage area will see them this morning and be able to answer. Thanks!

 

[IWannaKnow]

They might have been able to, but because of the barrels and remaining pieces of broken glass...I would expect to see some blood from the perp.

Kris10 S - Thank you for replying and for all the information you provided. I see from looking at weather archives that the day temperature was about 85degrees at approx. 9:00pm.

http://www.wunderground.com/history...tml?req_city=NA&req_state=NA&req_statename=NA

I assume that a person wearing a jacket of any kind would stick out like a sore thumb. Twilight was between 8:13 and 9:17 and the moon was waxing gibbous so it was dark that night. Scattered clouds. Was there a street light anywhere near the tack shop? Would that window have been illuminated at all? If the killer had a jacket and gloves, would a person at the road have been able to see that?? That is how I imagine he prevented himself from getting cut. If he knew he would have to use the window, he could have come prepared. A duffel bag over the shoulder, or a back pack would not be too obvious....

 

[IWannaKnow]

Anyone know the address for the tack shop? Is it the same as the house? Donna had a day job...did hubby usually stay at the tack shop during the day or did someone else work there too? Did the shop have regular hours of opening and closing?

Thanks in advance!

TGI-
http://www.whitepages.com/search/Fi...irstname=mike&name=cochran&where=Carthage,+MS

My understanding is they were right next door to one another....

ETA - Google maps placement is incorrect. Bing is closer but still not correct. Bing it, then go north to the chicken houses on the left. In bird's eye view, you can clearly see the shop next to the road behind the house.

ETA2- looking at the maps, the shop appears to be approx. 75' away from the road, and concealed by shrubbery from the house and the trailer next door. 488 does not appear to be a road with street lights either FWIW.

 

[mayelf]

My thoughts, I think that the robber followed her inside. The robber had a gun to her temple and they conversed. I think that (s)he was either mad that (s)he barely scored any money from her and maybe she knew the person from town. The robber was probably a street kid who needed some dope money and she could ID him/her, so (s)he shot her. Once she fell (s)he shot her again in the head.

I think the broken window just shows it was a very angry person. It just seems like someone needed drug money in my opinion and it was a very irrational person.

I don't think the broken window means much of anything. The person could have broken it on their way out being angry. Or they could have broken it on accident, or she could have broken it trying to get help. I just think the robber was in control of the situation and telling her where to stand and what to do.


God bless the family and may she rest in peace. Such a tragedy.

 

[jokie7348]

I will be going to Mississippi in the morning for a visit. Although I won't be in Carthage, I will have the opportunity to visit some friends from there, so I'm hoping to hear some news. I checked the papers and all news stations again today, but there was no updated news.
My hope is that this case will be solved and will not become a cold case like Shondra's.

 

[:+:MrTT:+:]

the window to me appears to be a double pane window.
the outer window is broken completely except for one or two pieces.
The inner window, seems to have been broking almost in center.
And the wire screen, if that is what it is, seems to have been pushed outward as if a object came from the inside to the outside through the window. Like a pole or other object that was centered towards the middle of the inner window.....AS if to make a noise for someone to hear perhaps.

A 25 i was thinking more like a 22. But with casings, i guess a 25 would be more in line.

They report, robbery turned to murder.
I was thinking just the opposite, a murder that was made to look like a robbery.

My speculation, is that she may have known the person. and let them in.
something happened, a fight/struggle ensured. the lady grab something and rammed it through the window, to create a disturbance. and was shot for it. Perhaps a possible rape attempt occurred. They have some phyiscal evidence waiting on DNA results i guess.

Perhaps checking registration on all owners of 25s there.

More then likely, just speculation though, she did know her killer.

Any official LE files available?



Without official LE files, to know what fits where perhaps, its all speculation and assumptions on my part.

 

[TGIRecovered]

Salem, I'll do the best I can on this.
The sheriff said in the article in the Carthaginian that the husband left around 7:30 pm to go to his father-in-law's house to catch chickens. He was there all night. At some point, Donna's daughter came home and saw a light in the tack shop but was not disturbed because her mother often worked at night on the computer there.

The next morning, Donna didn't show up for work and a coworker called the husband. He called his dad to check on her. The dad found her and called 911 about 8:30 am. The sheriff further says that she had been dead for "several hours" when she was found. That's as close as I can come to a time of death.

She died from two bullet wounds, one to the back of the head and one to the side of the head with no evidence of any other trauma. "Mrs. Cochran likely died almost instantly" he said, "It was quick."

"It appeared" Waggoner (the sheriff) said, "to be a robbery that turned into murder." Money was taken from a bank bag and the husband said it was probably less than $500.

There was a broken window in the tack shop. Waggoner commented, "Despite the broken window, entry was apparently not made into the business through that.....(I can't make out the word.) There was no apparent sign of forced entry." In one of the other articles listed above in other posts, it said that she always kept the door bolted. So, this is a puzzle for me. Why the broken window? And how was it that there was no forced entry?

I am no sleuther. But I know many of you are seasoned sleuther. I will try to bring the info. I hope you can interpret it.

From www.thecarthaginian.com

Jokie was kind enough to post this info from an article which can't be copied and pasted due to the way the newspaper's site is set up. Notice that the Sheriff reported that there was no other trauma, just the two gunshot wounds. This is one reason I believe it is unlikely that there was a struggle or rape attempt. It also makes me doubt that Donna was the one who broke the window, but I guess it is possible. All MOO.

Kris10 S, concerned neighbor, and jokie have been cery helpful to keep us informed on what is being reported locally--Thank You!

I still would like to know if the tack shop had regular business hours, who usually took care of the shop while Donna was at her day job, and if there were employees other than Donna and her hubby.

Jokie, I look forward to hearing what you are able to learn on you visit!

 

[Kris10 S]

I believe the tack shop is just family run. They have chicken houses right behind their house. I think the shop would usually be locked unless Mike was in there working on the tack (he does repairs on saddles and makes tack). If someone was needing something they usually would call him or Donna to make sure they were available before heading over there.

 

[TGIRecovered]

I will be going to Mississippi in the morning for a visit. Although I won't be in Carthage, I will have the opportunity to visit some friends from there, so I'm hoping to hear some news. I checked the papers and all news stations again today, but there was no updated news.
My hope is that this case will be solved and will not become a cold case like Shondra's.

How was your weekend jokie? Find out anything interesting?

 

[jokie7348]

How was your weekend jokie? Find out anything interesting?

Well, TGI, thanks for inquiring. The trip is about 7 hours, so I was too tired to write when I got home last night.

I had a wonderful visit, but I didn't learn much. People are very tight-lipped and reluctant to even speculate about Donna's case.

I did read the local paper again which comes out every Thursday. There was nothing new except the sheriff announced that the reward amount would be capped at 20 thousand, which I believe they already have. He also stated that $500 was stolen from a banker's bag in the shop. He asked for any detail, however insignificant, to be shared with the hotline. It appears to me that they have no leads.

The few things I did hear I will call rumors, since I didn't talk to LE. However, I will say that I trust this person I talked to.
1. The gun has not been found. There was a gun, of the same caliber, which was hidden either in or outside the shop. It is missing.
2. The husband has been questioned extensively by local LE and the MBI, not to intimate suspicion in any way. Just stating what I was told.
3. She could have been killed early in the evening instead of in the middle of the night.
4. The shop door was found unlocked the next morning. There was no forced entry.
5. The Cochran's have had money stolen from their house at least twice before. No one was ever apprehended.
6. The daughter didn't go out that night. She came home in the evening after working at a local chicken restaurant. She saw a light in the shop and thought her mother was on the computer.

I realize that this is not much to go on and please remember that the itemized list is only RUMORS.
Wish I knew more. It is truly good to be back home with my cats.