NEWTON COUNTY, Ga. — A Kansas woman has been convicted of murdering a disabled man in Georgia after a months-long investigation.
On Nov. 20, a Newton County jury found Danetta Knoblauch, originally from Wichita, Kan., guilty of multiple charges in connection with the 2023 death of Melvin Cooksey, who was paralyzed on his left side. Knoblauch was convicted of felony murder, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, first-degree arson, and concealing the death of another.
Cooksey went missing after a fire destroyed his Mote Road home on Feb. 23, 2023, later determined to be an act of arson. Investigators discovered propane tanks had been placed throughout the home to intentionally set the fire.
The investigation, conducted by the Newton County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO), Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), and District Attorney’s Office, led authorities to Knoblauch through witness statements, social media records, phone data, and FLOCK license plate reader records.
In May 2023, Knoblauch was located in Louisiana and arrested on Kansas warrants after a lengthy standoff with police. Her child, present during the standoff, provided key information during a forensic interview. Knoblauch was extradited to Newton County on July 4, 2023, and indicted a month later for Cooksey’s murder.
During the weeklong trial, the prosecution presented 25 witnesses and roughly 750 pieces of evidence, including:
Cell tower records mapping Knoblauch’s movements
FLOCK camera footage and location data from CashApp
Forensic anthropology evidence on Cooksey’s skull
DNA analysis from the GBI crime lab
Social media messages, text messages, and interviews from Louisiana and Kansas
The jury returned a guilty verdict on Nov. 20. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 10.
District Attorney Randy McGinley praised the prosecution team and investigators, stating, “This verdict shows the continued dedication of the DA’s Office to seeking justice for victims and their families.”
