Claretha "Coco" Gibbs, a 31-year-old African American woman, was tragically killed on June 26, 1984, in Fort Myers, Florida. On that fateful day, Fort Myers police responded to reports of gunshots in the area of Palm Avenue and Lincoln Boulevard. Upon arrival, they found Gibbs suffering from a gunshot wound to her abdomen. She was immediately transported to the hospital, but unfortunately, she succumbed to her injuries.
Witnesses reported seeing Gibbs, who was known to be a prostitute, entering a two-tone vehicle, possibly a pickup truck, shortly before the gunshot was heard. The driver was described as a white male in his 30s, with brown or dark blonde hair, a thin build, and a pale complexion. Gibbs' body was later found dumped at 2831 Lincoln Boulevard.
The case remained unsolved for decades, becoming one of the oldest cold cases in the region. In January 2017, the Fort Myers Police Department's Cold Case Unit submitted DNA evidence collected from a rag found at the scene to DNA Labs International. A full DNA profile of the suspect was obtained and entered into CODIS, the FBI’s national DNA database, but it did not match any known samples. In March 2019, investigators turned to Parabon Snapshot for genealogical research, which led to a breakthrough in the case. By July 2020, the DNA profile was linked to James Glen Drinnon, a 65-year-old man from Okeechobee, Florida, who had lived in Lee County in 1984.
Investigators collected a DNA sample from Drinnon's discarded trash, which matched the DNA found at the crime scene. Drinnon was subsequently arrested and admitted to killing Gibbs. This arrest brought closure to a case that had haunted the Fort Myers community for over three decades. Gibbs' surviving relatives, including her sister Cynthia Hampton, expressed relief and gratitude upon learning that her killer had been identified and apprehended. The resolution of this case highlights the advancements in DNA technology and genealogical research that have become invaluable tools in solving long-standing cold cases.
