Jennifer Cooke

Jennifer L. Cooke, a 35-year-old Caucasian woman described by loved ones as a loving mother and a sweet, calming spirit, was a graduate of Ohio State University and Columbus State. She worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator at OSU and was devoted to her daughter, Vivian. Her mother, Charlyn Marie, recalled that in the summer of 2013, her daughter's life was going better than ever; she had a good job, had finished college while raising her daughter, and was excited about a new relationship after a divorce. Friends said she was easy to get to know, very giving, and as bright and happy as her favorite flower, the sunflower.

That bright future was extinguished in August 2013. After family members were unable to reach her for several days, they requested a wellness check. On the night of August 11, 2013, Grandview Heights police officers went to her apartment at 886 Woodhill Drive. They found an unsecured door and, inside, discovered Jennifer’s body in an upstairs bedroom. She had been stabbed multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene. The case was the first homicide in the quiet Columbus suburb in nearly 15 years. Investigators noted signs of a robbery, and Jennifer’s car was found at another location on Palmer Road, within walking distance of her home. Police believe the killer moved the vehicle there after the murder, which they suspect occurred in the late hours of August 8 or the early morning of August 9.

The investigation was launched by the Grandview Heights Police Department, with assistance from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Within days of the discovery, police identified a person of interest: Jennifer's 35-year-old ex-husband, David Culbertson. Investigators raided his Northwest Boulevard home and seized evidence. According to police, Culbertson was initially cooperative, but that cooperation soon faded. A year after the murder, it was revealed in court documents for a separate stalking protection order that Jennifer had previously told someone she thought Culbertson was stalking her. He declined multiple requests from police to take a lie detector test.

For six years, Culbertson was publicly referred to only as a person of interest. Then, in November 2019, the Grandview Heights Police officially named David Culbertson as a suspect in his ex-wife's murder. Detective Zac Scurlock stated there were "numerous inconsistencies in his stories" and that Culbertson "shut down" when confronted about them. Despite this public designation, no charges have ever been filed. Culbertson has consistently maintained his innocence through his attorney, who stated that police had shared no evidence that implicated his client and that the continued questioning amounted to "harassment."

Years have passed, but Jennifer's family and friends continue to seek justice. Her mother, Charlyn Marie, has spoken about the unending pain of not having answers. "I mean, it's like an open wound, you know, it's never gonna heal," she said in 2023, ten years after her daughter's death. Loved ones gather at the Grandview Heights Public Library, where a memorial bench is dedicated in Jennifer's memory, to share stories and keep her spirit alive. They remember a quiet, sweet, and kind woman who made the world a brighter place.

As of August 2023, the murder of Jennifer Cooke remains unsolved. The Grandview Heights Police Department continues to investigate the cold case, hoping for a breakthrough. A reward of $20,000 is still being offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for her death. Authorities urge anyone who may have been in the area of Woodhill Drive or Palmer Drive on August 8 or 9, 2013, to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Grandview Heights Police Department at 614-488-7901 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477.