Courtney Coco Murder: Cause of Death and Investigation Timeline

In October 2004, a local farmer driving through Winnie, Texas, contacted the police after noticing something suspicious. When officers arrived, they discovered the remains of Courtney Coco in front of an abandoned house. Her family was notified, but due to minimal available evidence, the case remained unsolved for years. NBC’s episode of ‘Dateline’ titled ‘Who Killed Courtney Coco?’ delves into the case details and highlights the efforts of the authorities that eventually led to the killer’s capture.

Courtney Coco’s Graduation Ring Helped in the Identification of Her Remains

Courtney Megan Coco was born on March 30, 1985, to Stephanie Belgard and Gregory Alan Warbington. She grew up in Alexandria, Louisiana, alongside her two older sisters — Heather and Lace. As the youngest, she was always surrounded by the love and care of her parents and sisters. She enjoyed spending time outdoors and started playing baseball when she was five. Courtney brought joy and laughter to her family and was considered the light of the household. However, when she was just 8, the family lost their patriarch, which deeply affected everyone in the family. Courtney continued her education at Alexandria High School, but the loss of her father changed her. The once playful and energetic girl became noticeably quieter and more reserved.

After graduating in 2003, Courtney enrolled at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, where she pursued a degree in criminal investigations. To support herself, she took a job at a dental office. Independence was always important to her, and she soon got her own car and rented a house, looking forward to building a fulfilling life for herself. She also built a close-knit circle of friends. Courtney had many aspirations for her future, one of which was to start a cheerleading program for young girls, inspired by her own experience as a cheerleader during her sophomore year.

On October 4, 2004, a local farmer driving through Winnie, Texas, noticed something unusual in front of an abandoned house and contacted the police. Upon arrival, officers discovered the partially clothed remains of a young woman wearing an Alexandria High School ring inscribed with the name Courtney. Her family confirmed they had not heard from the 19-year-old in two days and identified her remains. An autopsy was conducted, but the cause of death could not be determined due to the advanced state of decomposition. However, the coroner judged it to be asphyxiation and estimated that Courtney had passed away 52 hours before her remains were found. Nevertheless, her death was ruled a homicide, and an investigation was launched.

Courtney Coco’s Killer Couldn’t Be Located Even After Her Car Was Found

Initially, the police suspected that Courtney Coco’s death might have involved sexual assault, but there was no evidence to support this theory. Investigators focused on tracing her last movements and discovered that she was last seen on the night of October 1, 2004. That evening, she had invited three friends over for a game of dominoes, after which they all visited a local gas station. Courtney then dropped her friends off and headed home. When the police examined her phone records, they were surprised to find that her phone had been used even after her death. Upon tracing it, they found it in the possession of a teenage boy, who claimed he had purchased it from two men for just $10.

On October 14, police found Courtney’s missing car, a 1999 green Pontiac, which had vanished around the time of her disappearance. Tire marks were discovered at the site where her body was found, but forensic analysis of the vehicle failed to provide any significant clues. Witnesses reported seeing two men near the parked car, and their descriptions matched those given by the adolescent boy who had purchased Courtney’s phone. Despite these connections, investigators could not develop immediate leads, and the case eventually went cold. However, Courtney’s mother, Stephanie Belgard, refused to give up hope and continuously urged the police to pursue justice for her daughter.

A Podcast Series Helped Solve Courtney Coco’s Murder Years Later

In 2019, Stephanie Belgard contacted Woody Overton, a former law enforcement officer who had become a high-profile podcaster, after learning about his incredible work as a polygraph examiner and security consultant. His podcast, ‘Real Life Real Crime,’ launched an 18-episode investigative series titled ‘Who Killed Courtney Coco?’ The series garnered significant public interest and led to numerous tips and calls to the police, prompting a renewed investigation. In April 2021, authorities arrested David Anthony Burns and charged him with second-degree murder. The breakthrough came when Overton received a call from a woman named Tiffany Cedars, who alleged she had overheard her ex-husband discussing Courtney Coco’s murder.

The woman alleged that her ex-husband, Shamus Setliff, was best friends with Burns, and the latter had confessed to him about killing Courtney. At the time of the incident, he had been engaged to Courtney’s sister, Lace Evans, for six years. Lace testified that she and her ex-fiance had argued on the evening of October 1, and she hadn’t seen him again until they learned of Courtney’s death. She also suspected Burns was having an affair with Courtney, but she said that both denied it when she confronted them.

Burns was close to the family and had even served as a pallbearer at Courtney’s funeral. The police believed he had not intended to kill her but had strangled her during an attempted robbery because he knew she was getting settlements since she turned 18 due to her father’s passing. Other evidence, which included his identification from a line-up by people who had seen him driving near the place where Courtney’s remains were found, helped the prosecution’s case. Although he denied the accusations, David Anthony Burns was ultimately convicted and sentenced to life in prison.