Georgia Caregiver Sentenced to Life After Pacemaker Helps Identify Man She Bludgeoned and Dumped 130 Miles Away in the Mountains
COVINGTON, GEORGIA — A 37-year-old caregiver who brutally bludgeoned a disabled man, burned his home, and abandoned his body in the North Georgia mountains has been sentenced to life in prison without parole, bringing closure to a highly publicized 2023 murder case solved with the help of the victim’s pacemaker.
Fire at Victim’s Home Sparks Statewide Search
The investigation began on Feb. 23, 2023, when Newton County deputies responded to a fire at a home on Mote Road. Inside, firefighters discovered propane tanks staged throughout the house, leading investigators to immediately classify the blaze as intentionally set.
Missing from the scene was 57-year-old Melvin Cooksey, a stroke survivor who relied on a wheelchair and had recently hired a caregiver after posting an online advertisement seeking assistance.
For months, authorities searched for Cooksey across Georgia, assisted by widespread media coverage — but no trace of him surfaced.
Hikers Discover Skeletal Remains With Pacemaker
In May 2023, hikers in the remote mountains of Fannin County, nearly 130 miles from Cooksey’s home, came across a skull and scattered human remains.
Investigators located a pacemaker still intact on the body. When they traced its serial number, the device matched Cooksey’s medical records, finally confirming his identity.
Detectives turned their attention to the woman hired to care for him: Danetta Knoblauch, who had moved from Kansas to Georgia shortly before Cooksey vanished.
Investigation Reveals Violent Past and Chilling Details
According to the Alcovy Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, investigators built the case using:
- Witness statements
- Social media activity
- License plate reader data
The findings pointed directly to Knoblauch, who was also wanted in Kansas for beating another man with a sledgehammer and screwdriver.
Police later located her in East Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she barricaded herself in a home with her child before eventually surrendering. Authorities say she provided incriminating statements during questioning.
Prosecutors: Caregiver Bludgeoned Victim Days After Moving In
At trial, prosecutors outlined a disturbing timeline: Knoblauch responded to Cooksey’s caregiver advertisement, moved into his Georgia home — and within days, allegedly beat him to death with a sledgehammer.
She then transported his body more than 100 miles to the mountains and set Cooksey’s home on fire in an attempt to cover up the crime.
Jurors convicted her of:
- Felony murder
- Aggravated assault
- First-degree arson
- Concealing the death of another
She was sentenced Wednesday to life without parole plus 30 years.
Family Says Cooksey Was a Kindhearted Man
Relatives of the victim sat through every day of the weeklong trial. His sister, Brenda Hardy, said the verdict brought long-awaited justice.
“He had a good spirit. He didn’t deserve what happened to him at all.”
District Attorney Randy McGinley praised investigators and prosecutors for piecing together a complex case spanning multiple states.
“This was a complicated case that required expertise in so many areas and a dedication to finding the truth,” he said.
Knoblauch, however, continued to deny guilt.
“I am innocent,” she said as deputies escorted her out of the courtroom in handcuffs.
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