Who was Courtney Coco? Louisiana man David Burns arrested in 2004 murder of student, 19, found dead in Texas
ALEXANDRIA, LOUISIANA: A Louisiana man was arrested in connection with the 2004 murder of a girl whose body was found in an abandoned building in Texas, authorities revealed on Tuesday, April 13. David Anthony Burns, 43, of Boyce, Louisiana, was apprehended on Tuesday afternoon and charged with second-degree murder in the death of Courtney Coco. The arrest was made by Detective Tanner Dryden, who was assigned the cold case investigation by the Alexandria Police Department in 2018, Fox News reported.
Alexandria police Public Information Officer Josh Peppers told the outlet that Dryden "spent numerous hours working this case in an attempt to bring some closure for the family." Burns was taken into custody just hours after a grand jury indictment, per the report.
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In October 2004, Courtney's body was found in an abandoned building in Winnie, Texas, nearly 200 miles from her Louisiana residence. She was last seen by Stephanie Belgard, her mother, a few days earlier. Despite her body being badly decomposed, her death was ruled a homicide.
Authorities found Courtney's 1999 Pontiac Bonneville in Houston days after her body was located. "This has been a very difficult case, it has been a tough case, it’s an old case that the APD and sheriff’s office have both worked very hard on to bring to its appropriate conclusion," Rapides Parish District Attorney Phillip Terrell told KALB-TV.
Courtney's case was featured on NBC's "Dateline" and a podcast: "Real Life Real Crime," which aired a multi-episode series titled "Who Murdered Courtney Coco?"
Who was Courtney Coco?
Courtney graduated from Alexandria Senior High School in 2003 before enrolling at Northwestern State University, where she was reportedly majoring in a criminal investigation. “She always noticed the details - and she was so organized,” her mother Stephanie recalled to NBC's Dateline. “In her car, we also found this binder of bills, everything just so neat and organized."
“We also found a copy of a friend’s obit she had kept,” Stephanie said. “Shamekka. Her friend who was killed just months before.”
Shamekka Garnette reportedly vanished from her Alexandria, Louisiana residence on August 13, 2004. Her body was found in a ditch on August 17, just two days before she would turn 21. However, the murder has never been solved, according to the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Courtney's mother believes the murders may be linked to each other, but detectives did not make a comment. Nonetheless, years passed and Courtney's case turned cold.
Courtney's family described the 19-year-old as a "kind person who loved people and helped everyone she came across," per NBC News.
“She just loved life,” Stephanie told Dateline. “She was very active - played softball and took gymnastics for years. She loved to travel and loved to shop. She was a fashion diva of sorts.”
Courtney was the youngest of three siblings, and had two nephews whom she adored.
“Her sisters and nephews miss her greatly,” Stephanie continued. “We’re a close-knit family and it’s been extremely tough for them. For all of us.”
The loss of Courtney, who died more than 16 years ago, is still fresh for her family. However, the arrest of David Anthony Burns might help bring them some closure.
“I know nothing can bring her back,” Stephanie told Dateline. “As a mother, I want to fix this. Sadly, I can’t. But I kneeled at her grave and made a promise to get justice. And I’m keeping that promise. I’ll get justice and finally, she’ll be at peace.”