Randall Cooke: Family of Uber Eats driver killed by MS-13 gang member remembers him as ‘most perfect man’
PASCO, FLORIDA: Randall Cooke, an Uber Eats driver who was murdered by MS-13 gang member Oscar Solis Jr last week, has been remembered by his family as a “happy guy” and the “most perfect man”. His loved ones said that Cooke was a devoted family man who worked hard to make ends meet and support his family’s dream of living by the sea.
Cooke was reportedly “yanked” into Solis’ home and eventually killed while making his final food delivery around 6:30 pm on April 19, 2023, according to authorities. He was reported missing by his wife Kathy Cooke after he failed to return home from work. His dismembered remains were found in trash bags which were removed from the house by Solis, 30, and his roommate. Cooke's blood and wedding ring were also discovered in the home, as per Daily Mail. No motive behind the murder has been revealed so far. The random killing left Cooke’s family and community members in shock.
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Who was Randall Cooke?
Randall Cooke, 59, was an Uber Eats driver from Florida who was tragically killed by MS-13 gang member and parolee Oscar Solis Jr while making a food delivery at the latter’s home. Cooke was reportedly a graphic designer by trade but also delivered food for Uber Eats for some extra income.
Cooke's stepdaughter Melany Dzoba dubbed him as the “most perfect man” during an interview with WFTS. “He was the most perfect man. Such a happy guy. I mean, we all go through our ups and downs. We're all still human, but he just — he was always just so happy and just trying to have fun and laugh — all the time,” she shared.
Cooke met Melany’s mother in 2012 and married her in 2020. Melany said Cooke and her mother were “soulmates” and had a very loving relationship. “It was a relationship I could always hope for. Just conjoined at the hip. Soulmates until the very end,” she shared.
Melany also shared that Cooke was a supportive stepfather and had a great bond with his stepdaughters. “I still have a voicemail on my phone from last Monday of just his voice and him telling me how much he loves me and how much he's there for me,” she recalled.
Cooke’s other stepdaughter Brittany Dzoba shared that the former moved to Pasco from Seminole County to be closer to the sea and fulfill the family’s dream of living close to the coast. “He just had to do anything he could to make ends meet, you know. Randy just made everything better,” she told Fox35 Orlando.
“I love my mom to death and I hate to see her like this. Just knowing that she has to come home every day to her husband not there. They shared so many amazing memories together,” Brittany tearfully added.
Randall Cooke's GoFundMe raised over $38,000
Brittany's friends Kiley and Sara launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for Cooke’s memorial and funeral expenses. “At this time, we ask if everyone could please keep Brittany and Melany and Kathy in your thoughts and prayers as their family focus on this most difficult time. Thank you to everyone that reached out to check on them, if anyone could please help donate any amount will help,” the GoFundMe page read.
“Randall was the main source of income for Brittany’s mom so if we all could help give a little to help with the Funeral expenses and other living expenses. Please help Kathy Cooke so she can grieve the loss of her soulmate Randall and not have to worry about how she is going to make ends meet She would greatly appreciate it thank you,” it added. The campaign raised more than $38,000, as of Thursday, April 27 morning.
Cooke’s murderer reportedly had a lengthy criminal record and was sent to Florida in January after being released from Indiana. Jail records showed that he was facing charges of murder while engaged in a robbery, failure to register as a convicted felon, and a parole violation, the Daily Mail reported. “You're talking about a violent individual that Indiana released and sent down to Florida,” Sheriff Chris Nocco said in a statement.
“Unfortunately, now we have a hardworking guy, a loving husband, who is no longer with us because this violent individual killed him. All it appears is that this was somebody who is working doing his last delivery of the night, and this person killed him for no reason,” he added.