A man in Georgia has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal beating death of his girlfriend, a mother of four. Charles Franklin Cook, aged 42, was convicted of felony murder, aggravated assault, and three counts of cruelty to children in the second degree, according to a statement from the Cobb County District Attorney’s office on February 5th. In addition to a life term, Cook was given an extra 30 years of confinement for his heinous crimes.
The victim, Melinda Jolly, aged 44, was tragically discovered deceased in her residence on January 17, 2024, by a concerned cousin conducting a welfare check, as per the official report. Following the incident, Cook, the boyfriend of Jolly, absconded from their home and was apprehended the next day in Okaloosa County, Florida. He was subsequently brought back to Cobb County, Georgia for legal proceedings.
Upon reviewing the arrest warrant, Atlanta News First revealed that Jolly had sustained “numerous blunt force trauma injuries to the head and neck.” Notably, this was not the first instance of law enforcement responding to the residence, with repeated calls made for domestic violence incidents, shared Cobb County Police Officer Aaron Wilson with WAGA.
A distressing incident in October 2023 saw Cook charged with cruelty to children after purportedly endangering Jolly’s 4-year-old twins while intoxicated. Allegedly, he left one of the children in a sweltering vehicle for half an hour while unconscious, necessitating officers to rescue the child by breaking a window, as detailed in the Cobb County District Attorney’s report.
District Attorney Sonya F. Allen remarked, “This case underscores the critical need to safeguard the most vulnerable individuals, and we trust that the conviction today will offer some solace to the bereaved family dealing with this tragic loss.” For the latest updates on crime reports, you can subscribe to PEOPLE’s True Crime newsletter for breaking news, ongoing trial coverage, and insights into intriguing unsolved cases.
Described as a gentle soul and an ardent animal lover with a fondness for French music, Jolly relocated to Georgia in 2019 to be nearer to family after losing her husband to colorectal cancer, leaving her to raise their four children alone, as stated in a GoFundMe page initiated by Jolly’s siblings. The family disclosed that they had recently discovered Jolly was ensnared in an abusive relationship, prompting them to frequently request welfare checks from law enforcement on her behalf. It was her cousin Jill who made the heartbreaking discovery of Jolly’s lifeless body on January 17.
“The abhorrent perpetrator stole Melinda’s life,” lamented the GoFundMe appeal. “Thankfully, he was apprehended before inflicting harm on anyone else.” If you are in a situation of domestic violence, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at
