An Ohio-based nursing student, Brittany Cole, 37, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 16 years. This sentence comes after she confessed to causing the death of her father-in-law, David Cole Sr., 80, by administering a lethal dose of medication. The incident occurred on December 25, 2024, and was followed by a month-long cover-up of the crime.
According to the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office, Brittany Cole gave her father-in-law six capsules of Tylenol with codeine and ZzzQuil, fully aware that the combination would be fatal. Following the incident, she misled family members by claiming that David Cole Sr. had relocated to Cincinnati. The family then embarked on a week-long vacation to Orlando, Florida, leaving the deceased’s body in their home.
Upon their return, Brittany Cole’s husband, David Cole Jr., 44, discovered his father’s body on January 8, while Brittany was attending nursing school. Investigators found text messages between the couple discussing the odor and plans for disposal of the body. They also found a Google search by Brittany Cole on December 25, asking how long it takes for a deceased body to start smelling.
David Cole Jr. was also implicated in the cover-up. Surveillance footage captured him on January 8, the day he discovered his father’s body. Prosecutors revealed that he had ordered a mattress cover from Amazon. The body of David Cole Sr. was later found in a shed on the property, wrapped in the purchased mattress cover and a tarp. Initially, the body had been moved to a sunroom before being left in the shed.
Prosecutors believe the motive behind the murder was financial gain. David Cole Jr., who had power of attorney, was the beneficiary of his father’s monthly Social Security benefits. Authorities discovered that the couple continued to receive and spend these funds even after David Cole Sr.’s death.
On February 26, Brittany Cole was sentenced after pleading guilty to murder and gross abuse of a corpse. David Cole Jr. faces six felony charges related to the events following his father’s death, including two counts of tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse, and obstructing justice. His arraignment is pending.