A former college basketball player, who had stints at the University of South Carolina and the University of Connecticut, is facing charges for the alleged murder of his mother in Florida. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office reported that they responded to a distress call at a residence on 15th Street West around 8 a.m. on Monday.
Upon arrival, deputies discovered a horrifying scene. Erika Winford, 51, was found unresponsive in the backyard, her body concealed under blankets and towels. She had sustained gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
The victim’s son, Eric Cobb, 28, was apprehended as he attempted to leave the house. He is currently being held on suspicion of second-degree murder. The sheriff’s office is collaborating with the State Attorney’s Office to formalize charges.
Sgt. Steve Rudlaff of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office shared with local NBC affiliate WTLV that they were alerted to the incident by one of Winford’s friends. The friend had gone to check on Winford after she failed to answer her phone and stumbled upon her body in a pool of blood.
Investigators have interviewed two witnesses. One reported hearing a woman’s terrified screams, “he’s going to kill me,” around 8 p.m. on Sunday. Another witness reported hearing multiple gunshots the same night. However, neither witness contacted 911, according to Rudlaff.
Cobb, who stands at 6-feet, 9-inches tall and weighs 240 pounds, last played for UConn during the 2018-19 season. He averaged just over 12 points per game in 32 games, primarily as a reserve. The previous season, he was suspended for conduct detrimental to the team. His college basketball career began at South Carolina, but he left the program following an arrest for shooting an occupied car with a BB gun during his freshman year. He then played for a junior college in Florida before transferring to UConn.
Cobb, a Jacksonville native, played his senior year at St. Francis Academy in Baltimore. He was a four-star recruit and the 21st-ranked power forward in 2015, according to ESPN. He is currently being held in the Duval County Jail without bond.