WOODBRIDGE, Va. – A Virginia man has been arrested and charged with murder after the body of a woman was discovered in a trash collection truck near their shared home. Brendon Devon White, 28, was taken into custody on Saturday in connection with the death of 30-year-old Taty’ana Zakiyyah Cooks. While the pair had previously been in a relationship, they were still residing together at the time of the incident.
Cooks was reported missing on March 21 when she failed to pick up her child from daycare. As detectives investigated her disappearance, they found that Cooks’ belongings remained in her Woodbridge residence, but White had been driving her vehicle. On Friday, while in the vicinity of Cooks’ home, law enforcement officers stopped and secured a trash collection truck where the victim’s body was later discovered, according to a press release from the Prince William County Police Department.
Authorities found additional evidence implicating White in Cooks’ death. A hearing for White is scheduled for later this week.
The motive behind the alleged murder has not been disclosed, and the investigation is ongoing. Police have not provided further details regarding the circumstances surrounding Cooks’ death or how her body came to be in the collection truck.
The tragic incident has left the community in shock and serves as a grim reminder of the potential dangers that can exist within intimate relationships. Domestic violence continues to be a pressing issue, and cases like this emphasize the importance of support for victims and preventive measures to address such violence.
Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact the Prince William County Police Department.