Nursing Student Killed Father-in-Law on Christmas Morning Before Going on Vacation with Kids

An Ohio woman has been sentenced for killing her father-in-law on Christmas Day before she took her family on vacation to Orlando, leaving his body to decompose in the house. 

The victim, 80-year-old David Cole Sr., was found dead in a shed in a Zanesville, Ohio, residence on Feb. 10, the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement. 

His daughter-in-law Brittany Cole admitted on Feb. 13 to killing him, pleading guilty to his December murder and abuse of a corpse, per the statement. 

According to Muskingum County Prosecutor Ron Welch, Brittany admitted to using her daughter’s dental prescription to administer fatal doses to Cole Sr. on Christmas Eve, including three tablets of Tylenol, codeine and a “significant amount” of ZzzQuil. 

Late that evening, a little after 11 p.m., she administered more Tylenol and ZzzQuil, “knowing it would be fatal,” Welch said in his statement. 

She discovered him deceased at 5 a.m. the next morning, later admitting to police that it meant her “plan was complete.” 

She then took her family on vacation to Orlando, Fla., where they stayed until Jan. 1, while Cole Sr.’s decomposing body was left in the bedroom, Welch’s statement. 

On Jan. 8, her husband David Cole Jr. found his father’s body in the bedroom and allegedly began exchanging messages with Brittany, discussing their plans to remove the body, investigators said. Charges against him are pending, according to the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office.

He allegedly ordered a mattress cover from Amazon Prime and used it to wrap the victim’s body before moving it to the sunroom and then the shed, the investigation revealed. 

The couple allegedly discussed “disposal plans” via text, per authorities. Evidence against Brittany further included her Christmas morning Google search “when someone dies how long does it take for the body to start smelling.”

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Authorities say Brittany was motivated by money. Brittany continued to receive Cole Sr.’s $2,300 social security benefits after her father-in-law’s death. Cole Jr., who had power of attorney over his father, allegedly sent her the money and she used it for utilities and household expenses, Welch said. 

“This case underscores the devastating impact of elder abuse and the importance of protecting vulnerable individuals,” Assistant Prosecuting Attorney John Litle said in the statement. 

Brittany has been sentenced to life with parole eligibility after sixteen years.