On the evening of July 4, 2014, a festive Independence Day gathering in the Kingsway East neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri, turned into a tragedy that would haunt a local family for over a decade. Edward Cohee, a 29-year-old African American man, was celebrating the holiday with his identical twin brother, Edwin Cohee, and close friends on the 4700 block of Hammett Place.
The brothers were described by family members as inseparable, sharing a bond that went beyond typical sibling relationships. The atmosphere at the party shifted abruptly when an argument broke out between Edward and a childhood friend, Derek Dean, who was also known by the nickname 'Man.'
As the dispute escalated, Edwin attempted to intervene and de-escalate the situation, reminding Dean that they were all like family and that there was no need for violence. Despite his pleas for peace, the situation turned deadly when Dean produced a firearm. He first fired at Edwin, striking him in the chest. As Edwin retreated, wounded and seeking cover, Dean turned the weapon on Edward, shooting him multiple times in the upper body. Both brothers were rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment. While Edwin survived his injuries, Edward succumbed to his wounds the following day, July 5, 2014, leaving behind two young daughters and a devastated family.
Following the shooting, Derek Dean fled the scene and managed to evade law enforcement for several years, becoming one of St. Louis’s most wanted fugitives. The case went cold as investigators struggled to locate him, despite him being charged with first-degree murder, first-degree assault, and armed criminal action. The manhunt garnered national attention in February 2019 when the case was featured on the Investigation Discovery series *In Pursuit with John Walsh*, which highlighted the Cohee family's desperate plea for justice and Dean’s ability to remain hidden, possibly with the aid of friends or family.
Dean was eventually apprehended and booked into the St. Louis City Justice Center to await trial for the 2014 homicide. However, the legal proceedings would never reach a conclusion. In March 2025, authorities reported that Derek Dean had been found unresponsive in his cell at the detention facility. He was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Officials attributed his death to a medical emergency, though specific details were limited. His death in custody meant that he was never convicted of Edward Cohee's murder, leaving the surviving twin and the rest of the family with a sense of unresolved justice, as they were denied the opportunity to see him face a jury.
