Anthony Eric Cogdell, a 44-year-old African American male, was found dead inside a vehicle on December 16, 2020, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The vehicle was located on the 1300 block of Jacob Street, a short, dead-end residential road between Deep Creek Road and Cedar Creek Road in East Fayetteville. The cause of death was not immediately released, but it was later revealed that he had been shot.
Cogdell was described as a transient, indicating that he did not have a permanent residence at the time of his death.
The investigation into Anthony Eric Cogdell's death led to the arrest of Timothy Leroy Coe, a 51-year-old male from the 1700 block of Cumberland Drive in Fayetteville. Coe was arrested with the assistance of U.S. Marshals on February 11, 2021, and charged with first-degree murder in connection with Cogdell's death. Coe has a long history of criminal convictions dating back to 1985, including charges of assault on a police officer, assault on a school official, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, theft, burglary, arson, and assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury. He had recently completed a four-year prison term for an assault charge in 2015.
In addition to Coe's arrest, the Fayetteville Police Department's Homicide Unit identified another individual, Reginald Wedner, as a person of interest in the case. Wedner, a 23-year-old male from the 300 block of Brass Court, was wanted for felony larceny of a motor vehicle, felony possession of stolen goods, and felony breaking and entering of a motor vehicle. He was believed to have information regarding Cogdell's death. The police urged anyone with information about the case or Wedner's whereabouts to contact Detective A. Caldwell with the Fayetteville Police Department or the Fayetteville/Cumberland County Crimestoppers.
The investigation into Anthony Eric Cogdell's death is ongoing, with law enforcement officials continuing to gather evidence and pursue leads. The case highlights the challenges faced by transient individuals and the complexities of solving crimes involving vulnerable populations. The Fayetteville community remains vigilant, hoping for justice for Cogdell and his family.
