Jacqueline Jackie Coles Willhoite, a 43-year-old woman from New Carlisle, Ohio, tragically died on August 24, 2021. She was found shot multiple times in her home on Weinland Street in Park Layne, a suburb of New Carlisle. Jacqueline was a mother of two sons and had filed a restraining order against her estranged boyfriend, Noel Coles Jr., just days before her death.
The autopsy report revealed that she had been shot six times, including four times in her torso and once in each hand.
Noel Coles Jr., who was 48 years old at the time, was named a person of interest in the investigation shortly after Jacqueline's death. He was arrested in Indiana just hours after her body was discovered and was later charged with violating the protection order. The Clark County Prosecutor's Office later indicted Noel on multiple charges, including aggravated murder, murder, felony murder, aggravated burglary, felonious assault, and tampering with evidence. Jacqueline's death was ruled a homicide, and Noel was brought to trial for the charges.
During the trial, it was revealed that Jacqueline had accused Noel of threatening to kill her on multiple occasions in the weeks leading up to her death. Despite the serious nature of the charges, Noel entered a guilty plea for voluntary manslaughter and aggravated burglary, resulting in a sentence of 15 to 20 1/2 years in prison. Jacqueline's family expressed disappointment with the reduced charges but were relieved that Noel was sentenced to prison.
The case highlighted the serious issue of domestic violence and the importance of protection orders in safeguarding victims. Jacqueline's tragic death and the subsequent legal proceedings have had a lasting impact on her family and the community, prompting calls for greater awareness and support for domestic violence survivors.
