Erika Ellen Winford, a 51-year-old woman from Jacksonville, Florida, was found shot to death in the backyard of her home in the Durkeeville area on February 10, 2025. Authorities responded to the residence on West 15th Street after a concerned friend attempted to contact her but received no response. Upon arriving at the home, the friend noticed a large amount of blood on the rear doorstep and discovered Winford’s body wrapped in blankets in the driveway.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office later confirmed that she had suffered multiple gunshot wounds to her head, stomach, and left leg.
Investigators quickly identified a suspect in the case—Winford’s own son, 28-year-old Eric Christopher Cobb. Cobb, a former college basketball player who had competed for the University of Connecticut and the University of South Carolina, was detained at the scene. Reports indicate that Cobb had been living with his mother at the residence where her body was found. Officers searching the home discovered an AR-style rifle and a 9mm semiautomatic handgun in the living room, where Cobb appeared to have been residing. Additionally, authorities recovered 14 spent 9mm shell casings inside a trash bag located in a trash can in front of the home.
Friends of Erika Ellen Winford, a 51-year-old woman, told police that she had expressed fear of her son in the days leading up to her death. One friend stated that Winford had confided in her just a day before the incident, saying she did not want to return home because she was afraid of Cobb. She reportedly described her son as "possessed" and in need of medication that she could not afford. Another friend mentioned that Cobb had been displaying increasing anger in recent days.
Following the discovery of Erika Ellen Winford’s body, Cobb was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. The case has drawn significant attention due to the tragic circumstances surrounding the killing and the relationship between the victim and the suspect. Authorities continue to investigate the events leading up to the shooting, while the community mourns the loss of Winford, a 51-year-old woman whose life was cut short in a violent act.
