In the autumn of 2021, the community of Fort Smith, Arkansas, was shaken by the discovery of a beloved local man's body. Jeremiah Tel Hawthorne, a 35-year-old White male, was found deceased in the 1300 block of Jackson Street on the morning of October 2, 2021. Authorities who responded to the scene quickly determined that his death was the result of foul play, as he had sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
The Fort Smith Police Department immediately launched a homicide investigation into the tragic death of the 2004 Mansfield High School graduate, who was known for his passion for cooking and his deep love for his family.
For months, the investigation into Jeremiah's death continued with no publicly named suspect. Investigators heard whispers on the street implicating a man named John Anthony Cole, but it wasn't until September 2022 that a significant break in the case occurred. A person close to Cole contacted the police, revealing that he was being questioned in Arizona concerning a separate murder. This crucial tip prompted Fort Smith investigators to travel to Phoenix to interview Cole. During their interrogation, Cole confessed to shooting Hawthorne, admitting that he did so out of fear that Hawthorne would expose his alleged drug dealing activities to the police. His confession was further corroborated by video surveillance from the area that matched the details he provided.
The man responsible for Jeremiah Hawthorne's death was already a convicted felon. John Anthony Cole, 48, was sentenced to 31 years in prison in November 2024 for a murder he committed in Arizona. In that case, the victim's remains were discovered in the trunk of Cole's car after he had been reported missing. Following his confession to the Fort Smith homicide, an arrest affidavit was issued for Cole in April 2025, and he was subsequently charged with Hawthorne's murder. On May 30, 2025, John Anthony Cole pleaded guilty to the first-degree murder of Jeremiah Hawthorne, as well as to firearm possession and two counts of attempted capital murder for stabbing two deputies. He was sentenced to 200 years in prison, bringing a close to the long and painful chapter for the family and friends of Jeremiah, who remembered him as a loving father, son, and brother with a cheerful grin and playful personality.
