On a tragic day in Detroit, Michigan, the life of 2-year-old Marissa Mosley was violently cut short in an act of domestic violence. On June 22, 2006, Marissa was at home with her mother, Siraquana Cotton. The normalcy of the day was shattered when Charles 'Eastwood' Epperson, Cotton's estranged boyfriend, forced his way into their residence.
Armed with a gun, Epperson, who had a known history of domestic violence and had previously been imprisoned for violent offenses, first shot and killed Siraquana Cotton. In the ensuing horror, as young Marissa sought the comfort of her mother, she too was fatally shot by Epperson. Other family members who were present in the house managed to escape the terrifying ordeal.
Following the brutal murders, Charles Epperson fled the scene. A manhunt for him ended less than 12 hours later when his body was discovered in the Detroit River. Authorities concluded that Epperson had taken his own life by jumping into the river. The investigation by the Detroit Police Department confirmed the events as a murder-suicide, stemming from a history of domestic violence that had tragically escalated. With the perpetrator deceased, the case was closed.
