On a summer evening in Greenwood, Indiana, the life of 35-year-old Rachel Elizabeth Cooke was tragically cut short. On June 3, 2022, police responded to reports of gunfire at the Courts of Valle Vista apartment complex. Inside her own apartment, officers discovered Rachel, who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. An autopsy later confirmed that her death was a homicide.
Investigators quickly learned from witnesses that a man had been seen leaving Rachel's apartment shortly after the
shots were heard. This man was identified as 35-year-old Justin Qualls of Franklin, Indiana. It was discovered that Rachel and Justin were coworkers at the Johnson County Juvenile Detention Facility and had been involved in a romantic relationship. On that fateful day, Justin had gone to Rachel's apartment after she returned home from work. Not long after his arrival, the sound of multiple gunshots echoed through the complex.
After fleeing the scene, a multi-state manhunt for Justin Qualls ensued. With the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, law enforcement tracked his vehicle to Kentucky. As Kentucky State Police attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Interstate 65 near Bowling Green, Justin pulled his car over. However, before he could be apprehended, he took his own life with a handgun and was pronounced dead at the scene. While the primary suspect is now deceased, the investigation into Rachel's death remains ongoing.
