In the early morning hours of December 21, 2001, tragedy struck the life of 30-year-old Bernard Cockerham, a Black male resident of Elkhart, Indiana. At his home located at 2656 Morton Avenue, an unknown assailant or assailants forcibly gained entry. During this intrusion, several shots were fired inside the residence, and Cockerham was shot once in each leg.
Despite his grievous injuries, a wounded Cockerham made a desperate attempt to save himself.
It is believed he was trying to drive to a hospital for medical attention before he collapsed. A passerby later discovered him on the street just outside his car in front of his house. One of the bullets had struck a major artery in his leg, leading to significant blood loss. Ultimately, Bernard Cockerham succumbed to his injuries and bled to death.
In the aftermath of the discovery of Cockerham's body, the Elkhart Police Department launched a homicide investigation. Investigators have since interviewed potential suspects in connection with the case. However, a lack of sufficient information has prevented charges from being filed. To date, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified in the murder of Bernard Cockerham.
The case has grown cold over the years, leaving a family without answers and a community with an unsolved crime. Law enforcement has periodically sought help from the public, with organizations like Michiana Crime Stoppers highlighting the case in an effort to generate new leads. Despite these efforts, the investigation into Bernard Cockerham's death remains open and unsolved, awaiting any new information that might bring a resolution to this long-standing mystery.
