Va. 'acquaintance' arrested after young mother's body is found in trash collection truck

WOODBRIDGE, Va. (TCD) -- A 28-year-old man is in custody after officials found the body of a missing 30-year-old mother last week.

According to a news release from the Prince William County Police Department, on Thursday, March 21, shortly before 9 p.m., officers responded to a home in the 12200 block of Stevenson Court for a missing persons investigation. A family member reported that Taty’ana Cooks failed to pick up her child from day care, prompting concern.

The sheriff's office said Cooks' belongings were still inside her home. Officials also learned Brendon White, Cooks' "acquaintance," was driving the victim's vehicle in Newport News City in the area of Hampton Roads.

Detectives searched a trash collection truck the next day, where they discovered Cooks' remains.

According to the sheriff's office, detectives collected additional evidence suggesting White was involved in Cooks' death, and they obtained an arrest warrant for him on a charge of murder. Newport News Police later located and arrested White.

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