Alisha Cooks

Do you know who murdered Alicia Cooks?
Alisha “Lisa” Marie Cooks was a 16-year-old girl from Houston, Texas, whose family was left searching for answers for nearly four decades. Remembered by her loved ones, her life was cut short in 1985, leaving a void that would not be filled with even partial understanding until decades later.

Alisha was reported missing by her family in the summer of 1985. The months passed with no word of her whereabouts. On December 16, 1985, two hunters were in a pasture in Pearland, a city south of Houston, when they made a grim discovery. Near the dead end of what was then County Road 59 and County Road 90, they found skeletal remains about 50 yards from the road. The area, once rural, has since been developed and is now the location of the Silverlake subdivision. Investigators from the Brazoria County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene, but with no identification found with the remains, the victim became a Jane Doe. An autopsy determined she had died from a gunshot wound to the head, and her death was ruled a homicide. Found with her were a few personal items: a small, red Rafaella brand sweater, a pair of blue jeans, and a woman's wristwatch with a square face and a maroon leather strap. For years, the case went cold, with the identity of the young woman and the circumstances of her death a complete mystery.

For 36 years, the investigation remained open but stagnant. The breakthrough finally came through advancements in DNA technology. Alisha's family, including her brother Byron Parker, submitted their DNA samples to be uploaded to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NAMUS). On October 6, 2022, the Brazoria County Sheriff's Office received a report confirming a match. The DNA profile from the remains recovered in 1985 belonged to Alisha Marie Cooks. On October 26, 2022, investigators met with Alisha’s family to deliver the news that their long-missing loved one had been found, finally providing a measure of closure.

The identification brought a wave of emotion for Alisha’s family. "I've been waiting all my natural life for this closure you gave me and my family today," her relative, Sharias Bibben, wrote in a public comment after the sheriff's office announced the identification. The Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office shared a photo of investigators with Alisha's brother, Byron Parker, acknowledging the significance of the moment. "Providing closure to the families of victims is not always doable," the department stated. "I am proud to say in the case of Alisha Cooks we have done just that."

While her family was finally able to bring her home and lay her to rest, with a memorial service held on January 14, 2023, in Houston, the case is far from over. The identification of Alisha has transitioned a cold Jane Doe case into an active homicide investigation. Investigators are now re-examining the evidence, hoping that someone who knows something about what happened to the 16-year-old in the summer of 1985 will finally come forward.

As of October 2022, the homicide investigation into the death of Alisha Cooks remains open and active. The Brazoria County Sheriff's Office is urging anyone with information about the case, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to contact them. Tips can be directed to the Brazoria County Sheriff's Office at 281-756-2392 or to Brazoria County Crime Stoppers. The family has found some peace in knowing what happened to Alisha, but they still await justice.