Missing Ohio Mom, Found Dead a Year After She Disappeared

A year and a half after the 46-year-old mom in Ohio, Cheryl Coker, had been missing, her skeletal remains were discovered. 

In a press conference held on Monday, Greene County Sheriff Gene Fischer said that the skull and several bones that were discovered in Caesercreek Township by a mushroom hunter on Saturday evening turned out to be Coker, as examined by the Montgomery County Crime Lab. 

According to the officials, the place where the remains were found in a remote wooded area that is only about a 15-minute drive from Coker's residence in Riverside, Ohio. 

Fischer said that the said area is a popular place for people to look for mushrooms; however, not a commonplace for people to go to for hiking. 

Greene County coroner Dr. Kevin Sharrett confirmed that there was no evidence at the scene nor autopsy to suggest that Coker's body was buried. 

The Disappearance in 2018

Cheryl Coker had been missing since October 2, 2018, when she returned home after dropping off her 15-year-old daughter at school. Police previously reported that Cheryl logged into Facebook until about 7:45 in the morning. 

Three hours later, a surveillance video was released showing Cheryl's Toyota Highlander entering a Kroger parking lot less than a mile away. Later that night, it was found with its doors locked, her phone, credit cards, and other personal belongings inside. 

On September 21, 11 days before her disappearance, Cheryl filed for a divorce from William, seeking spousal support and custody to their daughter. 

On September 24, 8 days before missing, William texted Cheryl, thanking her for putting the nail in his coffin. Later that same day, Cheryl texted a coworker saying that she will be in tomorrow if she is not dead. 

The case of Cheryl was reclassified as a homicide in February 2019. Four months after her disappearance, Riverside police identified, William "Bill" Coker, Cheryl's husband of 19 years, as a suspect. It was after the police investigators uncovered evidence that may prove that Cheryl vanished due to suspicious circumstances. 

Riverside Police Department, Chief Frank Robinson said that even though it has been a long process, they will never give up on the case. He added that they will never waver to what they needed to do, and that is to follow all the evidence that they have collected as well as all evidence that anyone has collected for them. 

Husband Denies Allegation

William denied the allegation that he was involved in Cheryl's disappearance, saying that he had never, in his entire life, had he hurt anyone. He added that before Cheryl disappeared, she was behaving in some risky behavior and he had not been willing to put that out in the open. 

During the press conference on Monday, Robinson said that nothing has changed in the investigation. According to Riverside Police Det. Travis Abney, William is their only suspect. 

At present, it is still not clear if William has retained an attorney who could comment on his behalf.