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The body of Taty’ana Zakiyyah Cooks was found in a trash collection truck while searching for her on Friday, March 22, Prince William County police said.
Brendon Devon White, 30, was arrested in connection with the crime by Newport News police, according to county police.
Police say White and Cooks were previously in a relationship and had been living together.
The investigation began as a missing person's case on Thursday, March 21 just before 9 p.m., when family members reported that Cooks hadn't picked up her child from daycare, police said.
During the investigation, detectives learned Cooks' car was being driven by White, an acquaintance, which was found in Hampton Roads/Newport News City. Her belongings, however, were still inside her Woodbridge home.
On Friday, March 22, while near Cooks' home for the investigation, detectives stopped and secured a trash collection truck where the victim’s body was later found, authorities said.
Additional evidence discovered indicated that White was involved in the victim’s death, police said. Following the investigation, detectives obtained a murder warrant for White, who was found and arrested by Newport News police.
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