A former college basketball player has been arrested in Florida and charged with the murder of his 51-year-old mother, whose body was discovered wrapped in a blanket in the backyard of a Jacksonville residence, according to police reports. Eric Christopher Cobb, 28, was taken into custody and booked at the Duval County Jail, facing a second-degree murder charge after allegedly attempting to flee the scene where his mother appeared to have been fatally shot.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office responded to a “disturbing scene” in the Mid-Westside area on Monday, where they found Erika Winford unresponsive, covered in a blanket and towels in the backyard. Authorities indicated that Winford had suffered a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene. Cobb was apprehended shortly thereafter while trying to escape the home.
Neighbors reported hearing multiple gunshots and a woman screaming the night before the discovery. The following day, a friend of Winford’s visited the home after being unable to reach her, only to find significant blood outside and what seemed to be a body wrapped in a blanket.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office stated that they will collaborate closely with the State Attorney’s Office to pursue justice for Ms. Winford’s family in light of this tragic incident. Cobb played college basketball at the University of Connecticut from 2017 to 2019, where he had a modest career, averaging 1.7 points and 2.7 rebounds in his junior year and 3.7 points and 3.8 rebounds in his senior year. He also played one season at South Carolina, averaging 1.1 points and 1.9 rebounds over 24 games.
Cobb remains in custody as he awaits trial.
