The mysterious death of an elderly woman in a Macon neighborhood has police searching hard for answers. Christine Patton Cook, 87, was murdered inside of her home. She was found last Thursday.

"I think that whenever a crime happens in your neighbor it makes you nervous and concerned for your safety," said Lauren Benedict, a Macon City Councilwoman who lives right around the corner from the house where Christine Cook was murdered.

Just four days after her death, cook's home appears as if it has returned to normal, but the investigation continues.

Police were reluctant today to talk on camera about the investigation but did say the information provided so far has enabled the criminal investigation division to create a time line for the murder. If they had any other leads, they wouldn't say.

Criminal Investigation Division Major Charles Stone was quoted in a press release from the Macon Police Department that says, "As always, information provided by the public, however seemingly inconsequential, may prove vital in this senseless murder. The MPD is committed to bringing Mrs. Cook's killer or killers to justice as soon as possible."


"I'm concerned that we give MPD the tools that they need to give every part of the community safe no matter where we are talking about in Macon." -Lauren Benedict,Macon City Council, Ward V - Post 1

Cook’s daughter, Cheryl Pepper of Wrightsville, Georgia, called police Wednesday night and asked them to check on her mother.

When police arrived, they found an unsecured door and then cook's body, a body that was later ruled a homicide after autopsy results were complete.

Councilwoman Benedict says that situations like these are always discomforting, but she believes that being a good neighbor may be the answer to solving this mystery. "So you need to have your eyes and ears open, because no matter how good your police force is they cannot be everywhere at once”, said Benedict. “So get involved. Make sure that there is a neighborhood watch in your community or in your parent’s community.”

If you have any information on this case, please call Macon Police Department at 751-7500 or Crimestoppers at 1-877-68-CRIME.