Mother dies without answers in unsolved Tift Co. murder; daughters continue fight for justice

TIFTON, Ga. (WALB) - For years, Martha Bowling wanted answers about who killed her daughter.But Bowling died without knowing who was responsible for the 2003 murder of Candida “Candy” Cook.“I made a promise to my mom on her deathbed that I would... I would keep trying,” Tonya Jewett said. “And I have.”Now, Cook’s sisters are determined to continue the fight their mother spent years pursuing: finding out who killed their sister and bringing answers to a family that has waited more than two decades.

The Details

Cook was 32-years-old when her body was found in the woods near the Tift County Airport in September of 2003.Investigators determined she had been strangled. Despite the years that have passed, her murder remains unsolved.For Cook’s family, the passage of time has brought more questions than answers.WALB has followed the family’s search for justice through the years, including interviews in 2013 and 2021, when relatives spoke about their continued hope that someone would come forward with info