Background: The Henry County Sheriff”s Office in Clinton, Mo. (Google Maps). Insets (left to right): Billy Tabor, Janice Cook, and Colby Eisel (Henry County Sheriff’s Office).
Authorities have apprehended two individuals in relation to the case of a Missouri woman whose disappearance ended tragically with her being found deceased.
Billy Tabor, aged 70, along with Colby Eisel, 39, face charges of abandoning a corpse. Additionally, Tabor is accused of first-degree murder, as per the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, which claims both men played roles in moving the remains of 43-year-old Janice Cook. Cook had been reported missing on April 9, after her social media posts stopped abruptly following March 27.
The probable cause statement details a witness’s account, stating that they visited Tabor’s property early on March 28, where Cook was discovered lying on the ground. During this time, Tabor appeared anxious, pacing around.
Authorities noted that Cook’s vehicle was left deserted on March 28, with her dog found a mile from the location. Her loved ones insisted she would never leave her pet behind. This, combined with her sudden social media silence, heightened their worries regarding her whereabouts.
Investigations into Cook’s phone records revealed her last known location as Windsor, Missouri, and Tabor was the last person she contacted. When police approached Tabor at his Windsor residence, he admitted to knowing Cook. He confirmed her brief visit during the early hours of March 28, claiming she departed after a few hours, though he couldn’t specify the time.
As the investigation continued, a report surfaced that Tabor allegedly assured an unnamed woman that she “would not have to worry about J.J. anymore,” using Cook’s nickname. When questioned about Cook’s death, Tabor is said to have merely laughed and walked away without offering a direct answer.
On April 30, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received information from a neighboring county that a witness was also at Tabor’s home on the night Cook allegedly went missing. The witness told police that he showed up at Tabor’s residence at 2 a.m. on March 28 and saw Tabor “pacing back and forth in an agitated state.” He then saw Cook lying on the ground “and believed her to be deceased.”
According to the probable cause statement, the witness said Tabor got ropes and tied them to Cook. He then allegedly tied the other end of the ropes to a Honda CR-V, which he used to drag Cook’s body farther down the property. Tabor allegedly yelled to the witness to come down to where he was to help him “dig a grave.” The two men allegedly dug a large hole, wrapped Cook’s body in black fabric, and buried her in the hole.
The witness told police that Tabor allegedly “threatened to shoot him” if he did not move Cook’s vehicle along with her belongings to Johnson County. After Tabor picked the witness up and brought him back to his home, the witness said he saw a black revolver on the table. According to the probable cause statement, Tabor made comments to the witness indicating that he had been frustrated with Cook.
Police questioned Tabor again on Friday, and he invoked his right to counsel. He was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and abandonment of a corpse.
The witness later brought police back to the property to show them where he and Tabor allegedly buried Cook’s body. The Henry County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post that human remains were recovered, and they believed they belonged to Cook. They stated that they were still waiting for confirmation through forensic testing but had made contact with Cook’s family.
The probable cause statement was redacted and did not include the name of the witness who led police to Cook’s remains. On Friday, Eisel was charged with abandonment of a corpse.
Both Tabor and Eisel are being held at the Henry County Jail. Tabor is being held without bond and is scheduled for a bond hearing on May 5. Eisel is being held on $250,000 cash-only bond. His next court date was not available.
