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.

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 information.

A promise to their mother

Cook’s mother, Martha Bowling, spent years hoping to learn who killed her daughter. She died without knowing who was responsible.

Jewett said her mother’s desire for closure stayed with her throughout her life.

“That’s all she talked about was she just wanted closure,” Jewett said.

Now, Jewett says she’s determined to keep her promise and keep her sister’s story in the public eye.

“But I know she won’t be forgotten,” she said. “And I’ll never give up.”

Questions remain

Jewett said she has not heard from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) about the case since around the time of her sister’s death. She said she also has not received calls from local law enforcement with updates about possible leads.

“It hurts,” she said. “They’re not helping me get closure. They’re not helping to find out who done this.”

A case that remains unsolved

Previous WALB reporting referenced DNA evidence collected during the investigation. In 2013, investigators said evidence had been submitted to a national database, but no connection to another homicide had been established.

OTHER TIFT COUNTY NEWS

A family’s continued fight

For Cook’s sisters, this is about more than an unsolved case. It’s about remembering the woman their family lost and making sure her story is not forgotten.

Their mother never got to see the day someone was held accountable for her daughter’s death.

Her daughters say they want to keep pushing for the answers she spent years seeking.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the GBI Regional Office in Sylvester at 229-777-2080, or the GBI Tip line at 1-800-597-TIPS.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• Who Killed Candy Cook?
• Family of Candida ‘Candy’ Cook still looking for closure 18 years later

WALB will continue following developments in this investigation.

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