Melinda Jolly: Georgia mother of four found dead with 'multiple blunt force trauma injuries' in 'domestic dispute', boyfriend arrested

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA: As reported by authorities, a suspect in the death of a Cobb County mother of four has been taken into custody in Florida.

The woman's residence on the 3200 block of Perch Drive in Marietta is where the homicide took place, according to the Cobb County Police Department.

Melinda Jolly, 44, was discovered dead at the address "during a welfare check conducted by a family member," according to Cobb County police

Charles Cook faces charges of aggravated assault and murder

Charles Cook, 41, of Marietta, has reportedly been taken into custody and is facing charges of both aggravated assault and murder.

According to an online fundraiser set up by the family, Jolly was a mother of four who moved from California to Georgia several years ago to be closer to family and start a new life after her husband passed away from cancer.

The fundraiser stated that Jolly's husband passed away soon after she gave birth to their twin boys, as per The Atlanta Journal Constitution.

The family claimed that they had called the police to send officers to Jolly's home to conduct welfare checks after learning that she was involved in an abusive relationship.

According to Jolly's family, police last checked on her on Monday, January 15. When a relative visited Jolly's house on Wednesday, January 17, to see how she was doing, they discovered that she had passed away.

Without naming Cook, Jolly's family stated in a letter that "the abusive monster took Melinda's life."

Cook was taken into custody by the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office on Thursday, January 18, according to Cobb County police.

The Cobb County Sheriff's Office reportedly informed the sheriff's office that day that Cook might have been in Crestview, Florida.

Melinda Jolly sustained head and neck injuries

According to the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, Cook had an active arrest warrant from the Cobb County Sheriff's Office for aggravated assault with intent to murder and homicide related to domestic violence.

Cook's car and investigators from the sheriff's office were allegedly discovered in the Crestview Publix parking lot. After his arrest, he was brought to the Okaloosa County Jail to await his extradition to Georgia.

Jolly sustained "multiple blunt force trauma injuries to the head and neck" following "an apparent domestic dispute," per the arrest warrant, WCTV reported.

According to the warrant, Cook was last seen leaving the house "around the supposed time of death after officers completed a welfare check" on Jolly.

The page of the fundraiser reads, "Please pray for the children because they are left without a mother and a father. It will be a long road of healing and rebuilding for everyone. Please pray for our entire family, we are all devastated beyond belief.”

The family claims that Jolly's three youngest children are in the care of their aunt and uncle. They stated that Jolly's eldest child is 22 years old.

“It’s unfortunate that an incident like this has led to the death of an individual,” Cobb County Police Officer Aaron Wilson stated. “That’s never what we want. We always want to come out there and try to separate everybody and give everybody some peace of mind and settle things another time.”

Please call the Cobb County Police Department Major Crimes Unit at 770-499-4111 if you have any information about this case.