COLLINSVILLE, Ill. — Authorities on Sunday said a 32-year-old man killed his former girlfriend and her sister a day earlier outside their home in rural Madison County as the woman was preparing to move out, before leading authorities on a pursuit that spanned multiple counties.
Madison County Sheriff's Office Major Jeff Connor identified the victims as Jamie Joiner, 30, who lived with Adam Cobb at a home on the 1000 block of McDonough Lake Road, and Jessica Joiner, 34, who had flown in on Friday from her home north of Los Angeles.
Connor said Jessica Joiner traveled to Madison County for the sole purpose of helping her younger sister move out. Prior to moving in with Cobb, Jamie Joiner lived in south St. Louis County.
"There was apparently a separation in place between Jamie and Adam. We believe that she notified him that she was going to be moving," Connor said.
Investigators think Jamie Joiner made the 911 call to police based on the location of a phone near her body. A woman's screams could be heard by dispatchers followed by a couple of gunshots, Connor said.
Connor said Adam Cobb shot both women "in the head and neck region" around 10:30 a.m. Within 45 minutes, investigators identified Cobb as the suspect.
A regional scanner dispatch was broadcast to neighboring law enforcement agencies, and at about 1:15 p.m., a vehicle being driven by Cobb was spotted in Montgomery County near Hillsboro, Illinois, state police said.
Connor added that Cobb's phone helped authorities locate him, but declined to offer additional information citing "specific (investigative) details."
After Cobb failed to pull over, authorities began pursuing his vehicle northeast on state Route 16. About 40 minutes later, Cobb's vehicle became "partially disabled."
The vehicle came to a stop on U.S. Route 51 near East 800 North Road, several miles north of Pana, Illinois, Christian County Sheriff Bruce Kettelkamp said.
Authorities said Cobb got out of his vehicle and pointed a gun in the direction of a state police trooper. The trooper, who has 26 years of experience with the state police, then fired his duty weapon at Cobb.
Cobb was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of serious, life-threatening injuries. He was pronounced dead at 4:40 a.m. Sunday. Police said the "cause and nature" of Cobb's injuries were "under investigation," adding that no law enforcement officers were injured.
Connor said a "large-caliber gun" found with Cobb was likely used to murder the two women. Cobb also killed a dog that was at the home.
Investigators said no one else was at the home when the women were shot, and they don't believe anyone witnessed the shootings.
"We're willing to talk to anyone who has information, but this is pretty much a domestic situation that ended in tragedy," Connor said. "Our thoughts, our prayers go out to the Joiner family, but also the Cobb family. There are several families whose lives have been turned upside down by these events."
Renee Crouch, who lives about a mile away from the crime scene, said she was in shock. She said Cobb cut her grass frequently.
"Everybody in this neighborhood knows how great he was. He helped everybody all the time, and I still can't get over it. You can't put together who did that and who used to come here," Crouch said.
Ben Sharp, who lives next door to Crouch, said of Cobb that he "couldn't ask for a better neighbor."
A search of Madison County court records show Cobb had several traffic-related violations going back to 2006 and two orders of protection that were eventually dismissed.
Public records show Cobb previously owned a hauling and towing company, and a lawn care business. The latter was involuntary dissolved by the Illinois Secretary of State in December 2020.
Even though the victims and suspect are dead, the Madison County Sheriff's Office and the Illinois State Police will continue their investigations, Connor said.
Back at the home on McDonough Lake Road on Sunday afternoon, a U-Haul truck, its rear door still fully opened, and a rental vehicle were still parked in the driveway.
"There was a tragic end to everything at 10:26 a.m. (Saturday)," Connor said.