07/20/2026
THE MURDER OF JANICE COOK
📍 Windsor, Missouri • March-April 2026
The Murder, The Cover-Up... and the Questions That Still Won't Go Away
What began as a missing person investigation in rural Henry County has evolved into one of Missouri's most disturbing homicide cases of the year, a case involving allegations of murder, the concealment of a body, conflicting timelines, and lingering questions about whether others may have known far more than they've admitted.
On the morning of March 28, 2026, 43-year-old Janice Cook seemingly vanished without a trace.
Friends and family quickly noticed something was terribly wrong.
Janice was known for regularly communicating with loved ones and staying active on social media. Then, suddenly, she disappeared.
Her vehicle was later discovered abandoned on a rural Johnson County roadway. The keys were reportedly still inside the vehicle, while her beloved dog was found wandering approximately a mile away.
Those who knew Janice immediately knew something wasn't right.
According to investigators, one of the last people known to have seen Janice alive was 70-year-old Billy Ray Tabor.
Tabor admitted Janice had been at his property during the early morning hours of March 28 but initially claimed she simply left a short time later.
Investigators would later allege that wasn't true.
More than a month after Janice disappeared, investigators were led to property connected to Billy Tabor.
There, buried on the property, they recovered human remains believed to be Janice Cook.
Court documents paint an incredibly disturbing picture of what investigators believe happened next.
According to probable cause documents, co-defendant Colby Dean Eisel told investigators he arrived at Tabor's property during the early morning hours of March 28.
Eisel alleged he found Janice lying motionless on the ground while Tabor appeared frantic.
He told investigators Tabor tied rope around Janice's body before using a vehicle to drag her to another location on the property.
Eisel further claimed Tabor forced him to help dig a grave before Janice's body was wrapped and buried.
Investigators later recovered remains from the exact area Eisel allegedly identified.
A Henry County grand jury has since alleged Janice was shot on the morning of March 28.
Billy Tabor has been charged with First-Degree Murder and Abandonment of a Co**se.
Colby Dean Eisel has been charged with Abandonment of a Co**se, Tampering with Physical Evidence, and Tampering with a Motor Vehicle.
Both men remain presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
But this case doesn't end there...
Since the investigation became public, another name has repeatedly surfaced online.
Janie Haulotte.
Unlike Billy Tabor and Colby Eisel, Janie Haulotte has not been charged with any crime related to Janice Cook's death.
However, comments, screenshots and allegations shared publicly by members of Janice's family have generated significant discussion surrounding her possible knowledge of events before Janice was ever reported missing.
According to posts made publicly by Janice Cook's relative, Janice had responded to a Facebook advertisement seeking housekeeping help that had been posted by Janie.
The post alleges Janice stayed with Janie for several days in March and introduced Billy Tabor to Janie shortly afterward.
The post further alleges Billy and Janie continued communicating after they met.
Those claims have not been confirmed by law enforcement in publicly released court documents.
One of the most discussed allegations centers around April 4, 2026.
According to a family member, Billy Tabor went to Janie Haulotte's home that day and allegedly told her Janice Cook was dead.
If true, that would have occurred five days before Janice was officially reported missing on April 9.
A family member publicly claims she possesses a video in which Janie acknowledges Janice was already dead.
As of this writing, that alleged video has not been publicly released in full, has not been authenticated by investigators, and no court records currently confirm its contents.
No criminal charges have been filed against Janie regarding those allegations.
Another piece of information circulating online is a Facebook comment allegedly written by Janie herself.
In the comment, she wrote in part:
"I declined a meet with a man. He got angry, and is in jail for first degree murder. Over me, sheriff told me. I'll be called to testify."
That statement has led many online to speculate about whether jealousy or a romantic dispute played a role in Janice's murder.
However...
No prosecutor has publicly identified jealousy as the motive.
No court documents currently allege Janie encouraged, planned or participated in Janice's murder.
At this point, that comment remains exactly what it is, a social media statement whose full context has not been publicly explained.
There are allegations that Janie knew Janice was dead but did not notify law enforcement.
Instead, Janie later filed a police report alleging Janice had stolen an iPad from her home.
Missouri True Crime has not independently verified that report, and no publicly released court filings currently explain whether investigators considered that allegation credible.
What We Know
•Janice Cook disappeared after spending time with Billy Tabor.
•Her vehicle was abandoned.
•Her dog was found wandering alone.
•Her remains were recovered on property connected to Billy Tabor.
•Billy Tabor has been indicted for First-Degree Murder.
•Colby Dean Eisel has been indicted on charges alleging he helped conceal the crime.
What We Don't Know
• What sparked the confrontation that ended Janice's life?
• Was the killing planned or spontaneous?
• Why did Janice's vehicle end up miles away?
• What exactly happened between March 28 and the April 9 missing-person report?
• What did investigators learn from the phones involved in this case?
• What information, if any, did Janie Haulotte provide investigators?
• Did anyone else know Janice had been killed before she was reported missing?
Those answers may ultimately come out during future court proceedings.
For now, they remain unanswered.
Anyone charged with a crime is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Likewise, allegations involving individuals who have not been charged remain allegations unless supported by admissible evidence or official findings.
