An Alabama man accused of murdering a Columbus, Georgia woman in Phenix City made his first court appearance Tuesday morning.
Jason Bernard Cole, 40 of Florence, was in Russell County District Court in front of Judge Walter Gray III.
Jason Bernard Cole
Rachael Mixson, 41, of Columbus was found dead Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022.
Rachael Mixson
Jason Bernard Cole, 40, of Florence was developed as a suspect and arrested in connection to her death just days later on Oct. 24, 2022.
Cole’s defense attorney requested to waive the preliminary hearing requesting a bond be set. Russell County District Attorney Rick Chancey (pictured right) opposed citing the violent nature of Mixson’s death and substantial evidence collected.
“Rachael Mixson was brutally murdered,” he said. “It was brutal. She was strangled and beaten to death… I know where her body was dumped, and I know the condition it was found in. I know that it’s tough for the family to hear those things. But to me, this is about Rachael Mixson and about how her life ended.”
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Cole was developed as a suspect after Mixson’s mother revealed the two were in a relationship. One of Mixson’s co-workers also said she was last seen leaving with Cole from her job the night before her body was found.
According to her co-worker, Mixson said the two had broken up Wednesday, Oct. 19. By Friday, Oct. 21, they were back together; however, Mixson said she was, ‘not sure how long it would last.’ {snip}
Surveillance footage placed the two at Players Billiards Pool Hall later that night. They were seen leaving together around 9:40 p.m.
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The same day Mixson’s body was found, Cole called out of work saying he needed to go work on his car. Cpl. Duke said Cole confirmed he borrowed a set of red and black jumper cables to work on his car.
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The district attorney also cited Cole’s criminal history.
In Jan. 2016, Cole was charged with domestic violence/strangulation, third-degree domestic violence, third-degree theft of property and unauthorized use of a car in Lauderdale County. Chancey told media Cole was convicted in two robbery cases.
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No motive was given yet in Mixson’s murder, Chancey says they are still gathering evidence and a trial date will not be set until next year.
