MEDIA RELEASE
CONTACT:  Angie Grube
Public Information Director, SBI
agrube@ncsbi.gov
 
March 16, 2022
 
The SBI’s Cold Case Investigation Unit and the Surry County Sheriff’s Office
Solve 30-Year-Old Murder
 
Raleigh, NC – A joint investigation involving the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and the Surry County Sheriff’s Office has led to the arrest of a Mississippi man for the 1992 murder of a North Carolina woman. On the morning of July 7, 1992, the body of a woman later identified as Nona Stamey Cobb was found on the northbound side of Interstate 77 in Surry County. At the request of the Surry County Sheriff’s Office, the SBI assisted with the investigation.
In April of 2021, special agents from the SBI’s Cold Case Investigation Unit and investigators from the Surry County Sheriff’s Office returned to the physical evidence in the case which was re-examined to include DNA. While working with Dr. Colleen Fitzpatrick, founder of Identifiers International LLC, agents were able to identify Warren Luther Alexander (WM DOB: 1/12/51) as a possible suspect in Cobb’s murder using DNA.
On Tuesday, March 15, 2022, Alexander was arrested in Diamondhead, Mississippi. He has been charged with murder and is being held at the Hancock County Jail awaiting extradition to North Carolina. This is an ongoing investigation as investigators are looking into whether there are more victims.
In addition to the agents from the SBI Cold Case Investigation Unit, we are appreciative of the SBI’s Hickory District Office, NC State Crime Laboratory, Surry County Sheriff’s Office, Indiana State Police, Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, Diamondhead Police Department and the FBI Gulfport Office.
Warren’s mug shot may be accessed via the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office website -  http://www.hancockso.com/InmateRoster/hancock_inmatelist.html. A press conference will be held when Alexander is extradited back to North Carolina. No additional information is available at this time.