Joe Cole: Murder unsolved 25 years later - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

1990 UM fan · 12-12-2016, 02:30 AM

Next Monday marks 25 years since Joe Cole was shot dead in front of his Oakwood, CA home by armed robbers. Let's recap this unsolved case:

Joe Cole was the son of television actor Dennis Cole and best friend to actor/musician Henry Rollins. The two lived in a home in the Oakwood section of Venice, California and planned on documenting the plight of homeless Vietnam veterans in the area. On December 19th, 1991, Joe and Henry were arriving home from an all-night grocery store when they were confronted by two armed men. One robber shoved Henry to his knees, while the other forced Joe face down on the ground. The gunmen told them not to scream or they would be killed. As they laid on the ground, the robbers took what little money they had, less than $50. Angered, the two gunmen then demanded to go up to the house and Henry told them that there were others in the house, hoping that the gunmen would leave, but they did not. As they entered the house, Henry heard feet scuffling on the porch and then gunshots. Henry then ran out of the house and out the back door and called police from a pay phone.

When the police arrived, the gunmen had vanished and Joe had died as a result of the shooting. Despite interviews with hundreds of people in the area, the killers have never been found. However, investigators believe that the killers live in the Oakwood area and may have bragged about their crime before. They also may have selected Henry and Joe's house because earlier that day, music producer Rick Rubin had arrived there in a fancy car, making the robbers think that the house had valuables inside. A $25,000 reward is being offered in this case. One of the suspects is an African-American male approximately 5'11 and weighs 165 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes and today would be in his 40s or 50s. The other suspect is also an African-American male. They have never been identified and Joe Cole's murder remains unsolved 25 years later. If you have any information regarding the murder of Joe Cole, please call the Los Angeles Police Department at (213) 485-3261.

LooksLikeCRicci · 12-12-2016, 04:16 AM

I saw Henry Rollins do some spoken word about 15 years ago. Joe's death clearly was a major influence on his life. I cannot imagine the guilt he must feel for what happened.

I am really pessimistic on this one-- I don't think it will ever be solved. I'd love to be proven wrong.

WishfulDreamer · 12-12-2016, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LooksLikeCRicci

I am really pessimistic on this one-- I don't think it will ever be solved. I'd love to be proven wrong.

I agree. Bad things go down in Venice/other unsavory parts of L.A., and plenty of criminals like this are never caught.

Do they even have any of the murderers' DNA? Any sort of forensic evidence left behind besides the bullet? I'm sorry to say it seems like finding a needle in a haystack unless somebody talks.

Hot Jock · 12-13-2016, 12:15 AM

If you go to a certain video site and search for, "Henry Rollins The Story of Two Boys" you'll get to hear Rollins explain what happened that night in great detail. He's one of the best storytellers I've ever had the pleasure of hearing and I even saw him do a live spoken word performance about 10 years ago which was fantastic. He blends just enough humor with just enough seriousness which isn't the easiest thing to do, especially when you're talking about your dead best friend. Anyway, if you've got 15 minutes to spare, check out that video. It will hit you right in the feels.

Kane · 12-17-2016, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WishfulDreamer

Do they even have any of the murderers' DNA? Any sort of forensic evidence left behind besides the bullet?

If they have any other evidence, they don't want the killers to know about it. If information like that were to be disclosed to the press while the case is still unsolved, it would be a lot tougher to solve the murder than it already is, because it would scare the perpetrators into discarding anything that could link them to the crime.

1990 UM fan · 12-19-2016, 11:31 PM

25 years today. It's sad that Joe's father Dennis could not live long enough to see justice for his son. I hope this murder is solvable, because it's scary to think they're still out there robbing and shooting people.

WishfulDreamer · 01-08-2017, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kane

If they have any other evidence, they don't want the killers to know about it. If information like that were to be disclosed to the press while the case is still unsolved, it would be a lot tougher to solve the murder than it already is, because it would scare the perpetrators into discarding anything that could link them to the crime.

This is a good point. I certainly hope any undisclosed evidence will be of use tracking down these guys in the future.

Drown Soda · 02-04-2017, 02:01 AM

I remember this case from when I was younger. It's too bad that they've never solved it. A fact I later found out was that Cole and Rollins had been at a Hole show in West Hollywood that night—that's where they were coming home from. Cole was a roadie for the band and one of Courtney Love's friends. I believe the band's second album was dedicated to him.

sharky888 · 02-08-2017, 12:52 AM

Here is an interesting Howard Stern Interview with Henry Rollins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMhk8ZqZ7ZU

Arnold_OldSchool · 04-21-2018, 03:35 AM

Rollins admits he kept the bloody soil from his friend's head and speaks to it daily to keep Joe's memory alive.

12-12-2016, 02:30 AM	#1
1990 UM fan Unsolved Mysteries fanatic Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2011 Location: United States Posts: 2,510	Joe Cole: Murder unsolved 25 years later Next Monday marks 25 years since Joe Cole was shot dead in front of his Oakwood, CA home by armed robbers. Let's recap this unsolved case: Joe Cole was the son of television actor Dennis Cole and best friend to actor/musician Henry Rollins. The two lived in a home in the Oakwood section of Venice, California and planned on documenting the plight of homeless Vietnam veterans in the area. On December 19th, 1991, Joe and Henry were arriving home from an all-night grocery store when they were confronted by two armed men. One robber shoved Henry to his knees, while the other forced Joe face down on the ground. The gunmen told them not to scream or they would be killed. As they laid on the ground, the robbers took what little money they had, less than $50. Angered, the two gunmen then demanded to go up to the house and Henry told them that there were others in the house, hoping that the gunmen would leave, but they did not. As they entered the house, Henry heard feet scuffling on the porch and then gunshots. Henry then ran out of the house and out the back door and called police from a pay phone. When the police arrived, the gunmen had vanished and Joe had died as a result of the shooting. Despite interviews with hundreds of people in the area, the killers have never been found. However, investigators believe that the killers live in the Oakwood area and may have bragged about their crime before. They also may have selected Henry and Joe's house because earlier that day, music producer Rick Rubin had arrived there in a fancy car, making the robbers think that the house had valuables inside. A $25,000 reward is being offered in this case. One of the suspects is an African-American male approximately 5'11 and weighs 165 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes and today would be in his 40s or 50s. The other suspect is also an African-American male. They have never been identified and Joe Cole's murder remains unsolved 25 years later. If you have any information regarding the murder of Joe Cole, please call the Los Angeles Police Department at (213) 485-3261.
	__________________ Join my Unsolved Mysteries page (Facebook): http://www.facebook.com/pages/Unsolv...899616?sk=wall Last edited by 1990 UM fan; 12-12-2016 at 10:27 AM.

12-12-2016, 04:16 AM	#2
LooksLikeCRicci Likes to live in a clean house Moderator Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 27, 2005 Posts: 4,050	I saw Henry Rollins do some spoken word about 15 years ago. Joe's death clearly was a major influence on his life. I cannot imagine the guilt he must feel for what happened. I am really pessimistic on this one-- I don't think it will ever be solved. I'd love to be proven wrong.

12-13-2016, 12:15 AM	#4
Hot Jock Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 09, 2016 Posts: 493	If you go to a certain video site and search for, "Henry Rollins The Story of Two Boys" you'll get to hear Rollins explain what happened that night in great detail. He's one of the best storytellers I've ever had the pleasure of hearing and I even saw him do a live spoken word performance about 10 years ago which was fantastic. He blends just enough humor with just enough seriousness which isn't the easiest thing to do, especially when you're talking about your dead best friend. Anyway, if you've got 15 minutes to spare, check out that video. It will hit you right in the feels.

12-19-2016, 11:31 PM	#6
1990 UM fan Unsolved Mysteries fanatic Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2011 Location: United States Posts: 2,510	25 years today. It's sad that Joe's father Dennis could not live long enough to see justice for his son. I hope this murder is solvable, because it's scary to think they're still out there robbing and shooting people.

02-04-2017, 02:01 AM	#8
Drown Soda Superstitious cinephile Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 02, 2016 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 103	I remember this case from when I was younger. It's too bad that they've never solved it. A fact I later found out was that Cole and Rollins had been at a Hole show in West Hollywood that night—that's where they were coming home from. Cole was a roadie for the band and one of Courtney Love's friends. I believe the band's second album was dedicated to him.

02-08-2017, 12:52 AM	#9
sharky888 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 11, 2016 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 13	Here is an interesting Howard Stern Interview with Henry Rollins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMhk8ZqZ7ZU

04-21-2018, 03:35 AM	#10
Arnold_OldSchool Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 16, 2006 Posts: 681	Rollins admits he kept the bloody soil from his friend's head and speaks to it daily to keep Joe's memory alive.