Tonya Cook: Woman's Body Found Burned, Dismembered In New Jersey Field

The body of Tonya Cook, 32, of Vineland, New Jersey, was found July 2 in a field in Lawrence Township. Police have made an arrest, but are still searching for the killer.

Tonya Cook was known as a caring person who was known for her big heart. Now authorities are trying to figure out who would want to hurt her.

The 32-year-old's body was found by a passerby in a field in Lawrence Township just before Independence Day. Her family said that while they are relieved that an arrest has been made, they are still grieving.

"She loved everybody and for this to happen to her wasn't right," Cook's brother, Timothy, at a vigil, according to NewJersey.com. "It was senseless and I'm just glad we're getting justice for my sister. What happened to her shouldn't have happened."

she was found burned and dismembered on Monday, July 2, 2018. New Jersey state police said Cook was “known to have ties throughout Cumberland County," according to the Vineland Daily Journal. 

Authorities don't know who killed Cook, but they have charged Dennis Parish, 52, with desecrating her corpse. State police said that Parish allegedly moved the body out of a house, but police are still hunting for the murderer. The home did not belong to Parish, but rather a couple, the Daily Journal reported.

Trooper R. Booth said fingerprints taken from Cook’s “dismembered hand” was what led to her positive identification.

“A partially burnt cardboard box containing an orange sticker was located beneath the victim’s dismembered and burnt human remains,” Booth said, according to the Daily Journal.

A GoFundMe Page launched by Cook's family sheds light on her lovely soul. This is what it says:

Tonya Marie Cook was a very kind and Beautiful Black Women. She Loved all of her Friends and Family and she showed Unconditional Love to all. Tonya Touched many hearts with her smile and always put others before putting herself. She was proof that Good people do exist in this world and we can understand each other’s pain. Friends, Family you may not know what to do but along with keeping Tonya in our Hearts you can contribute by helping us raise money to put her to rest. God is good all the time so let’s remember this is a celebration of a life lived , not a life ending.

Authorities are asking anyone with information on Cook's slaying to contact the New Jersey State Police Port Norris Station at 856-785-0036. Tips may also be submitted to the prosecutor's office by using the CCPOTIP app, by going to the agency's Facebook page or website, or by texting to 847411 with CCPOTIP and your message.