[MI] Confessed hitman that killed Sgt. David Cobb's wife, Rose, tried to take his own life

Self-professed hit man tries to kill himself
Detroit Free Press
December 26, 2009
A self-professed hit man who police said claimed he killed a Detroit police officer’s wife tried to commit suicide this morning, according to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office. Vincent Smothers, 28, was found hanging just before 8:30 a.m. at the Wayne County Jail, according to a news release. Smothers was taken to a local hospital for treatment. His condition was not available. Smothers was arrested in April 2008 and is awaiting trial on a slew of cases including the killing of Rose Cobb, who was married to a Detroit police sergeant who may have contracted her hit. Smothers’ last court appearance was in October. He was being held in the Wayne County Jail on 28 charges, 13 of which are first-degree murder charges. [Link]

Previous blog entries:

• [MI] SGT COBB'S WIFE SHOT DEAD IN PARKING LOT- ...One of the videos mentions that David Cobb was formerly charged with harrassment of and solicitation of sex from a minor, but was cleared, and another of the videos announces that Cobb IS now a person of interest in the murder of his wife Rose, but not a suspect.
• [MI] Sgt. Cobb not at vigil for his murdered wife, Rose- "DON'T BE A COWARD. YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID, AND YOU NEED TO TURN YOURSELF IN. YOU TOOK SOMEONE THAT WE LOVE WITH ALL OUR HEARTS AWAY FROM US. SHE DID NOT DESERVE THIS. TURN YOURSELF IN."
• [MI] Sgt Cobb & hired hitman arrested for murder of Rose Cobb- ...They described Rose Cobb as a sweet, kind person full of grace and dignity. She was always willing to listen to other people and help with their troubles..
• [MI] Sgt Cobb - arrested in plot that killed his wife Rose, has been released - ..."We don't like it, but we understand the process. The only thing, at this point, that is going to make us happy is for Sgt. Cobb to be charged and put away for a very long time"...
• [MI] Hit man tells how he killed Detroit cop's wife, Rose Cobb - ...Cobb was shot four times in the face at close range...
• [MI] Justice For Rose Cobb, Wife of Detroit Police Sgt. David Cobb - (New Myspace page for Rose)
• [MI] Investigator of Sgt.'s wife - Rose Cobb's - murder warned: "This thing is bigger than you. Trust me." - ...During a 90-minute interview Thursday in Stefani's Royal Oak office, [chief investigator, Detective Ira] Todd, 50, claimed his supervisors pressured him to turn over a written report documenting his investigation into hit man Vincent Smothers, who told police he was responsible for 10 murders, including the 2007 fatal shooting of Rose Cobb, the wife of Detroit Police Sgt. David Cobb... Todd said he was interrogating him at police headquarters when [Cmdr. James] Tolbert interrupted the interview. "I've never had that happen; you never want to stop someone when they're in the middle of a confession..."
• [MI] Update on hit-murder of Rose Cobb, wife of Detroit Police Sgt. David Cobb - ...David Cobb was arrested a day after Smothers was, but Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said there was not enough evidence to charge him. Cobb remains free but suspended. He has said through his attorney that he never met Smothers...
• [MI] It's really hard for me to believe Sgt. Cobb's hanging was suicide - Most of the articles from today and yesterday are saying that Detroit Police Sgt. David Cobb "was found dead near a bike path in Dodge Park in Sterling Heights"
• [MI] So maybe Sgt. Cobb's demons, after having Rose murdered, did kill him after all - ...[Detroit Police Sgt. David] Cobb had already schooled [confessed hit man Vincent] Smothers on police interrogation techniques, the importance of getting rid of the gun and wearing gloves and arm sleeves to avoid gunpowder residue, they told police... To this day, Rose Cobb's family has no idea where her remains or any of her personal possessions are. They didn't go to Cobb's funeral, but did attend the viewing. They said they just had to see his body... 
•  [MI] Detectives say confession of hitman who killed Detroit Police Sgt's wife (Rose Cobb) was not coerced - ...Police said [Vincent] Smothers listed his last job as the slaying of Rose Cobb, the wife of a Detroit police officer, the day after Christmas in 2007. Smothers said he got $50... Defense lawyer Gabi Silver doesn't dispute the words but claims Smothers, 28, was coerced with promises that his wife would not be charged with helping him...
  
• [MI] Confession to killing Police Sgt.'s wife Rose Cobb stands - A judge on Friday refused to throw out a confession by a self-described hit man who is charged with killing the wife of a Detroit police officer, a crucial ruling that clears the way for his first trial in eight fatal shootings...
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