Ex-UConn Basketball Player Charged In Mother’s Murder In Florida: PD

JACKSONVILLE, FL — A former University of Connecticut men’s basketball player has been charged with killing his mother in Jacksonville, Florida.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday it has arrested Eric Cobb, 28.

Officers responded to 15th Street West in the Mid-Westside area and found Cobb’s mother, 51-year-old Erika Winford, suffering from a gunshot wound.

Winford was unresponsive and had been wrapped in a blanket and towels in the backyard, police said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said they detained Cobb as he tried to leave the home. He was arrested after an interview, and is now in custody at the Duval County Jail.

The sheriff’s office indicated in a news release it would work closely with state prosecutors “to seek justice for Ms. Winford’s family in the wake of this tragic crime.”

In addition to playing for UConn, the 6-foot-9 Cobb played for the University of South Carolina, officials said.

According to his UConn profile, Cobb’s hometown is Jacksonville, Florida. The website shows he played for UConn between 2017 and 2019 after transferring to the university.