A Macomb County family is demanding answers following the death of 53-year-old Moneque Cook, who was found behind a building in freezing temperatures in Michigan, under circumstances her relatives say do not add up.
Cook’s body was discovered early Tuesday morning, Jan 20, 2026, by a Priority Waste driver behind a commercial building. Authorities initially indicated she may have died from exposure to the cold, but her family strongly disputes that account, citing what they describe as unexplained injuries and evidence left at the scene.
According to relatives, Cook had left her sister’s home in Eastpointe late Monday night to visit a friend in nearby Mt. Clemens. Her daughter, Antonia Cook, said her mother left without shoes or a coat—details that already raise troubling questions for the family.
“She would never lay down and die in the freezing cold,” Antonia Cook said. “That is not my mother. That is not her character.”
Family members say when they went to the scene, they noticed Cook’s face appeared swollen and her lip was split—injuries they insist were not present when she left her sister’s home. They also claim some of Cook’s belongings were still near the dumpster, including pants they say had blood stains and marks on the knees suggesting she may have been dragged.
Cook’s uncle, Darryl Cook, said relatives had to retrieve some of her personal items themselves after discovering they were still at the scene.
“My niece had to jump in the dumpster and get my sister’s stuff,” he said, adding that the family believes potential evidence may have been overlooked.
The family is also questioning the silence of the friend Cook reportedly went to see that night. According to her daughter, the individual has not contacted the family or come forward since Cook’s death.
“I believe they were maybe having a drink or something, and something happened in between that time,” Antonia Cook said, stressing that the family is not drawing conclusions but wants clarity.
The Macomb County Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed that an autopsy has been conducted, with results still pending. A toxicology analysis is also underway. The Macomb County Sheriff’s Office says the case remains an active investigation.
While Cook’s death has renewed public concern about the dangers faced by unhoused individuals during extreme winter weather, her family rejects descriptions of her as homeless. They say Cook had fallen on hard times but was staying with relatives as she worked toward stability.
“They just put her off as a homeless woman who died behind a dumpster,” Antonia Cook said. “That is not Moneque’s story.”
As investigators work to determine what happened, the family is left grieving and searching for answers. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help cover funeral expenses as loved ones remember Cook as a caring and generous woman.
“My mother is love,” Antonia Cook said. “So sweet. She would give anybody anything.”
