The Unsolved Murder of Kathleen Wood Cotton: A 1999 Wilmington Mystery
On a quiet summer day in early July 1999, the peaceful Ogden neighborhood of Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina, was shaken by a brutal and senseless crime. Kathleen Wood Cotton, a 68-year-old woman who lived alone, was found murdered in her home at 2500 Middle Sound Loop Road. More than two decades later, her case remains one of the area’s enduring unsolved mysteries, leaving investigators, her community, and her loved ones searching for answers.
The Crime
Kathleen Wood Cotton was discovered deceased in her home during the first week of July 1999, though the exact date of her death remains uncertain in public records. A neighbor, concerned for her well-being, entered the residence to check on her and stumbled upon a grim scene. Cotton had been beaten to death, her body found in an empty bathtub. Evidence at the crime scene painted a chilling picture: the back door of her home had been kicked in, and blood splatter was found in several areas, suggesting a violent struggle between Cotton and her assailant. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma to the head.
The intruder didn’t leave empty-handed. Cotton’s money, purse, and her 1992 teal green two-door Honda Civic were missing from the home. The theft of her vehicle would later provide a key lead in the investigation, though it ultimately failed to crack the case wide open. The brutality of the attack and the apparent robbery suggested a crime of opportunity, but the lack of immediate suspects left detectives with more questions than answers.
The Investigation
The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office quickly launched an investigation into Cotton’s murder. Early on, detectives identified several individuals of interest, though none would ultimately be charged in her death.
Among the first suspects considered were Jason Scott Dew and Billy Ray Aaron, two North Carolina men with criminal histories. In 1999, both were investigated for possible involvement in Cotton’s murder due to their proximity to the Wilmington area and their records of theft and breaking and entering. However, Dew and Aaron were later convicted in a separate case—the murder of Donald Barton, a 39-year-old street sweeper in Ormond Beach, Florida. Dew confessed to shooting Barton in the head and stealing his credit cards and driver’s license, while Aaron was sentenced as an accomplice. Dew received life without parole, and Aaron was given a 30-year sentence. Despite their criminal activities aligning with the nature of Cotton’s murder, no definitive evidence linked them to her death, and they were never charged in her case.
Another person of interest was Thomas Gordon Roundtree, a 43-year-old man who had been hired by Cotton to do yard work at her home. Former New Hanover County detective George Landry noted in 1999 that Roundtree’s connection to the victim made him a logical candidate for questioning. Roundtree was interviewed by police, but no charges were filed. Shortly after Cotton’s murder, Roundtree served a brief prison sentence—slightly over three months—starting in August 1999 for an unrelated hit-and-run offense. After his release, his whereabouts became unknown, and the trail on this lead went cold.
The investigation gained momentum in December 1999 when Cotton’s stolen Honda Civic was recovered in Oklahoma City, approximately six months after her death. Authorities arrested William Greenzweig, a 63-year-old man who had been living in the Wilmington area at the time of the murder. Greenzweig was found in possession of Cotton’s car, raising suspicions of his involvement. Former Sheriff Joseph McQueen described Greenzweig as “heavily involved” in the case, and he was brought back to Wilmington on auto larceny charges while detectives worked to build a murder case against him. However, despite this promising development, insufficient evidence prevented prosecutors from charging him with Cotton’s killing. Greenzweig’s role, if any, in her death remains unclear.
A Case Gone Cold
After the initial flurry of leads in 1999, the investigation into Kathleen Cotton’s murder stalled. The suspects identified—Dew, Aaron, Roundtree, and Greenzweig—either lacked sufficient evidence tying them to the crime or faded from the investigative spotlight. The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, despite its efforts, could not bring closure to the case, and it joined the growing list of unsolved homicides in the region.
Former detective George Landry, who worked the case before retiring, recalled the toll it took on him. In a 2011 interview with the Wilmington Star-News, he described Cotton’s murder as one that haunted him, noting that detectives believed she had been dragged around her home and beaten while her assailant demanded money. The physical evidence supported this theory, but without a breakthrough, the case languished.
Today, Cotton’s murder is part of the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office cold case unit, where detectives Ken Murphy and Steven Blissett periodically revisit the files. The unit handles numerous unsolved homicides, including Cotton’s, but limited resources and the passage of time make progress difficult. Advances in technology, such as DNA analysis, have helped solve other cold cases in the county, but no such breakthrough has emerged in this investigation.
A Community’s Loss
Kathleen Wood Cotton was a private woman who lived a quiet life. Little is known publicly about her personal history, family, or relationships, as the focus of reporting has centered on her tragic death. At 68, she was likely retired, living alone in a home that should have been a place of safety. Her murder shattered that peace and left an indelible mark on the Ogden community.
The case also underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement in solving homicides from decades past. Unlike modern investigations, which benefit from widespread surveillance cameras and digital forensics, the tools available in 1999 were limited. The absence of security cameras at Cotton’s home and the lack of witnesses willing or able to come forward further complicated the effort to identify her killer.
Lingering Questions
As of March 9, 2025, more than 25 years have passed since Kathleen Wood Cotton’s murder, and no suspect has been definitively identified. Her teal green Honda Civic, recovered in Oklahoma, remains one of the most tangible clues, yet it failed to yield a resolution. The individuals once considered persons of interest have either been ruled out, incarcerated for other crimes, or disappeared from the radar.
The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office continues to welcome tips from the public. Anyone with information about Cotton’s murder is encouraged to contact the Detectives Division at (910) 798-4260. Even a small detail could reignite the investigation and bring justice to a case that has remained in the shadows for far too long.
Kathleen Wood Cotton’s story is a somber reminder of the fragility of life and the enduring pain of unresolved loss. Her murder, committed in the summer of 1999, stands as a testament to the determination of those who seek answers—and a challenge to a community that refuses to forget.