The Uber Eats job, which was meant to be a side hustle, turned fatal for a driver.
On the evening of April 19, 2023, Randall William Cooke, 59, was working as an Uber Eats driver in Pasco County, Florida, unaware that he was about to make the final stop of his life. Cooke had taken the job to earn extra money for his family and save enough to one day live near the coast.
Before heading home, Cooke texted his wife to let her know he had one final delivery to complete. He never returned. Two days later, investigators searching the delivery address discovered human remains inside the home. Police arrested Oscar Adrian Solis, 30, on charges of failing to register as a convicted felon in Pasco County and violating his Indiana parole. Investigators later charged him in connection with Cooke’s death.
Police bodycam footage later uploaded by Open Case on YouTube shows officers surrounding the residence before taking Solis into custody without incident.
After Cooke’s wife reported him missing the following morning, police contacted Uber. GPS data from the delivery app showed Cooke’s phone had last been active at 3438 Moog Road. When investigators reached the address and knocked on the door, no one answered.
“…detectives went to the house, uh, walked around it. There was nothing really suspicious going on there. Nobody answered the door. And so, there’s actually a a body of water across the street. They looked over there to see if maybe something happened. There was no evidence of anything going on. We held the scene as a crime scene. We were waiting for the medical examiner to come out,” the police said in a statement.
The official added, “…our detectives did the right thing. They asked for permission to go through the trash bags. They go in the trash bags. Uh, there was several of them. And, um, unfortunately, what we found inside of some of those trash bags was human remains.”
When police returned the following day, they talked to Solis’ roommate, who told investigators he had heard unusual noises coming from Solis’ bedroom. According to police, the roommate and his family became frightened and temporarily left the residence. He also provided investigators with access to the home’s security camera.
The footage showed Cooke approaching the front door before the recording abruptly cut away. Later footage allegedly showed Solis and another man hired to haul away rubbish, moving several heavy black trash bags from the house to bins outside the property. Investigators said this footage became a key piece of evidence in the case.
After suspected human remains were discovered inside the bags and later confirmed by the medical examiner, investigators obtained an official search warrant for the property and began interviewing neighbors.
One neighbor claimed, “I’ve met the one guy one time. (He is) covered in tattoos… He had just gotten out of prison recently. He did like 12 years… And then the only other thing I assume is that he may have been a gang member just cuz of the way he would the way his tattoos were presented. And he had the big 13 on his forehead.”
Another resident confirmed that Solis’ father had rented the home for family members. “…Dad has never spent a night in there. It was a place for his daughter to stay. Me and his daughter stayed there. And when Oscar Jr. came out of prison…two, three months ago, his daughter left. She couldn’t stand her brother cuz he’s annoying and stuff.”
Investigators said Solis had previously served time in prison for burglary and alleged he had violent gang affiliations, especially with MS-13.
Detectives also located Cooke’s abandoned car parked nearby. Inside, they found blood-soaked towels, an Uber Eats delivery bag, and a work time card with Solis’s name on it.
Believing Solis was still inside the residence, officers surrounded the property. After communicating with him through his father, Solis exited the home and surrendered.
According to police, Solis claimed he had been sleeping, refused consent to search the home, and denied any knowledge of Cooke’s disappearance. After obtaining a warrant, forensic teams found blood spatters on the floor, walls, and dining table, as well as handsaws and more remains in the garage. Inside Solis’ bedroom, officers found Cooke’s wedding ring and car keys lying right beside Solis’ wallet on a dresser.
An autopsy later concluded that Cooke had been stabbed 35 times during what investigators described as an unprovoked robbery before his body was dismembered.
Prosecutors ultimately charged Solis with first-degree murder committed during a robbery, failure to register as a convicted felon, and parole violations. He pleaded not guilty and remains in custody awaiting trial.
Disclaimer: The Inquisitr could not independently confirm the facts of this incident and is reporting based on the information available within the public record.
