August 11, 2025 | By: Sanaa’ Towers

This story is part of a collaborative project between Project: Cold Case and the University of North Florida’s Applied Journalism class.

Julia Majette often stood beside her father, Rufus Hackett, as they engaged in their cooking tradition. “That was our passion,” Rufus said. “On Holiday’s, it was a tradition for us to cook and wash dishes together.”

Those beloved moments stopped over 10 years ago when two men—at least one of them armed with a handgun—entered the home of 25-year-old Julia Majette on Madison, Wisconsin’s east side, where she was shot and killed in the presence of her young children. Her murder has never been solved.

Born on March 15, 1988, in Camden, New Jersey, Julia Majette, named after her great-grandmother, carried a name that had been passed down for four generations. She moved to the east side of Madison, Wisconsin, as a young child, where she grew up and later built a career. She had three siblings, Tyrea, Shaunta & Rufus.

Even in her childhood, her personality was magnetic. Her father recalls how, as a little girl, Julia knew what truly mattered in life. “I came around with a big bag of toys,” Rufus said. “She looked through them and said, ‘Daddy, this is great, but when are you going to spend time with me?” That was Julia—wise beyond her years, valuing quality time over material things.

When Julia was as young as 3 years old, she was affectionately called “Sweet Pea” by her family and those close to her. That nickname fit her perfectly. Tyrea Cherry, Julia’s little sister, described her as “kind-natured” and “forgiving.” “She’d give someone the shirt off her back if she thought they needed it,” Tyrea said. “That’s the kind of person my sister was.”

Tracey Cherry, Julia’s mother, described her daughter as ambitious early on in life. Julia graduated from East High School, proving her determination and resilience. “She didn’t really participate in school activities, but she did her work,” said Tracey. “Julia had teachers who really helped her, and she never gave up.”

From the age of 14, Julia was ready to work and take advantage of every opportunity. She held jobs at Woodman’s grocery store and Klinke Cleaners to earn extra cash.

Music played a significant role in Julia’s life. She loved R&B and hip-hop. Tyrea said her sister’s favorite song was “My Girl” by the Temptations. Julia was known for carrying around her Walkman listening to music. She loved artists such as Michael Jackson and Maxwell. The two sisters had an aunt who was a DJ at a local skating rink in Camden, New Jersey. Julia admired her aunt and began pursuing DJing herself under the name “DJ Chief.”

As teenagers, Tyrea and Julia would throw parties on the north side of Madison. “Julia would DJ parties and charge people at the door,” Tyrea said. “My sister was a legit hustler. She owned a record player and turntable set that her father gave her.”

Beyond music, Julia had a great sense of humor and a love for classic movies that brought her family together. “Our family’s favorite movie of all time is The Five Heartbeats,” Tyrea said. “She loved classics like the movies Friday, and Julia would sometimes reenact scenes from The Chappelle Show.

Julia’s entrepreneurial spirit shone through when she earned a license to sell life insurance. She dreamed of a career in nursing and took steps toward that goal, joining the University of Wisconsin-Madison Odyssey Project to further her education. “She signed up for the nursing program at Edgewood College a little before she passed and was supposed to start the following semester,” Tyrea said.

While selling life insurance, Julia also worked with her mother, Tracey and managed the Pine View Living in Wisconsin and was a caregiver at Visiting Angels. Tracey, Julia’s Mother, a previous manager, Sharon a resident and other employees planted a tree in honor of Julia on July 19, 2013. “Julia was like an entrepreneur, always being involved and doing her own thing,” Tracey said.

Julia’s greatest joy in life was her children—two daughters and a son whom she shared with her husband, Daunte Vance. Despite her busy schedule, she always made time for family. “She was a good mother; she worked a lot but was always there giving them parties and doing special things with them,” Tracey said.

To her younger sister, Julia was more than a sibling—she was a role model. Just three years older, Julia naturally took on a leadership role, guiding and protecting her sister through life. “Out of all my siblings, I looked up to her the most as a leader,” Tyrea said. “My sister was so protective over me and cool, like nothing could happen to me when I was with her.”

Tyrea’s fondest memories of her sister are their summer trips together on the Greyhound from Wisconsin to New Jersey to visit family. “One year our aunt took us to Clementon Water Park,” Tyrea said. “We had so much fun that day.” The sisters became competitive, spending most of their time playing games and winning prizes rather than playing in the water. “We won between eight to 10 stuffed bears for our family—we just kept going,” Tyrea laughed.

Julia’s beauty was undeniable, but it was her radiant smile that truly made her stand out. “Most of the people in our family don’t smile much, but she had a contagious smile and laugh,” Tyrea said. Unlike her relatives, Tyrea said, her sister didn’t have big eyes. “She had beautiful brown almond-shaped eyes.”

Julia had a style of her own. “She never followed the crowd,” her mother said. Julia loved rocking feathered high ponytails and crimps in her hair. She did her own hair and nails rather than going to a salon, often practicing on her sister. Julia took pride in getting dressed up for special occasions such as Juneteenth.

Julia’s food was an expression of love. She was great at cooking and had a passion for it. While Julia loved her mother’s baked mac and cheese, her mother couldn’t get enough of Julia’s barbecue. In fact, she admitted, “I haven’t had good barbecue since she’s been gone.”

Tyrea said everyone loved her sister’s cooking. “That’s how you knew she loved you; she would invite you over and cook for you.”

Spending time at Julia’s house was always a highlight for family and friends. “She always had the best spot to kick it,” her sister recalled. Julia had an eye for decor and always kept a beautifully decorated and spotless home.

In her later years, Julia formed a close bond with her friend Kandis Woods, a hairdresser now located in Georgia. They would listen to music together and occasionally go out. “Kandis would have to drag Julia out because of how much she worked and her being with her kids,” Tyrea said. The two were opposites, but the friendship balanced out.

Despite all the love, laughter, and memories Julia created with her loved ones, life had an unexpected and devastating turn in store.

On the night of June 12, 2013, Julia and her husband had her aunt and uncle, Mark and Patricia Cherry, staying with them at their home. On that rainy night, Mark and Patricia had gone to sleep in the basement of the residence. The two heard someone enter the duplex, followed by gunshots and children screaming.

Julia died from the gunshot wounds.

Despite their grief, the family has found strength. “Julia’s murder tore our family apart but also brought us back together stronger,” Tyrea said. “It showed us how the system fails so many children and families in these situations.”

Rufus Hackett, Julia’s father, still remembers a night at a party when he felt a strong urge to embrace his daughter. “Something told me to take my daughter in my arms and dance with her, and I didn’t,” Rufus said. “A month later, she was gone. I don’t have a lot of regrets in life, but that is one of them.”

Tyrea says grief hits her in various ways. “The movies we use to love to watch, old jokes, and pictures. There’s something in everything that reminds me of her,” she said.

Though grief remains heavy, Julia’s family celebrates her birthday in their own special way. Tyrea has found ways to honor her sister. She makes sure to get a birthday cake every year in her sister’s honor and sings happy birthday. It’s a special tradition to keep her memory alive.

---

Anyone with information concerning Julia Majette’s unsolved homicide is asked to call the Madison Police Department at (608) 266-4275. To remain anonymous and possibly eligible for a reward, call Madison Area Crime Stoppers at (608) 266- 6014.

---

Please consider using the buttons below to share this case in hopes that someone, somewhere, will come forward and give this victim and family the answers they need and the justice they deserve.

If you have a loved one who is the victim of an unsolved homicide, please submit their case here for consideration in a future Cold Case Spotlight post.