Friday, April 07, 2000
2 admit 9 Toledo slayings in '80s
BY JOHN SEEWER
The Associated Press
TOLEDO — Two brothers admitted Thursday to being involved in a killing spree more than 20 years ago that left nine people dead and terrorized Toledo during the early 1980s.
The brothers primarily preyed on young couples in parked cars, raping the women before killing them.
Anthony Cook, 51, acknowledged in Lucas County Common Pleas Court he was involved in all nine slayings, meaning he either killed the victims or encouraged his brother to do so. Nathaniel Cook, 42, admitted taking part in three killings.
“They created an atmosphere of fear and terror in our community,” said Judge Charles Wittenberg.
The brothers were to stand trial Thursday in the murder of a man 20 years ago, but as part of a plea agreement they admitted to roles in the nine killings.
Anthony Cook pleaded guilty to aggravated murder in the 1980 shooting of Thomas Gordon. He was sentenced to life in prison for that killing and already is serving a life sentence without the chance of parole in a 1981 slaying.
Nathaniel Cook pleaded guilty to two counts of kidnapping and one count of attempted murder of Mr. Gordon's girlfriend. He will be eligible for parole after 18 years.
The Cooks avoided standing trial in Mr. Gordon's death, and Nathaniel Cook avoided a possible life sentence. They will not face punishment in the other cases.
Lucas County Prosecutor Julia Bates said she accepted the plea deal because it gives the nine victims' families some peace of mind.
Investigators long had suspected the Cook brothers were involved in the killings, but lacked evidence.
The break came in 1998 when Ms. Bates used blood samples and DNA evidence to link Mr. Gordon's girlfriend, Sandra Podgorski, and the Cook brothers. A match was made, putting the Cooks at the scene of Mr. Gordon's death. Charges were filed against them.
Retired police Detective Tom Ross said he believed the murders were racially motivated, adding that several of the victims were stalked. All of the victims were white, and the Cook brothers are black.
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