An Oklahoma man faces the death penalty for allegedly raping and murdering an 18-year-old star athlete and student. The district attorney called the crime “particularly heinous, cruel and brutal.”
As Blaze News previously reported, on April 22, 2023, 18-year-old Madeline Bills was found dead in her bedroom by her family. Her bedroom was in a converted pool house separate from her main home.
An autopsy revealed that Madeline died from strangulation.
Bills was afraid of her ex-boyfriend, so she considered moving back to the main house.
Lt. Wes Yost of the Moore Police Department said. KWTV-DT“She was so scared of him that she talked to her friends about going into the main residence and not staying in the pool house.”
Investigators say Bill's ex-girlfriend was seen on surveillance footage traveling about two miles from Bill's home the night before he was killed.
A neighbor's surveillance camera captured an “unidentified” suspect climbing a fence and entering the Bills' property around 4:38 a.m., according to a detective's affidavit.
Detectives said the suspect left Bills' backyard about 90 seconds after first entering the property.
Police said the video showed a vehicle believed to be that of ex-girlfriend Chase Cook, 20, driving in front of the Bills' residence around 6:34 a.m.
The suspect climbed the fence at 6:42 a.m. and made his way toward the pool house, police said. At 7:17 a.m., the suspect was reportedly seen on video climbing over a fence and exiting the backyard.
Law enforcement interviewed Mr. Cook at Moa Police Station on April 25 and took a DNA sample.
Police executed a search warrant on Mr. Cook's car, and officers found clothing and a cell phone.
“A review of the contents revealed that Cook's cell phone was in the vicinity of the victim's residence during the time surveillance video showed an unknown person climbing over the fence,” detectives wrote.
Investigators found a video on Cook's cell phone that showed him “engaging in sexual activity with the victim, who appeared to be unconscious,” according to the affidavit.
Police arrested Cook in May 2023. He was charged with the rape and murder of Madeline Bills.
The 21st District Attorney's Office filed a detailed bill seeking the death penalty against Cook, a decision “not taken lightly.”
“After reviewing the evidence in the case and speaking with the defendant's family, it is our position that the death penalty is a fair and just punishment to seek given the defendant's crime,” the district attorney's office said in a statement. statement. “Our priority is seeking justice for Madeline Bills, and our hearts go out to her family and friends as they continue to grieve.”
“The murder was particularly heinous, cruel and brutal,” said Cleveland County District Attorney Greg Mashburn.
A formal arraignment is scheduled for February 28th.
The Bills released the following statement last week:
It has been almost a year since our daughter Madeline Marie Bills was tragically taken away. Our family continues to grieve her death and is grateful for the support and comfort she received from her community. We would like to thank District Attorney Greg Mashburn and his office for their tireless efforts in pursuing justice for Maddie. We fully support their decision to seek the death penalty for the defendant. We believe this is an appropriate sentence given the heinous nature of the crime and the devastating impact on the family and community. Our family will continue to respect the legal process and fully cooperate with prosecutors as they proceed with their case. We ask for privacy during this difficult time as we proceed with the legal process and continue to honor Maddie's memory and the impact she had on our lives. We would like to thank our community for their continued support and for keeping Maddie and her family in our thoughts and prayers.
According to Madeline's former basketball coach, Bills was just weeks away from graduating from Moore High School with honors. “Literally every coach's dream, every teacher's dream,” he said, adding that he was a star student and athlete.
“She didn't live like other people. She lived differently, she had a light, and she literally touched everyone she came in contact with,” Stephanie Brady said. . coco tv. “Mr. Brady was selfless and helpful and said he was better at his job than everyone else in the room.”
Madeline had dreams of playing college basketball at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.
Man accused of raping and killing 18-year-old Madeline Bills could face death penaltywww.youtube.com
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