Prosecutors in Oklahoma will seek the death penalty for a 20-year-old man accused of brutally killing his ex-girlfriend and filming himself raping her.
Chace Cook, 20, was arrested in May following the murder of standout basketball player Madeline Bills, 18, who was found dead in her bedroom on April 22.
Bills was just weeks away from graduating with a 4.0 GPA, with commitments to play college basketball for Northeastern A&M.
This week, Cleveland County District Attorney Greg Mashburn filed a motion for the death penalty in a preliminary investigation ahead of Cook’s formal arraignment on Feb. 28.
Madeline Bills, 18, was just weeks away from graduating with a 4.0 GPA when she was found dead in her bedroom in Moore, Oklahoma, on April 22.
Chace Cook, 20, could be executed for allegedly raping and murdering his ex-girlfriend in an attack that prosecutors have described as ‘particularly heinous, atrocious and brutal’
In his request for the death penalty if Cook is convicted, Mashburn called his alleged actions “particularly heinous, heinous and cruel.”
Despite her promising future, Bills had reportedly warned friends that she feared her ex-boyfriend would harm her.
Her bedroom where she was found murdered nine months ago was in an adjacent pool house off her family’s property, but she said she was “so afraid of (Cook) that she planned to sleep in the main residence, out of fear that he would come to harm her. ‘, according to a police statement.
Under questioning, Cook claimed he had joined the Navy and was training in Texas, but investigators gathered surveillance footage from the night she was found dead to place him at the scene of the crime, reports The Oklahoman.
Initially, a car matching the description of Cook’s vehicle from a previous traffic stop was seen driving about two miles from her home in the early hours of the night.
By comparison, the affidavit stated that Cook’s home was approximately 15 miles from Bills’ home.
Around 4:38 a.m., a separate surveillance camera on a neighbor’s home recorded an “unknown” suspect climbing Bills’ fence and sneaking into her backyard.
After briefly entering the property, investigators allege the suspect climbed back over the fence and left approximately 90 seconds later.
The vehicle matching Cook’s car was then seen again on cameras driving in front of Bills’ home around 6:34 a.m.
At 6.42am the suspect climbed the fence again and went to the pool house, before leaving her poolside bedroom at 7.17am and climbing the fence again.
An autopsy report later concluded that Bills died of strangulation, with police claiming to have found a video on Cook’s phone showing him raping her as she lay unconscious.
Madeline was a member of the Osage Tribe and had signed a letter of intent to play women’s basketball at Northeastern A&M in Miami, Oklahoma
The teen had discussed moving out of her parents’ converted pool house and into the main house because of her fears about Cook, her ex-boyfriend, police said.
Cook is seen entering a Cleveland County courthouse last month for a preliminary hearing as he faces trial for Bills’ rape and murder
Cook was taken into custody at Navy boot camp at Naval Station Great Lakes on Chicago’s northern suburbs.
After being taken in for questioning, Cook claimed that he drove to Galveston, Texas for NAVY Seal training on April 16 – a week before Bills’ body was found – and did not return to Oklahoma until April 23, the day after returned.
A detective later wrote in an affidavit that when they presented evidence that Cook was near Bills’ home the night she died, he quickly asked for a lawyer and that’s where the interrogation ended.
Detectives added that it quickly became clear that Cook’s alibi did not hold up, as he claimed he drove from Oklahoma City to Galveston in less than three hours, while “it should be noted that the drive from Oklahoma City to Galveston took more than seven takes hours. according to Google Maps.’
DNA samples taken after the interview were believed to match DNA obtained from the initial investigation at the scene and from Bills’ autopsy, police said.
A search warrant for Cook’s vehicle led to his cell phone, which upon investigation revealed that his phone “was in the vicinity of the victim’s residence during the time the surveillance video shows the unknown subject climbing the fence,” the detective wrote .
The cellphone also contained a graphic video showing Cook “having sex with the victim, who appears to be unconscious,” the affidavit said.
Madeline was remembered as a standout high school basketball star and a young scientist whose future was tragically cut short
According to an arrest warrant affidavit, video evidence showed Cook jumping the fence several times to gain access to the pool house where Madeline lived.
Cook remains in custody since he was charged with rape and murder, and now faces the death penalty after the charges were filed this week.
A statement from the district attorney’s office said the decision to seek the death penalty “was not taken lightly.”
“After reviewing the evidence in the case and speaking with the family, we believe the death penalty is a fair and just punishment in light of this suspect’s crimes,” the statement said.
“Our priority is seeking justice for Madeline Bills and our thoughts go out to her family and friends as they continue to grieve.”
Tributes poured in for Bills, a member of the Osage Tribe, following her sudden death as her loved ones mourned the lost potential of the talented basketball player.
Her obituary described her as having “made an incredible impact on many lives.” She had a personality that would light up any room.”
‘She learned early on the value of giving back. She really enjoyed giving and making special, homemade gifts for friends. She strove to see the good in people,” the obituary continued.
“Madeline would adopt all the animals in the shelter if it were an option. She was an advocate for others, especially those who had their own challenges in life.
“Madeline had an uncanny ability to uncover the truth, which was astonishing for someone her age.”