Oklahoma prosecutors will seek the death penalty for a 20-year-old man accused of brutally murdering his ex-girlfriend and filming himself raping her.
Chace Cook, 20, was arrested in May following the murder of standout high school basketball player Madeline Bills, 18, who was found dead in her bedroom on April 22.
Just weeks away from graduating with a 4.0 grade point average, Bills committed to play college basketball for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.
In a pretrial motion this week, Cleveland County District Attorney Greg Mashburn made a request for the death penalty before Cook was formally charged on Feb. 28.
Madeline Bills, 18, was just weeks away from graduating with a 4.0 grade point average when she was found dead in her bedroom in Moore, Oklahoma, on April 22
20-year-old Chace Cook could be executed for allegedly raping and killing his ex-girlfriend. The attack is described by prosecutors as “particularly heinous, disgusting and cruel.”
In his request for the death penalty if Cook is convicted, Mashburn called his alleged actions “particularly heinous, cruel and cruel.”
Despite her promising future, Bills had reportedly warned friends that she was afraid her ex-boyfriend would harm her.
Her bedroom, where she was found murdered nine months ago, was in an adjacent pool house outside the family property, but she said she was “so afraid of (Cook) that she planned to sleep in the primary residence out of fear.” “He could come to harm her,” a police affidavit states.
When questioned, Cook claimed he had joined the Navy and trained in Texas. However, investigators stitched together surveillance footage from the night she was found dead to place him at the crime scene, The Oklahoman reports.
A car matching a description of Cook's vehicle from a previous traffic stop was initially seen about two miles from her home in the early hours of the night.
By comparison, the affidavit said Cook's home was about 15 miles from the Bills family home.
At about 4:38 a.m., a separate surveillance camera at a neighbor's home captured an “unknown” suspect climbing over Bill's fence and sneaking into their backyard.
After briefly entering the property, the suspect climbed over the fence again about 90 seconds later and left, according to investigators.
The vehicle matching Cook's car was then reportedly seen again on cameras driving in front of Bills' home around 6:34 a.m.
At 6:42 a.m. the suspect climbed the fence again and went to the pool house before leaving her poolside bedroom at 7:17 a.m. and climbed the fence again.
An autopsy report later concluded that Bills died from strangulation. Police claimed to have found a video on Cook's phone that showed him raping her while 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 teenager had talked about moving from her parents' converted pool house to the main house because she was afraid for Cook, her ex-boyfriend, police said
Cook is seen entering a Cleveland County courthouse last month for a preliminary hearing as he is scheduled to go on trial for the rape and murder of Bills
Cook was taken into custody at the Navy's training camp at Naval Station Great Lakes on the northern outskirts of Chicago.
After being taken in for questioning, Cook claimed that he had gone to Galveston, Texas, for NAVY SEAL training on April 16, a week before Bills' body was found, and had not returned until April 23, the day after Oklahoma returned.
A detective later wrote in an affidavit that when they presented evidence that he had been near Bills' home the night Bills died, Cook quickly asked for an attorney and the questioning ended there .
Investigators 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, although “note that the drive from Oklahoma City to Galveston was over seven hours lasts. according to Google Maps.'
DNA samples taken following the interview allegedly matched DNA obtained from Bills' initial on-scene examination and autopsy, police said.
A search warrant for Cook's vehicle resulted in his cell phone, which upon inspection revealed that his phone was “near the victim's residence during the time that the surveillance video shows the unknown individual climbing over the fence.” wrote the detective.
The cellphone also contained a shocking video showing Cook “having sex with the victim, who appeared to be unconscious,” the affidavit said.
Madeline was remembered as a standout high school basketball star and young scholar whose future was tragically cut short
According to an arrest warrant affidavit, video evidence showed Cook jumping the fence multiple times to gain access to the pool house where Madeline lived
Cook remains in custody since being charged with her rape and murder, and now faces the death penalty following this week's filing.
A statement from prosecutors said their 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 given this defendant’s crimes,” the statement said.
“Our priority is to achieve justice for Madeline Bills, and our condolences go out to her family and friends as they continue to grieve.”
Following her sudden death, tributes poured in for Bills, a member of the Osage tribe, as her loved ones mourned the talented basketball player's lost potential.
Her obituary described her as having “an incredible impact on the lives of many people.” “She had a personality that would light up any room.”
“She learned early on how important it is to give back. She enjoyed giving her friends special, homemade gifts. She strived to see the good in people,” the obituary continued.
“Madeline would adopt all the animals at the shelter if it were an option. She advocated for others, especially those who had their own challenges in life.
“Madeline had an uncanny ability to uncover the truth, which was amazing for a person of her age.”