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Utah Teacher Allegedly Guns Down Ex-Husband's New Girlfriend In Front Of The Former Couple's Twins
Chelsea Watrous Cook, a high school health and yoga teacher, came to her ex's apartment to bring cold medicine to one of her 3-year-olds before allegedly pulling out a gun and opening fire.
A Utah high school health and yoga teacher is accused of gunning down her ex-husband's new girlfriend in front of the former couple's young twins.
Police said Chelsea Watrous Cook, 32, arrived at the apartment of ex-husband Travis Cook Sunday, allegedly to bring one of her three-year-old twins some cold medicine. Travis Cook told police she was asked to leave, but locked herself into the bathroom instead as she called 911, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.
When she came out of the bathroom, it seemed as though she was heading toward her coat, but then she suddenly pulled out a handgun, police said. She allegedly shot Lisa Vilate Williams, 26, striking her twice in the torso as Cook's twins watched.
“[Cook] then suddenly pulled out a handgun and fired three to five rounds at the victim,” according to police documents cited by the Tribune. “The victim fell back and landed on the couch."
Williams would later die from her injuries.
Cook's ex-husband was able to take the gun away and tried to provide help to Williams, while Cook allegedly watched from a nearby chair. At some point, her ex-husband would tell police, she tried to walk back over to her coat, but he pinned her until police arrived.
"Officer entered the apartment and discovered the witness pinning his ex-wife against the wall," the probable cause affidavit said.
Cook, who worked as a health and yoga teacher at Skyridge High School, is charged with aggravated murder in the first degree and is being held on $1 million bond, according to jail records.
The school district released a letter about the arrest calling it a "heartbreaking incident."
"This type of news is hard to comprehend and we want you to know that teachers, counselors and your parents can help provide support in this difficult time," they wrote according to KUTV.
[Photo: Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office]
