Man admits to role in nine slayings; brother admits in three

TOLEDO - Two brothers admitted yesterday to being involved in a killing spree 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. "People were afraid to go out at night."

The brothers were to stand trial yesterday in the murder of a man 20 years ago, but as part of a plea agreement reached this week, they admitted to playing roles in the nine killings.

Anthony Cook pleaded guilty yesterday 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 Gordon's girlfriend. He will be eligible for parole after 18 years.

By admitting to their involvement in the nine slayings, the Cooks avoided standing trial in 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.

''You never knew why, you never knew how,'' she told the 30 relatives who had gathered in court yesterday.

Investigators long had suspected the Cook brothers were involved in the killings, but lack of evidence and witnesses kept prosecutors from filing charges against them.

The break came in 1998 when Bates decided to use blood samples and DNA evidence to see if there was a link between Gordon's girlfriend, Sandra Podgorski, and the Cook brothers.

A match was made, putting the Cooks at the scene of Gordon's death and charges were filed against them. Since then, prosecutors have tried to connect the Cook brothers with the other slayings.

Investigators said Anthony Cook was the leader of the two.

''He has no remorse. I'm convinced of that,'' said Toledo police Sgt. Steve Forrester.

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.

Five of the victims were women and all had been sexually assaulted, Bates said.

Prosecutors said they suspect there were more victims outside of Toledo. Anthony Cook was a truck driver when he first was arrested 20 years ago.

''It's hard to believe this stopped at the borders of Lucas County,'' Bates said.

The victims' relatives, some who had waited more than 20 years to learn who killed their sons or daughters, sat together sharing painful memories.

Some didn't find out about the plea agreement until the last few days. Ten family members spoke before yesterday's sentencing.

''It's been 19 years and the pain still remains,'' said Mitch Balonek, whose sister Stacy was beaten to death with a baseball bat by Anthony Cook. ''What legal revenge could take this pain - none.''

A few who spoke said they forgave the Cook brothers. Others said they could not.

''Not many can imagine the brutal pain and devastation this caused my family,'' Hank Siotkowski said. His sister Denise was killed in 1981 along with her boyfriend, Scott Moulton.

''We dreamed of dancing at her wedding and instead we cried at her funeral,'' Siotkowski said.

—Compiled from staff and wire reports