Murdered woman’s husband surrenders in California

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, February 17, 1999

L’Observateur / Febuary 17, 1999

RESERVE – Darryl Cook, wanted for questioning in the homicide of his estranged wife, Vernetta Joseph Cook, surrendered to authorities Friday evening in California.

“We will be sending some investigators out there,” Lt. Michael Tregre ofthe St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office reported Monday.Details remained sketchy in the midst of the holiday weekend, as Tregre could not say exactly where Cook, 35, was being held. He said moreinformation would become available on Wednesday.

Tregre stressed that the incident is still under investigation. “Right now,he is wanted for questioning,” he said of Cook.

He also added, since investigators on the case were unavailable, he was not aware if extradiction of Cook would be necessary.

Vernetta Cook, 34, 2205 Cartier Drive, LaPlace, was shot several times in the upper torso and left dead on the shoulder of Louisiana Highway 3179 in Reserve on Feb. 10. She was found by a passerby on his way to work. Cook had filed for divorce to end the nine-year marriage on Feb. 8, and thecouple had been separated since Jan. 6.

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