By LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / February 22, 1999

RESERVE – Darryl Cook, who voluntarily gave up to Los Angeles County authorities, is fighting his return to St. John the Baptist Parish.Cook, 35, is believed by St. John Sheriff’s detectives to have shot hisestranged wife, Vernetta Joseph Cook, on the morning of Feb. 10, droveacross the country and surrendered on the night of Feb. 12 to the LosAngeles County Sheriff’s Office in Cerritos, Calif.

Lt. Michael Tregre of the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office reported Fridaythat Cook is not yet charged with the homicide of his wife but is wanted for questioning in the case. He is currently held on a fugitive warrant,Tregre affirmed.

“We just have to go out there and prove his identity and the reason he’s wanted by us,” Tregre noted.

Detective Sgt. Felix Joseph, the case officer, will attend the extraditionhearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

“He was in court Wednesday, but the judge had a full docket, so he went Thursday to say he was fighting extradition,” Tregre said. “It’s about a 30to 60-day delay.”The process includes the sheriff’s office approaching 40th Judicial District Attorney John Crum’s office, who then petitions Gov. Mike Fosterfor an extradition warrant.

After that point California authorities are approached, schedules of necessary persons are examined and a hearing scheduled, Tregre explained.

Vernetta Cook, 34, 2205 Cartier Drive, LaPlace, was shot four times in the upper torso and head and left dead on the shoulder of Louisiana Highway 3179 in Reserve on Feb. 10. She was found by a passerby on his way towork.

Cook had filed for divorce to end the nine-year marriage on Feb. 8. The couple had been separated since Jan. 6.

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