‘It’s a win for Colton’

Cook family thankful for guilty verdicts in 2020 killing

EDITORS NOTE: The following story contains content that some may find disturbing.

They were the words a Yarmouth County family had prayed to hear for more than two years.

“Guilty,” said the jury foreperson to the charge of second-degree murder, laid against Robert Charles Rogers in the September 2020 death of Colton Cook.

“Guilty,” he said again, on the charge of interference with human remains.

Tears flowed at the Yarmouth courthouse on Thursday evening, at the end of the three-week trial. The courtroom was filled with family members and supporters who had rushed to be there when the verdicts were handed down.

“This is the first time I’ve had happy tears,” said a very emotional Stacey Cook – the mother of Colton Cook. “It’s a win for Colton."

“He was a hard worker. He was contributing to society. He was taken from us way too soon by people who just didn’t care and didn’t have a future. He had the future,” she said about her son who was 26 when he was killed. “I miss him dearly every minute and every second.”

Rogers, 59, will be sentenced on Feb. 2. He will receive an automatic life sentence for the second-degree murder conviction. The outstanding sentencing issue is how long he will have to wait before being eligible to apply for parole. The minimum wait is 10 years. The maximum is 25 years.

This trial, which began on Jan. 10, was not an easy trial to sit through. On days when you thought the evidence couldn’t get any worse, came more disturbing and graphic details.

Often you could hear the crying of Cook’s mother and supporters. Many times, Cook’s mother had to briefly leave the courtroom to compose herself. But she always came back.

There were times when Crown prosecutor Bob Morrison cautioned her that she might not want to be inside the courtroom during certain testimony. She told him, “I have to be here for Colton.”

In thanking the jurors, Justice Pierre Muise also urged them to seek help if they feel they need it.

“You had to see and hear very graphic evidence. If that is affecting you, do not hesitate to seek the help of a mental health professional to address that,” he said.

The trial heard that sometime after arriving at a South Ohio residence late in the evening of Sept. 25, 2020 – where everyone was drinking – Colton Cook was shot by Rogers and then mercilessly attacked. Testimony from eyewitness Keith Siscoe Jr. was that Rogers repeatedly slashed and cut Cook with a machete. He described Rogers as “a maniac.” After this, co-accused Wayne Crawford stabbed Cook repeatedly with a knife.

“I’m going to fight to ensure that no other family has to go through this. I don’t care how long it takes, 10, 15 years, my whole life.” Stacey Cook Colton’s mother

WOUNDS DESCRIBED

The province’s chief medical examiner, Dr. Matthew Bowes, testified that Cook had received countless sharp force injuries – too many to count due to their vast number and also the decomposition of Cook’s remains.

There were injuries to Cook’s face, head, chest and other parts of his body. Some wounds were so severe they had caused fractures of bones. They also penetrated his skull and punctured his heart and lung.

Bowes concluded Cook’s death resulted from blood loss and multiple injuries.

Cook’s leg was also cut from his body after his death. Crown evidence was that a chainsaw was used.

Rogers testified that he didn’t remember much about that night due to his high state of intoxication from alcohol and abuse of prescribed medication. His trial testimony often differed from a statement he had made to the RCMP in October 2020 in which he spoke about things he had done, which included the disposal of evidence and Cook’s remains.

A note Rogers wrote days after Cook’s death in which he stated, “I am responsible for Colton Cook’s death,” was also part of the Crown evidence.

However, there was never a motive behind the killing offered during the trial – just seemingly drunken anger – adding to the senselessness of this crime.

‘JUSTICE HAS BEEN DONE’

Crown prosecutors Bob Morrison and Saara Wilson were pleased with the verdicts.

“The jury ... accepted the evidence as we saw it, as we presented it, and were convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Rogers was responsible for this murder,” Morrison said. “We’re pleased that justice has been done for the Cook family.”

The prosecutors said they appreciated the efforts of the RCMP’S Southwest Nova major crime unit “for their diligent work in investigating this case” and thanked the large number of civilian witnesses who came forward and testified.

The last time Colton Cook’s parents saw their son alive was Sept. 25, 2020. He had a meal at their home and talked about his work plans for the next day. When his family couldn’t reach him the next day, they became increasingly concerned. It was unlike him not to respond to messages.

They reported him missing the morning of Sept. 27, 2020. Later that day, partial remains of Cook were found. The remainder of his remains were found two days later.

In addition to Rogers’ Feb. 2 sentencing, there are other court dates to come.

On Feb. 3, Keith Siscoe Jr. will be sentenced on accessory after the fact to murder, which he pleaded guilty to in July 2021.

On May 30, Wayne Crawford will be sentenced on second-degree murder, which he pleaded guilty to on Jan. 3.

Stacey Cook, meanwhile, is vowing to continue to seek justice for other victims. She said the rights of accused persons outweigh the rights of victims and this needs to change. She also feels there must be longer sentences for serious offences so people aren't released to re-offend.

“I’m going to fight to ensure that no other family has to go through this. I don’t care how long it takes, 10, 15 years, my whole life,” she said.

“This is my goal in life. This is my baby boy. He meant the world to me. I still feel his last hug and it’s been two-and-ahalf years. I will never stop fighting so that no one else has to go through this again.”