FOR HIS ARRAIGNMENT. THE DEFENDANT, CHASE COOK, APPEARED IN COURT TODAY SHACKLED AND QUIET. A NON GUILTY PLEA WAS ENTERED ON HIS BEHALF AND NOW THE STATE WILL MOVE FORWARD AS THEY PUSH FOR THE DEATH PENALTY. ANYTHING TO SAY FOR YOURSELF, CHASE? DID YOU DO IT? ARE YOU SAYING YOU’RE NOT GUILTY? CHARGED WITH MURDER AND FACING THE DEATH PENALTY, 19 YEAR OLD CHASE COOK PLEADED NOT GUILTY WEDNESDAY MORNING, CHARGED, CHARGED WITH RAPING AND KILLING 18 YEAR OLD MADELINE BILLS. THE MOORE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WAS WEEKS AWAY FROM GRADUATION. HER DEATH LEFT THE COMMUNITY STUNNED IN APRIL OF LAST YEAR. CHASE IS A GOOD KID. HE’S 19 YEARS OLD. HE’S FACING THE DEATH PENALTY. I DON’T FEEL LIKE THE PROCESS SO FAR HAS BEEN FAIR TO HIM AND IT’S REALLY UPSETTING FOR SOMEONE WHO’S BEEN DOING DEATH PENALTY CASES FOR 26 YEARS IN THE COURTROOM, COOK’S ATTORNEY, GRETCHEN MOSLEY, CALLED FOR THE STATE TO OVERTURN MORE EVIDENCE. WHAT EVIDENCE IS NOT BEING SHARED THAT YOU WANT SHARED? THE ONLY THING WE’VE GOTTEN SO FAR IS POLICE REPORTS. EVIDENTLY, THERE ARE LOTS OF VIDEOS, PHOTOGRAPHS, LOTS OF STUFF THAT HAS BEEN RELIED UPON SO FAR IN THE PROSECUTION OF THIS 19 YEAR OLD KID WHO’S FACING THE DEATH PENALTY. AND FOR SOME REASON, THE STATE’S NOT PROVIDING IT TO US. AND IT’S BIZARRE. THE CLEVELAND COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE RESPONDED, SAYING IN PART, THEY ARE FOLLOWING THE LAW AND THE SET LEGAL PROCEEDINGS SET FORTH BY OKLAHOMA STATUTES, ADDING THEY WERE UNDER NO LEGAL OBLIGATION PRIOR TO TODAY TO RELEASE ANY EVIDENCE. AND THERE IS A HEARING FOR THE DEFENSE’S MOTION FOR DISCOVERY. COOK RETURNS TO THE CLEVELAND COUNTY JAIL AND NOW WAITS FOR A POTENTIAL TRIAL. WE JUST WANT A FAIR PROCESS. WE WANT A FAIR PROCESS. SO THE NEXT STEP IN THIS CASE IS IS A STATUS CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 16TH. AS OF RIGHT NOW, A TRIAL DATE HAS NOT BEEN SET AT THE
Man accused of raping, killing 18-year-old Madeline Bills pleads not guilty
In a statement, the Bills family previously told KOCO 5 that they are supporting prosecutors as they seek the death penalty
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Updated: 6:22 PM CST Feb 28, 2024
A man accused of raping and murdering an 18-year-old Moore High School student in early 2023 pleaded not guilty on Wednesday in a Cleveland County court.| MORE | Man accused of raping, killing 18-year-old Madeline Bills could face death penaltyChace Cook is charged in connection with the death of 18-year-old Madeline Bills. In April, investigators say he sexually assaulted and killed Bills in her bedroom in Moore. Just over a week later, Cook was arrested near Chicago.Investigators say Bills had thoughts of moving because of Cook."She was scared of him, and she told some friends she thought about moving back into the residence because of that," said Lt. Wes Yost, with the Moore Police Department. "But no signs that were given to police at all to let us know to be aware of him."While in court on Wednesday, Cook stood silent as the court entered a not guilty plead on his behalf.| MORE | Is the evidence enough to convict accused rapist, murderer in Cleveland County?Bills was a week away from graduating from Moore High School. She is described by friends as a "light on earth."In a statement, Bills' family previously told KOCO 5 that they support prosecutors as they seek the death penalty.Top HeadlinesVideo: A driving range exchange goes viral after a man gives unsolicited swing tips to golf pro Georgia BallNorthwest Oklahoma wildfires cause more than 30,000 acres to burn3 children rescued from OKC standoff hadn't been to school in months, police sayVideo: Smart pup runs to doggie daycare after being in car wreckNewlyweds lead police on chase reaching 125-135 mph in Mayes County, landing groom in jail
NORMAN, Okla. — A man accused of raping and murdering an 18-year-old Moore High School student in early 2023 pleaded not guilty on Wednesday in a Cleveland County court.
| MORE | Man accused of raping, killing 18-year-old Madeline Bills could face death penalty
Chace Cook is charged in connection with the death of 18-year-old Madeline Bills. In April, investigators say he sexually assaulted and killed Bills in her bedroom in Moore. Just over a week later, Cook was arrested near Chicago.
Investigators say Bills had thoughts of moving because of Cook.
"She was scared of him, and she told some friends she thought about moving back into the residence because of that," said Lt. Wes Yost, with the Moore Police Department. "But no signs that were given to police at all to let us know to be aware of him."
While in court on Wednesday, Cook stood silent as the court entered a not guilty plead on his behalf.
| MORE | Is the evidence enough to convict accused rapist, murderer in Cleveland County?
Bills was a week away from graduating from Moore High School. She is described by friends as a "light on earth."
In a statement, Bills' family previously told KOCO 5 that they support prosecutors as they seek the death penalty.
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