Fayetteville couple suspects in roommate's death

Kevin, left, and Nicole Cook, right.
Kevin, left, and Nicole Cook, right.

FAYETTEVILLE -- A married couple was arrested Friday in connection with the death of their roommate, according to police.

Kevin and Nicole Cook, 2375 N. Hummingbird Lane, face charges of first-degree murder.

Washington Regional Medical Center staff called police about 11 p.m. Nov. 26 and said Heather Hill was unresponsive when she arrived at the hospital and had "several suspicious marks" on her body, according to a preliminary arrest report.

An autopsy Tuesday at the state Crime Laboratory determined Hill, 40, died from strangulation. The medical examiner noted injuries to her neck "could not have been self-inflicted," according to the arrest report. The medical examiner noted a minor injury to the top of her head.

Investigators found several inconsistencies regarding Kevin and Nicole Cook's account of Hill's death.

Nicole Cook, 35, initially told police Hill left their house for a walk and was found unresponsive in the street, according to an arrest affidavit. She then told police that story wasn't true.

Cook and her husband said Hill drank until she passed out, vomited and aspirated, and didn't respond to attempts to revive her using CPR. They told police they took her to the hospital. The medical examiner didn't find evidence Hill vomited or aspirated.

Cook told police her husband said Hill tried to strangle herself with a coat hanger, according to the affidavit.

Cook told police her husband and Hill were fighting and he choked Hill, according to the arrest report. She added Kevin Cook was "throwing (Hill) around like a rag doll" and she didn't tell police about that in earlier discussions because Kevin had hurt her before and she was afraid of him.

Kevin Cook wasn't interviewed by police because he immediately requested an attorney.

Court records show Kevin Cook, 40, was sentenced to four years probation in 2010 for third-degree domestic battery. He also served a one-year suspended sentence for the same charge in 2015.

Nicole Cook and Kevin Cook were being processed Friday evening at the Washington County Detention Center.

NW News on 12/03/2016

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