Yarmouth Courthouse.
The main person behind the murder of Yarmouth’s Colton Cook has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 19 years.
Justice Pierre Muise handed down his ruling Thursday in Supreme Court.
Rogers was convicted by a jury in January on a charge of second-degree murder.
Rogers also received five years in prison for indignity to human remains, to be served concurrently with the life sentence.
It happened in September, 2020 as Rogers shot and stabbed Cook to death at a residence in South Ohio.
Cook’s remains were found on Saunders Road days later, along with his burned-out truck.
In the courtroom, Cook’s mother Stacey along with friends and family cried as the sentence was read.
Justice Muise said the murder and disposal of Cook’s remains was ‘barbaric, sadistic and showed a lack of concern for Cook’s family.’
The Crown recommended 19-20 years for parole eligibility, while the defense asked for 12 years.
Two other men pleaded guilty in the case.
Wayne Crawford will be sentenced in May on a second-degree murder charge.
Keith Siscoe Jr. was sentenced to three years in prison last month for accessory after the fact to murder.
Justice was served
Stacey Cook says she’s satisfied with the sentence.
“19 years, he’s 60 now, the chances of him getting out are low. I will be at his parole hearing. As long as I have a voice, he will not get out.”
She points to the fact that two of the men involved in her son’s death were out on parole when it happened.
Cook says the laws need to be changed.
“If they had been back in jail, because they violated their parole, which they did. my son would still be here with us today.”
In court, she read a victim impact statement.
Rogers, with his head slumped down, showed no emotion as she asked him to look at her.
Cook said Rogers has robbed her of her joy, she now gets angry quickly and wants revenge, she was never taught to think that way.
She begged the judge for the harshest sentence possible, and says Rogers has already given her a life sentence of misery.
