LG man held on homicide charges after 2 more bodies found near Elgin

A La Grande man was arrested in Washington state today in connection

with the murders of Shannon Marie McKillop plus two other people whose

bodies were discovered Saturday north of Elgin.

The Union County District Attorney’s Office said this morning that

Gregory Alvin Cook, 42, of 1612 Fifth St., was taken into custody in

Thurston County, Wash., about 11:15 a.m. Thompson said he was still

waiting for more details.

“All I can say for now is, he is in custody even as we speak,” Thompson said.

Cook was being sought on one charge of murder and two counts of aggravated murder in the triple homicide, which is believed to have occurred in the Elgin area in mid-July. A warrant for Cook’s arrest was issued Friday afternoon.

McKillop’s dismembered body was recovered July 24 in and near a pond along Pumpkin Ridge Road in Elgin. A major crime team, including officers from the Union County Sheriff’s Office, the Oregon State Police, the La Grande Police Department and other agencies launched an intensive investigation.

Saturday as that investigation continued, police found the bodies of Frank Scaramuzzi, 50, and Jeremiah H. Johnston, 28, both of Elgin, in a rural area near Darr Road north of Elgin.

“Investigators have probable cause to believe the same suspect [Cook] is responsible for all three murders,” Thompson said.

In a press conference this morning, Thompson said the two bodies found

near Darr Road have been sent to the state medical examiner’s office for autopsy. He said tentative identification has been made based on evidence developed during the investigation and evidence at the scene.

Thompson said it is up to the medical examiner to determine the time and cause of death. Precise time and cause of McKillop’s death hasn’t been established either, though Thompson said there is very little doubt all three were murdered.

“They certainly died of homicidal causes,” Thompson said.

Thompson said the three victims were known to each other and to Cook. They were last seen together at the same time and location in mid-July, Thompson said.

Thompson said he could not discuss possible motives for the crime. He said that at present, Cook is the only person being sought in connection with the killings.

“We don’t believe others are involved, but we’re working on all sorts of motives, looking at all options,” Thompson said.

Thompson said investigators believe Scaramuzzi and Johnston were killed together at the same location. Those killings occurred separately from but very close in time to the McKillop homicide, Thompson said.

“I think it’s fair to say the three victims were all killed within a 24-hour time period,” he said.

Thompson said that Cook had been seen early Friday morning in Hermiston. He was considered armed and dangerous by police.

Cook, who has worked in Union County as a self-employed house painter, was described as 6-foot-1, 160 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.

A search warrant was served on Cook’s La Grande residence Friday. A warrant was also served on an older Jeep vehicle stopped Friday on Adams Avenue near Second Street. Thompson said Cook had recently used the vehicle, but refused the give further details. The vehicle is impounded.

Cook is charged with murder in the McKillop homicide, and with two counts of aggravated murder in the deaths of Scaramuzzi and Johnston.

Aggravated murder applies because the case involves the commission of multiple murders in the same criminal episode, Thompson said.

Thompson said Cook has a lengthy criminal history, but also said he couldn’t release details about that. Records connected with the case have been sealed pending completion of the investigation, Thompson said.

Friday, the Union County Sheriff’s Office had identified Scaramuzzi and Johnston as “persons of interest” in the McKillop case. The two were not named as suspects, however.

Thompson said during the press conference today that Cook has been a person of interest since the beginning of the investigation.

Capt. Craig Ward of the sheriff’s office added that release of that information Friday could have jeopardized the investigation.