ADMISSION OF GUILT: Gregory Alvin Cook pauses to talk to reporters outside the Union County Correctional Facility Wednesday. Cook freely openly admitted killing Shannon McKillop, Frank Scaramuzzi and Jeremiah Johnston. - The Observer/CHRIS BAXTER

‘Shannon and me had an argument that got out of hand, and I felt she had to go. The other two were witnesses, and they had to go.’ – Gregory Alvin Cook

Gregory Alvin Cook, the self-employed house painter arrested in the horrific murders of Shannon McKillop, Frank Scaramuzzi and Jeremiah Johnston, admitted once more Wednesday that he did the killings.

“I was high on methamphetamine,” Cook told reporters as officers escorted him into the Union County jail. “Shannon and me had an argument that got out of hand, and I felt she had to go. The other two were witnesses, and they had to go.”

McKillop’s dismembered body was found July 24 in and near a pond on Pumpkin Ridge Road in Elgin. The bodies of Scaramuzzi and Johnston were recovered last Saturday from a wooded area off Darr Road north of Elgin.

Cook, of La Grande, is believed to have murdered the three sometime in mid-July. Authorities began looking for him after the discovery of McKillop’s body.

Cook was apprehended Monday at a rural home near Rainier, Wash., following an intensive, nationwide manhunt. While in custody in Washington, he told a reporter from KING-TV that he did the killings and was sorry.

Cook waived extradition in Thurston County, Wash., and was transported back to Union County. About 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, he stepped out of a patrol car and was led into the Union County jail.

Before going inside, he asked officers if he could speak with reporters, and was allowed to do so.

He began with a plea for the media to not approach his residence in La Grande, and to not bother his girlfriend.

“She’s having a rough time,” he said. “Anything that’s relevant, she has nothing to do with it.”

After Cook made the statement admitting to the killings, a reporter asked Cook if he had anything to say to the community.

For a moment, the question appeared to fluster him. He stammered for a few seconds before answering.

“I’d like to say to the community, obviously, you’ll be safer now,” he finally said. He added, “I apologize to the families, to my mother and father, and to my woman.”

Another reporter asked Cook if someone had ordered him to do the murders. Cook replied that was not the case.

Before disappearing inside the jail, Cook spoke once more about drugs.

“Without methamphetamine, it would probably be a lot better world,” he said.

Cook is charged with murder in the death of McKillop and aggravated murder in the deaths of Scaramuzzi and Johnston. Aggravated murder, which carries a possible death penalty, applies because multiple homicides were committed in the course of the same criminal episode.

Cook is scheduled to be arraigned at 1:15 p.m. today in Union County Circuit Court.

McKillop, 51, Scaramuzzi, 50, Johnston, 28, and Cook, 42, were known associates. In a recent press conference, Union County District Attorney Tim Thompson said they were seen together at the same time and location shortly before the murders are supposed to have occurred.

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.

Investigation continues. Authorities have yet to release information on precise cause of death, and other details.