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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- December 17, 2018
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Suspects
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Reynaud Cook
A DC Superior Court judge sentenced Dec. 14 a convicted murderer to 15 years in prison for killing his girlfriend in front of their children.
On Dec. 4, Reynaud Cook pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed for shooting 31-year-old Yolanda Stone on the 3300 block of Alden Place, NE in 2012.
According to the Washington Post, Cook, 35, and Stone were arguing in the middle of the street, when Cook pulled out a gun and shot her. Apparently, at least two of their three children were in a car, which was feet from the shooting. The Post reported that in the years leading up to the murder, Stone had multiple restraining orders against the defendant because of repeated physical abuse.
“You didn’t win,” Stone’s sister told Cook during the sentencing. “You took a lot from me, but you made me stronger.”
Through tears, Stone’s niece told the court that it feels like her family is living through a “nightmare.” She said Stone’s loss left a lot of broken pieces.
“You broke us by taking Yolanda away,” the niece told Cook.
Without mentioning specifics, the defense said Cook has a mental health history that should be considered. The defense also said the defendant was the one to approach his attorneys about a resolution, saying that he didn’t want to add any more harm to the children.
Apparently, if the case had gone to trial the prosecution planned to call the children to testify.
Following his release, Cook is required to serve five years on supervised release.
Cook is currently serving a 20 year sentence for the murder of Nacarto Gladden.