IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. — A man has been charged with the murder of his parents and brother after they were killed in an Iredell County house fire in July, authorities said.
The fire happened around 9 p.m. on July 27 at a home on Loram Drive in Troutman. When firefighters got to the house, it was engulfed in flames.
Three people were in the home when the fire broke out, detectives confirmed. They said there was a “domestic situation” hours before the fire that prompted an adult son, later identified as Corey Cook, to leave the house.
As firefighters were working to put out the fire, deputies said they got a call that Cook showed up at his grandmother’s house in Mooresville, driving his mother’s vehicle. The caller said Cook told her there had been a domestic situation at his house, and that’s when detectives went to the grandmother’s home to speak with Cook.
Cook told deputies that his mother had told him to leave the house earlier that evening. He said as he was pulling out to leave, he saw his father standing in the doorway with a gun in his hand.
Once fire crews got the flames under control, officials said three bodies were found in the home. DNA results confirmed the victims were Johnny Cook, 60, Angela Cook, 51, and John Cook, 27.
Breaking Iredell- sheriff deputies are confirming two people dead after this fire along Loram drive. A viewer sent us this picture earlier. The story tonight on eyewitness news at five and six. pic.twitter.com/gSNvyPfvhG
— Dave Faherty (@FahertyWSOC9) July 28, 2021
As detectives continued to investigate the fire, they started to notice suspicious activity on the victim’s financial cards. Authorities learned Corey Cook was using the debit cards to get money.
On Friday, deputies spoke with Cook, who confessed to using the financial cards. Investigators also said Cook made statements about being involved in his parents’ and brother’s deaths and starting the fire.
Cook was arrested and charged with 17 counts of felony identity theft.
The next day, authorities went to search the fire scene on Loram Drive and found evidence lining up with what Cook told them.
Cook was then charged Thursday with three counts of murder and first-degree arson.
“This agency has worked on this investigation since the night of the fire. Various units of the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office have worked on several aspects of it, from criminal investigations, special victims unit, homicide investigation unit, crime scene investigations and computer forensics, along with several area fire departments and the Iredell County Fire Marshal’s Office. Having the ability to specialize in various disciplines allows investigations like this to flow together seamlessly, which allows for arrests to be made, and very good evidence being able to be provided to the courts for trial. Our hearts go out the families of these victims, and we hope closure can now begin soon,” Sheriff Darren Campbell said.
Neighbors said a couple lived at the home along with their adult sons. They described the family and the neighborhood as closely-knit and were in disbelief this has happened.
“It’s really upsetting,” neighbor Angel Granada said. “It’s really unbelievable. And I look out for my neighbors in this area, and it’s heartbreaking. We pray to God for this kid and the family.”
The SBI and Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating the fire.
(WATCH: Lightning strike believed to be cause of house fire in Ballantyne Country Club, officials say)
©2021 Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
