Police say Chelsea Watrous Cook, (pictured) a Utah high school teacher, shot and killed her ex-husband's girlfriend while the former couple's children looked on
The family of a woman killed by her boyfriend's ex-wife while decorating a Christmas tree say the suspect harassed their daughter for months before she pulled the trigger.
Lisa Vilate Williams, 26, was making homemade ornaments with her boyfriend's twin three-year-olds at his apartment on Sunday when his ex-wife, Chelsea Watrous Cook, 32, burst in and shot her to death in front of the children, police said.
The slaying came after Cook targeted her with online bullying, in-person confrontations and harassment for months, her sister and mother told The Associated Press.
'I worried for her safety every day,' said her mother, Tawny Williams.
Chelsea Cook's lawyer did not return calls seeking comment, and family members reached by phone declined to comment or did not return messages.
She was arrested on suspicion of aggravated murder after her ex-husband took the gun away and pinned her to the wall until police arrived, authorities said.
Lisa Williams died at a hospital.
Lisa Vilate Williams, 26, (pictured) was making homemade ornaments with her boyfriend's twin three-year-olds when his ex-wife burst in and shot her to death in front of the children
The family of the victim (pictured) killed by her boyfriend's ex-wife is sounding a warning about the devastating consequences of domestic violence that goes beyond two people
She had loved reading books and buying dying plants to nurse back to health. On her 16th birthday, she saved money to buy gifts for everyone in her family, said her sister Bekah Williams.
She loved children, and was so eager to begin Christmas decorating with her boyfriend's twins that she left early from her own family's Thanksgiving celebration in Centennial Park, Arizona, with a popcorn popper strapped into the back seat of her car.
'I spoke to her an hour or so before it all happened, and she was so excited ... to give those kids something happy,' Bekah Williams said.
But during the six months she dated Travis Cook, a colleague at the bank where she was a teller, she had also been targeted by his ex-wife.
The harassment started in June and included confrontations at the bank, bullying on Instagram and phone calls made from the high school where Chelsea Cook was a health teacher, Bekah Williams said.
Court records show the couple's divorce was finalized in January, but Chelsea Cook had been charged with domestic violence in the presence of a child the month before the slaying. She pleaded not guilty.
Her ex-husband Travis (pictured right) told police that Cook sat in a recliner chair near their daughters and watched as he tried to help his injured girlfriend
Police said Cook came to her ex-husband's Salt Lake City apartment on Sunday night to give one of their three-year-old twins cold medicine but refused to leave
Chelsea Cook's lawyer in that case did not return calls seeking comment, and family members reached by phone declined to comment or did not return messages.
Bekah Williams said she reported the behavior and use of school phones to the principal at Skyridge High School in Lehi in August, but 'it seems to me that nothing was done,' she said.
Alpine School District did not return messages seeking comment on Friday, but Ben Rasmussen, director of law and professional practices with the Utah State School Board, said teacher behavior outside the classroom can be difficult for schools to address.
School officials also weren't aware that Chelsea Cook had been arrested Oct. 16 on suspicion of domestic violence.
While teachers are required to self-report such arrests to their superintendents within 48 hours, she hadn't done so, Rasmussen said.
The state also flags arrested teachers though a fingerprint database, but it was a misdemeanor case and her prints weren't flagged for more than a month. The notification came through after her murder arrest.
'It took a lot longer than we would hope,' Rasmussen said.
At school, meanwhile, Chelsea Cook was an engaging teacher whose class students looked forward to attending, KUTV in Salt Lake City reported.
The victim's mother, Tawny Williams, called her 'kind, sweet, generous' and 'loving'
Details of the domestic violence arrest haven't been made public, but Bekah Williams said it didn't involve her sister.
Lisa Williams was reluctant to report Chelsea Cook's behavior to police, worried that involving authorities could make the situation harder on the children, her sister said. Looking back now, she wondered if that was a mistake.
'In hindsight, I think the best thing for the kids would have been to call the police every time,' Bekah Williams said.
Tawny Williams is pictured on her Facebook page
She's at a loss to explain exactly what led to it. The last conversation between the two women had been encouraging, with Chelsea Cook thanking Lisa Williams for picking up the twins at day care.
They hadn't had contact in the days before, since she was with her family for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Lisa Williams had moved to American Fork, south of Salt Lake City, a few years ago to care for her sister, who was hospitalized with a potentially life-threatening lung ailment. She'd stayed after the recovery, living with two of her sisters.
In the end, it's that kind of caring for others that Lisa Williams' family hopes she is remembered for.
'She had a wise soul,' Bekah Williams said. 'I feel lucky to have had her in our lives.'
The victim's mother also said: 'She was so kind, sweet, generous, loving, and brought joy and excitement to every aspect of life.
'She was magic, and I want her remembered for how she lived and not for how she was killed.'
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2018/12/01/woman-slain-by-boyfriends-ex-had-been-harassed-family-says/
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Police say Chelsea Watrous Cook, (pictured) a Utah high school teacher, shot and killed her ex-husband’s girlfriend while the former couple’s children looked on
The family of a woman killed by her boyfriend’s ex-wife while decorating a Christmas tree say the suspect...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2018/11/30/22/6857988-6447995-This_undated_photo_provided_by_the_Salt_Lake_County_Sheriff_s_Of-a-1_1543617186864.jpg
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