Yarmouth Courthouse.
Video from the RCMP in which one of the men accused of killing Colton Cook says “I did it.”
Warning: This story contains graphic and disturbing details.
RCMP Sgt. Greg Vardy interrogated Robert Rogers on October first, 2020, after he was arrested on charges of second degree murder and interference with human remains.
After a lengthy period of Vardy pressing him for details with no response, Rogers begins to open up about his involvement in Cook’s murder.
Vardy questions Rogers about the note turned in to police which said: “My name is Robert Rogers I’m responsible for Colton Cook’s death.”
He asks Rogers if he wrote the note because he has regrets.
“You already know the answer.” says Rogers in the video.
“Regret’s a powerful thing” says Vardy.
“It is.” Rogers responds.
After this Rogers begins to discuss his involvement in Cook’s murder and his responsibility for it.
“I don’t even remember,” says Rogers. “I never met the guy before in my life.”
Rogers blames alcohol for his lack of memory of the night Cook was killed but begins to recount what he can remember about that night.
“It doesn’t matter if I tell you guys or not,” he says to Vardy. “My lawyer can’t do nothing for me.”
Vardy asks Rogers if he shot Cook and if so how many times.
“Just once,” Rogers responds. “I don’t even recall doing it.”
Rogers says he was told about what he done by Wayne Crawford, who has pleaded guilty to the second degree murder of Cook.
“And you shot him once in the face?” asks Vardy.
“I think so, that’s what I was told by Wayne,” says Rogers. “I remember blood, I remember so much blood.”
Rogers theorizes that he may have gotten into some sort of argument or fight with Cook after he arrived at the South Ohio home connected to the case.
“I just wish he hadn’t come over.” says Rogers.
Vardy asks about Cook’s severed leg, which was found later by police along with his burned out truck.
“Why would anyone do that,” says Rogers. “I can’t understand why I did that.”
Rogers did recall some details after Cook had died.
“I just remember wrapping him up in the blanket because there was so much blood,” says Rogers, though his issue with memory continues. “I don’t remember where I dumped his body.”
But he says he does remember what happened after he disposed of Cook’s body.
“Then we came back and burned a bunch of stuff in the fire pit.”
Vardy asks Rogers how they cleaned the house afterwards.
“I don’t even know, towels maybe.”
Vardy then brings attention back to the note that was found in the home of Keith Siscoe Sr.
“I wrote that letter,” says Rogers. “I didn’t want him [Crawford] to have to accept responsibility of something he didn’t do.”
He says Crawford knew he had written the note.
Vardy also asks Rogers if he had a message for Cook’s family.
“They don’t want to hear from me, I wouldn’t want to hear from someone who did that to my son,” says Rogers in the video. “I’m very sorry.”
Later, Rogers appears in a separate video to apologize to Crawford, where he says point-blank that he killed Colton Cook.
“I took responsibility for it because I did it,” He says “All you did was help me.”
“The family needs closure. That’s why I left that note at Keith’s,” says Rogers. “I’m sorry I got you in this situation.”
After the conclusion of the video there were no further questions for Vardy, who had taken the stand the previous day and remained there while the video was played, by the Crown or by Rogers lawyers.
Today was the eighth day of the jury trial in Yarmouth. Court has adjourned for the week and will resume Monday morning.
