Teen claims to have witnessed murder

Defense to suggest 15-year-old Cody Cook involved in killing of Craig Sorger

EPHRATA — Despite Grant County Superior Court Judge Ken Jorgensen's ruling before the first-degree murder trial of 15-year-old Evan Savoie began that the defense team could not argue another person had the motive or opportunity to kill Craig Sorger, 13, Savoie's attorneys plan to suggest another teen is the alleged perpetrator.

Defense attorneys called Kerry Cook, an Ephrata mother who was in Oasis Park with her children the day Sorger was murdered, to testify Monday. They questioned her extensively about her son Cody Cook, a 15-year-old with a troubled past who wrote about Sorger's murder while serving time in juvy.

According to Kerry Cook's testimony, her family, including Cody Cook, gathered at the park on Feb. 15, 2003, to watch the departure of local National Guard troops headed to Fort Lewis and the Middle East.

They arrived about a half hour before the troops began departing at 5 p.m., she said. While at the park, she testified, Cody Cook went for a walk. He was gone for about 20 minutes, she estimated.

Hoping to persuade jurors Cody Cook had some connection to Sorger's murder while he left his family to stroll through the park, defense attorney Randy Smith asked Kerry Cook if her son returned from his walk acting differently.

Smith also wanted to know if Cody Cook's clothes were wet and dirty when he returned.

His clothes were clean, his mother testified, but his demeanor had changed.

"He was quieter," Kerry Cook explained to Smith and the jury. "He wanted to be left alone … he stayed that way over a year."

He remained withdrawn from others, she said, adding he "stays in his room and don't talk to nobody."

Former Ephrata Police Department Detective John Phillips testified last week that Cody Cook claimed he witnessed Sorger's murder. Cody Cook made the statements in a journal he'd written while in custody at the Grant County Juvenile Detention Center.

Outside the presence of the jury Monday, attorneys from both sides discussed Cody Cook's juvenile criminal record, including convictions for assault.

Smith argued that Cody Cook had the opportunity and ability to inflict the injuries Sorger suffered.

"Mr. Cook generally carries a knife and he was that day," Smith said.

Grant County Prosecutor John Knodell argued Cody Cook is not credible.

Knodell said the defense team is trying to "smear Cody Cook."

Cody Cook was called to the witness stand Tuesday morning where he testified he'd watched Sorger's murder.

"I saw the tall one pull out a knife," he said, pointing to Savoie who was sitting at the defense table. Cody Cook testified that both Savoie and his former co-defendant Jake Eakin brutally attacked Sorger.

Cody Cook claimed to have witnessed the entire murder as he remained hidden by nearby bushes. Once Savoie and Eakin fled the scene, Cody Cook said he came to his friend's aid. Cody Cook said he attempted to stop Sorger's bleeding with his hands and said he heard the dying boy's last words, "'Only love is forever.'"