A Utah woman murdered by her boyfriend’s ex-wife while decorating a Christmas tree has been remembered by her mother as ‘magic’.
Lisa Vilate Williams, 26, was shot dead inside a Salt Lake City apartment on Sunday night in front of her boyfriend Travis Cook and his three-year-old twin daughters.
Her boyfriend’s ex-wife, Chelsea Watrous Cook, has been arrested over her murder.
Williams was decorating the Christmas tree with handmade ornaments she had made with the three-year-old girls when Cook allegedly opened fire.
Lisa Vilate Williams, 26, was shot dead inside a Salt Lake City apartment on Sunday night in front of her boyfriend Travis Cook and his three-year-old twin daughters
Her mother, Tawny Williams, has described Cook as an ‘evil killer’ and a ‘monster’ who ripped her daughter’s life away.
Chelsea Watrous Cook, 32, was arrested on Sunday night in Salt Lake City for allegedly shooting dead her ex-husband’s girlfriend
‘She was so kind, sweet, generous, loving, and brought joy and excitement to every aspect of life,’ she said of her daughter.
‘Please share the beauty of her life rather than the monster that ripped her from ours.
‘She was magic, and I want her remembered for how she lived and not for how she was killed.’
Cook, who is a 32-year-old health teacher, had come to the apartment to give one of the twins cold medicine.
She allegedly locked herself in a bathroom when her ex-husband asked her to leave.
Cook eventually came out of the bathroom and grabbed a gun from her coat, according to police.
She then allegedly fired the gun multiple times at Williams while her daughters were watching.
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
Her ex-husband Travis told police that Cook sat in a recliner chair near their daughters and watched as he tried to help his injured girlfriend
The victim was shot twice in the torso and fell back onto the couch.
Her ex-husband told police that Cook sat in a recliner chair near their daughters and watched as he tried to help his injured girlfriend.
When she got up and tried to get her coat, her ex-husband pinned her to a wall until police arrived.
Williams was pronounced dead when she was rushed to hospital.
Cook was arrested on suspicion of aggravated murder.
She is also currently facing separate domestic violence charges related to an incident in October to which she has pleaded not guilty.
The charging documents in that case are sealed but it is related to abuse in front of children.
The victim’s mother, Tawny Williams, has described Cook as an ‘evil killer’ and a ‘monster’ who ripped her daughter’s (pictured above) life away
