Woman Lured Ex-Husband Away Before Shooting His Girlfriend: Police

A woman from Utah lured her ex-husband away from his Salt Lake City apartment and killed his girlfriend, prosecutors said on Dec. 5.

Chelsea Watrous Cook, 32, allegedly sent a message on Nov. 25 to her husband, Travis Cook, promising to bring some medicine for their 3-year-old twin daughters at a parking lot. When Travis left his apartment, Chelsea allegedly sneaked inside and murdered Travis’s girlfriend, Lisa Vilate Williams, 26, while she was with the children.

Chelsea is charged with the aggravated murder, burglary, and violence in the presence of a child.

When her ex-husband returned to the apartment, Chelsea refused to leave the apartment and locked herself in the bathroom. Travis called 911. Less than a minute later, she emerged from the bathroom and pulled a gun from her coat. She shot Travis’s girlfriend, Lisa, twice in the torso according to WVVA.

After firing the fatal bullets, Chelsea then sat down in a chair near the children. Travis tried to help Lisa, and told the children to run to their rooms and lock the doors. He then held Chelsea against the wall and waited for police to arrive, according to authorities. Lisa died at a hospital late the same night.

At the time of the shooting, Lisa had been decorating a Christmas tree, using homemade ornaments she was making with the children.

Lisa’s sister, Bekah Williams, told The Associated Press (AP) her sister was looking forward to seeing the children.

“I spoke to her an hour or so before it all happened, and she was so excited … to give those kids something happy,” she said.

Harassed Before Being Killed

Lisa’s murder happened after Chelsea had bullied and harassed her for months. The harassment began in June and involved confrontations at the park, bullying via Instagram as well as phone calls, Bekah told AP.

Lisa had been dating Travis for six months prior to her death.

“I worried for her safety every day,” Lisa’s mother, Tawny Williams, told AP.

Chelsea and Travis finalized their divorce in January, according to court records.

One month before Lisa’s murder, Chelsea was charged with domestic violence in the presence of a child, where she pleaded not guilty. Bekah told AP the alleged incident with domestic violence did not involve Lisa.

Chelsea was known to be an engaging teacher and her students looked forward to attending her classes, according to KUTV in Salt Lake City.

Lisa had been reluctant to report Chelsea’s harassment to police because she worried that it would complicate the situation for the children, Bekah told AP.

“In hindsight, I think the best thing for the kids would have been to call the police every time,” she said.

A few years ago, Lisa had moved to American Fork, south of Salt Lake City, to care for one of her sisters who had a lung ailment. She stayed after the recovery and lived with two of her sisters.

“[Lisa] had a wise soul,” Bekah said. “I feel lucky to have had her in our lives.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.