Sean Pettus

Family and friends of Maddie Cook embraced one another and the tears flowed Monday in the Eighth Judicial District Court in Torrington, where Cook’s accused killer pleaded no contest to murder.

Sean L. Pettus, the 32-year-old man charged with killing the 20-year-old Cook in April, pleaded “nolo contendere” to an amended charge of second-degree murder and guilty to first-degree arson, felony theft and two counts of burglary, pursuant to the terms of a plea agreement.

Around 50 people, many of them family members and friends of Cook, were present in the Goshen County District Courtroom for Monday’s hearing with more than 10 law enforcement officers present.

Goshen County Attorney Eric Boyer told the court an agreement had been reached between the prosecution and defense where Pettus would plead no contest to an amended charge of second-degree murder — down from first-degree murder — and guilty to the remaining counts. In return for the no contest plea, Pettus would be subject to a joint recommendation by the prosecution and defense for a life sentence in the Wyoming penitentiary. He would then be required to serve additional, or consecutive, sentences for the remaining counts.

In short one-word responses, Pettus agreed to the conditions of the plea agreement and inquiries by both counsel and District Court Judge Patrick Korell. At one point, Korell had to ask Pettus to make eye contact when making responses, as Pettus looked down or away when replying to Korell’s inquiries. 

Pettus was informed of all his rights and the potential consequences of entering no contest and guilty pleas. He was informed his pleas would remove the opportunity to proceed to trial, and that a second mental competency evaluation he had requested earlier this month would be withdrawn. Pettus’ attorney had previously said there was reason to believe his client had a mental illness or deficiency, apparently referring to comments Pettus made to police in which he reported hearing whispers in a business and seeing ninjas in Torrington.

Pettus agreed to continue with the plea agreement and Korell quashed an order for the competency evaluation by a private practitioner, which would have followed an earlier assessment performed by the Wyoming State Hospital. 

The final condition of the plea agreement said Pettus would not be able to appeal the decision of the court.

Pettus agreed to the terms. 

To establish the factual basis for the no contest plea, the state provided the court with the previously submitted affidavit of probable cause, written by Torrington Police Investigator Rebecca Wakamatsu. In that affidavit, Wakamatsu said that Cook had been stabbed multiple times, among other injuries, saying the wounds demonstrated “an extended and intentional series of actions taken by Pettus that required multiple steps and more than a brief moment in time.”

Korell asked Pettus if he contested any of the facts contained in the affidavit of probable cause. Pettus said no. 

Pettus’ attorney, Eric Palen, asked questions of Pettus to establish the factual basis for the remaining charges.

Through the questioning, Pettus confessed to maliciously starting a fire with the intent to destroy the property known as Sharon’s Hair Care — which adjoined Pettus’ tattoo parlor — by lighting it on fire with gasoline. He then confessed to stealing a white 2007 Ford Taurus and to taking a phone and change from the car, all with the intent to deprive the owner of the items.

Having established a factual basis for the offenses, Judge Korell accepted the pleas for all five counts and ordered a presentence investigation, to be completed by the Wyoming Department of Corrections Probation and Parole for consideration at sentencing by the court. 

Pettus’ bond was revoked, and he was remanded to the custody of the Goshen County Sheriff’s Office, whose care he will remain under sentencing, which is expected in approximately two months. About a year before the murder, Pettus was released from prison after serving time for a 2016 Powell burglary and subsequent probation violation.

(CJ Baker contributed reporting.)