In his own words, Nathaniel Cook admitted he shot Tom Gordon to death as the young man ran for his life. He admitted he strangled Connie Sue Thompson with a wire around her neck, and he admitted he dropped a cinder block on the head of Dawn Backes, ending her 12-year-old life.
His chilling confession and that of his older brother, Anthony Cook, cleared up eight unsolved homicides; mysteries laid to rest as part of a deal.
The price?
Nathaniel Cook would serve just 20 years in prison — 20 years that end this Tuesday.