True Crime Chronicles: Oklahoma man who murdered his wife in 1982 has been on the run since 1986 prison escape
- Dennis McCaslin
- Jul 23, 2025
- 3 min read
In the early hours of December 12, 1982, the body of 48-year-old Wilma Mae Guerin Hall was pulled from the frigid waters near the gate tower at Fort Supply Lake in northwest Oklahoma.
She was dressed in a business suit and heels--odd attire for what her husband, Kenneth R. Cook, claimed was a routine late-night fishing trip.
From the very beginning, investigators had doubts. And so began one of Oklahoma’s most chilling and unresolved sagas: a suspicious drowning, a murder trial, a shocking escape, and a fugitive who, nearly four decades later, has never been found.
Kenneth Ray Cook, born February 19, 1930, was a quiet but stern man living in Woodward County. At just 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 124 pounds, he didn’t cut an imposing figure--but what he lacked in physical size, he made up for in calculation.
Cook had a criminal past, including a conviction in California, and was already known to law enforcement. But nothing in his record prepared officials for the events of winter 1982.
Wilma Mae Guerin, Cook’s wife, was described by her family as a warm and well-liked woman. Their relationship had long been rocky, and courtroom evidence later painted a disturbing picture.
Just days before her death, Cook had taken out a new accident-only life insurance policy on Wilma, naming himself as the sole beneficiary.
He later told police that he and Wilma went fishing in the early morning hours and that she accidentally fell into the lake. But testimony from Cook’s own son would later tell a much darker story.
Cook was arrested and originally charged with First Degree Murder in Woodward County.
The prosecution pointed to a number of disturbing facts: Wilma, a known non-swimmer, had no reason to be near the lake in winter, let alone dressed in formal clothing. Her body was recovered from an area protected by a 4-foot-high security fence, making the accidental fall theory highly unlikely.
Then came a bombshell in court: Cook’s own son testified that his father had confessed to killing Wilma. According to him, Cook suspected his wife of infidelity and admitted to murdering her to collect the insurance payout.
Faced with mounting circumstantial evidence and devastating family testimony, the jury found Cook guilty of First Degree Manslaughter--a lesser-included offense under Oklahoma law.
In 1983, he was sentenced to 40 years in prison and was sent to the Oklahoma State Reformatory in Granite. But on November 24, 1986, he escaped custody--and hasn’t been seen since.
He was 56 years old at the time. According to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, Cook had several identifying scars and tattoos, including birds labeled “Elaine” and “Rocky,” and a heart tattoo.
He was last listed as 5′5″, around 130 pounds, and wore glasses.
He remains officially listed as a fugitive despite now being over 94 years old and Cook is one of Oklahoma’s oldest and longest-missing escapees.
Authorities continue to consider him armed and dangerous, and the public is strongly urged not to approach him.
If seen, contact the Oklahoma DOC at (405) 425-2570 or toll-free (866) 363-1119.
Decades have passed, but the mystery surrounding Wilma Mae Guerin’s death and the disappearance of her killer still lingers. For Wilma’s family, the promise of justice was never truly fulfilled. Kenneth Cook, convicted and sentenced, simply vanished from the system.
His story remains among Oklahoma’s most chilling unsolved cases--—a reminder that time, age, and oversight can allow justice to fade away.
But for those who remember Wilma, and those who still search for the man responsible, justice delayed does not have to mean justice denied.
Any information regarding the whereabouts of Kenneth R. Cook should be immediately reported to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections or local authorities. If you hsve possible information on Kenneth Cook please contact the Oklahoma DOC at (405) 425-2570 or toll-free (866) 363-1119.
