Nearly 28 years after the brutal murder of Andreau Cook, Tukwila Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit (MCU) is renewing its plea for information from the public.
Cook, a 22-year-old father of two, vanished without a trace from his espresso stand, TJ’s Espresso, on the morning of April 5, 1996. The stand stood in the corner of a BP gas station (now Chevron) parking lot right next to Larry’s Market (now Saar’s Market).
Responding officers and detectives noted a small amount of blood and evidence of a struggle inside the coffee stand. Cook’s vehicle, a tan 1984 Chevrolet Camaro, was missing and was usually parked right next to the stand. The vehicle was discovered several hours later in Renton behind the Fred Meyer on 108th Ave SE. It was unoccupied and had been set ablaze.
Two days later, Cook’s body was discovered by cyclists in a ravine under an overpass where it had been thrown from on Route 410 just east of Enumclaw. The medical examiner would ultimately rule the cause of death to be homicide from blunt force trauma to his head.
Tukwila Major Crimes Unit (MCU) detectives have diligently worked the case in the days, weeks and years since this horrific crime was committed to bring justice to Cook’s family members.
“Every single person that knew Cook would tell you that he was a good man and a wonderful father to his two small children,” police said. “He worked hard at an overnight stocking job at Safeway in Eastgate (Bellevue) and oftentimes would help work at the espresso stand in the afternoons/evenings. The espresso stand Cook had started approximately four months prior to his murder. He had purchased the stand for his wife Wendy who usually worked at the stand.”
Time changes things and technology has come a long way. The capabilities of DNA technology, social media and more all lend to assisting investigators with solving cases that are sometimes even decades old such as this one.
“Help us bring justice to Cook’s family members whose lives were forever changed,” police added. “Even if you hadn’t even been born yet, didn’t live in the area, had never heard of this case and or had no ties to this case, you can help us out by sharing this post and bringing focus back to this case and getting justice for Andreau Cook.”
Cook loved his children, loved trains, loved the Seattle Mariners and loved his family.
Police Seeking Help
Police have questions for possible informants to help answer:
- Did you stop for coffee or gas that morning and see anything or notice that no one was there?
- Were you a regular customer of TJ’s Espresso and/or knew Cook or his wife Wendy?
- Do you know someone who mentioned the case in the days and weeks following it that seemed to have intimate knowledge of the case or mentioned anything concerning or odd?
- Did you hear something from someone or in passing about the case that you believe would help our investigators?
Technological advancements and the rise of social media offer new hope for solving cold cases. Authorities believe renewed public attention could generate leads that have eluded investigators for decades.
Anyone with information related to the Cook case is urged to contact Detective M. Schlotterbeck at [email protected].
Video
Below is a video about this case released by Tukwila Police:
