Williamson County, Texas

On March 3, the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office arrested 37-year-old, Clifford Martin Cook, II. Cook was booked into the Williamson County Jail and charged with theft against the elderly by deception, a third-degree felony. Cook will also be charged with Impersonating a Public Servant, a third-degree felony, that charge is still pending.  

On March 2, Cook went to the home of an elderly couple in Weir, TX. Cook approached the victim’s home and knocked on the front door. The victims answered the door and noticed that Cook was displaying a badge around his neck and believed that he was with a law enforcement agency.  Cook displayed a badge around his neck with intent to represent himself as a plainclothes Detective. Cook was then allowed entry into the residence by the victims who believed he was a law enforcement agent. Cook told the victims he was investigating a ring of counterfeit crimes in the area and that they were in possession of counterfeit monies. Once the victims provided the cash in question, Cook demanded the couple handover all the cash for evidence purposes and left the home with an undisclosed amount of money. 

The suspect was identified after he dropped his identification at the victim’s home.  

If you believe you have been a victim of this crime, please call 512-943-1311 or send an email to CID@wilco.org.  

The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind the public that police impersonators are often looking for anyone who seems exposed or can easily be tricked. If you are ever in doubt, call 911. 

No other comments will be made until this investigation is complete.  

On February 1, 2019,  just after 4:00PM, the Bartlett Police Department responded to an address located at 624 W Jackson Street for a deceased person found in the residence with a gunshot wound. The Bartlett Police Department requested assistance from the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO). The WCSO responded with the Patrol Division, Criminal Investigations Division and a Crime Scene Unit.

As a result of the diligent work by detectives with the WCSO, a suspect and vehicle were identified. At approximately 10:19 PM, the WCSO asked for assistance from the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) to search a location in the 7200 block of County Road 243 in Burnet for the suspected vehicle. With the assistance of a Texas Department of Public Safety Air Unit the truck was located, however due to weather the air unit returned to base before locating the suspect.

At approximately 5:05 AM, a WCSO infrared capable drone located the suspect on foot and away from the vehicle. At approximately 5:21 AM on February 02, 2019, the suspect surrendered to members of Williamson County SWAT without incident.

The suspect is identified as Archie Samuel ROGERS Jr. of Bartlett, Texas. He is in custody at the Williamson County Jail charged with 1st degree Murder. Bond has not been set at this time. The victim has not been identified pending notification of family.

The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office credits the Bartlett Police Department, Burnet County Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Parks & Wildlife Game Wardens for working together to not only identify the suspect, but to apprehend him within thirteen (13) hours of the initial call.

There is no further threat to the public as a result of this homicide. Media should contact Lt. G. Haston at ghaston@wilco.org or calling (512)943-3598 for additional information.

On January 7, 2019, Governor Greg Abbott appointed Allan Cain and Robert Chody to the Advisory Committee to the Texas Board of Criminal Justice on Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments for terms set to expire on February 1, 2023. The committee advises the board and the director of the Texas Correctional Office on Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments on matters related to offenders with medical or mental impairments and perform other duties imposed by the board.

Allan Cain of Carthage is the owner of Carthage Self Storage and Commercial Leasing. He is a former law enforcement officer and appointee to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement and Texas Commission on Jail Standards. As a volunteer, he serves as an Ambassador for the Panola Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Lions Club of Panola County. Cain was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps and received a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from Sam Houston State University.

Robert Chody of Austin is the Sheriff of Williamson County, and has over twenty years of law enforcement experience. He is a former board member of the 100 Club of Central Texas and the Williamson County Brown Santa. He was honorably discharged from the United States Army and is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Academy. Chody received an Associate degree in theology from Andersonville Theological Seminary, an Associate of Arts from Liberty University and a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice from the American Military University. Additionally, he is a graduate of the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas from Sam Houston State University.

The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office and Rachel Cooke’s family and friends are holding a remembrance ceremony for the 17th anniversary of her disappearance on Thursday, Jan. 10 at 5:30 p.m. at the south steps of the Historic Williamson County Courthouse, 710 Main Street, Georgetown.

Rachel Louise Cooke, who was born May 10, 1982, was visiting her parents’ home in Georgetown while on winter break from San Diego Mesa College in San Diego, California. Her family has not seen her since the early morning of January 10, 2002, when her mother left for work.

Authorities believe Rachel left her family’s residence at approximately 9:30 a.m. for her daily four-mile run. She was last seen walking towards her residence from approximately 200 yards away. She was wearing a gray running outfit, green sports bra, Asics running shoes and a yellow Walkman with sports-style headphones.

At the time of her disappearance, Rachel’s height was 5’3,” and she weighed 115 lbs. The Caucasian woman has blue/hazel eyes and blonde hair with high/low lights. She has two heart-shaped cherries tattooed on her left foot near her pinky toe, multiple ear piercing and a navel piercing.

FBI San Antonio, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Austin Resident Agency Office, John W. Scata and the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, is still offering a reward for information leading to the location of Rachel Louise Cooke. A reward of up to $50,000 is available for information leading to her location.

 On April 13, 2018, the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office announced progress on the Rachel Cooke case, 16 years after Cooke went missing. 

After receiving a tip, a vehicle linked to Cooke’s case was located in the Dallas area.

The car was transported back to Williamson County where FBI forensic analysts spent hours collecting possible forensic evidence.  

The collected forensic evidence was sent to the FBI Laboratory in Quantico, Virginia and recently received the following results. 

•    Preliminary tests indicate a possible presence of blood that was positive on an item in the passenger floorboard of the White 1998 Pontiac Trans Am.

•    Preliminary tests indicate a possible presence of blood that was positive on an item on the passenger door molding of the White 1998 Pontiac Trans Am.