In the quiet town of Avon, Indiana, concern mounted for 65-year-old Dianne Cook when she failed to show up for work for several days, and family members were unable to reach her. This unsettling silence prompted a call to the Hendricks County Sheriff's Office for a welfare check on December 27, 2022. Deputies arriving at her home on County Road 100 South, just west of Reagan Parkway, would soon uncover a tragedy that had unfolded within the residence.
Upon entering the house, law
enforcement discovered the bodies of Dianne and her 61-year-old ex-husband, Barri Cook. Although the couple had legally divorced in 2019, they had continued to live together. The preliminary investigation by the Hendricks County Sheriff's Office and the Hendricks County Coroner's Office pointed to a violent altercation that had taken place inside the home.
Investigators determined that the incident was a murder-suicide. It is believed that during the altercation, Barri Cook shot Dianne multiple times before turning the gun on himself, dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. While authorities had been called to the residence for a previous welfare check, that visit had not revealed any immediate cause for concern. Following the discovery, detectives continued to investigate the circumstances leading up to the deaths, including a review of 911 call logs to determine if there was a history of domestic violence at the address. Authorities also sought assistance from the community in locating any family members or legal next of kin for Barri Cook.
