St. Clair County Judge Held Pending Drug Charge
From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Michael Cook, a St. Clair County judge, was in federal custody Thursday, pending what a source close to the investigation said is a drug-related charge.
The development has thrown fresh scrutiny on the death of another judge, Joseph Christ, 49, whose body was found March 10 in Cook's parents' hunting cabin in Pike County, Ill. It is near Pleasant Hill, about 65 miles northwest of St. Louis.
The source said Christ, 49, died of a drug overdose while at the cabin with Cook and that cocaine was found under his body.
Investigative agencies referred questions to U.S. Attorney Steve Wigginton, who was not available for comment.
Pike County Sheriff Paul Petty, who also is that county's coroner, said today he plans to file a death certificate as soon as Friday, but would not reveal the cause of Christ's death until then.
"The investigation is still open and ongoing," Petty said. "I will not be releasing any facts in the investigation."
FBI agents and sheriff's deputies were searching the cabin this afternoon. They declined comment on the scene.
Cook is the son of Bruce Cook, whose personal injury law practice in Belleville made him rich, and who has been a major contributor to Democratic Party causes, local and national.
A source close to the Cook family said Michael Cook turned to drugs after a sister's death from cancer several years ago.
How the developments might affect cases already heard by Judge Cook remained unclear. He handles criminal cases.
Chief Judge John Baricevic said he moved all Cook's pending cases to another judge, former state's attorney Robert Haida. Acting separately, State's Attorney Brendan Kelly filed motions to move cases away from Cook.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Michael Cook, a St. Clair County judge, was in federal custody Thursday, pending what a source close to the investigation said is a drug-related charge.
The development has thrown fresh scrutiny on the death of another judge, Joseph Christ, 49, whose body was found March 10 in Cook's parents' hunting cabin in Pike County, Ill. It is near Pleasant Hill, about 65 miles northwest of St. Louis.
The source said Christ, 49, died of a drug overdose while at the cabin with Cook and that cocaine was found under his body.
Investigative agencies referred questions to U.S. Attorney Steve Wigginton, who was not available for comment.
Pike County Sheriff Paul Petty, who also is that county's coroner, said today he plans to file a death certificate as soon as Friday, but would not reveal the cause of Christ's death until then.
"The investigation is still open and ongoing," Petty said. "I will not be releasing any facts in the investigation."
FBI agents and sheriff's deputies were searching the cabin this afternoon. They declined comment on the scene.
Cook is the son of Bruce Cook, whose personal injury law practice in Belleville made him rich, and who has been a major contributor to Democratic Party causes, local and national.
A source close to the Cook family said Michael Cook turned to drugs after a sister's death from cancer several years ago.
How the developments might affect cases already heard by Judge Cook remained unclear. He handles criminal cases.
Chief Judge John Baricevic said he moved all Cook's pending cases to another judge, former state's attorney Robert Haida. Acting separately, State's Attorney Brendan Kelly filed motions to move cases away from Cook.
Read more in our daily News Update...