MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A southeast Shelby County man has been indicted in the stabbing deaths of his former girlfriend and their 5-month-old son who were found in their burning house last year, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.
Enoch Zarceno Turner, 25, was indicted on first-degree murder charges, aggravated child abuse, aggravated arson and especially aggravated burglary.
Sheriff’s deputies last Sept. 13 were called to the residence in the 6900 block of Bennington Circle where a family member found the house filled with smoke.
In an upstairs bedroom Heather Cook, 32, and her baby, Bentley, were found dead from multiple stab wounds. A fire centered in the bedroom appeared to have been intentionally set, according to the fire marshal. Relatives said Turner and Cook had been in an argument over child custody issues. Turner was arrested later that day.
The case is being prosecuted by Eric Christensen and Paul Hagerman.
Christensen is Chief Prosecutor of the District Attorney’s Special Victims Unit which handles cases of rape, child sex abuse, severe physical abuse of child victims, elder abuse and vulnerable adult abuse.
Hagerman is Chief Prosecutor of the District Attorney’s Crime Strategies & Narcotics Prosecution Unit which incorporates and expands the work of the Multi-Agency Gang Unit, the Organized Crime Unit, Project Safe Neighborhoods/GunDone, GunStat, the Safe Streets Task Force and the Violent Crime Unit.
The Cook Family released the following statement to Local 24 News:
Our family is relieved to hear of the indictment of Enoch Zarceno Turner in the murders of our beloved family members Heather Reneé Cook and her baby, Bentley Evan Cook, both of Memphis, Tennessee. Heather was a devoted single mother of five-month-old Bentley, who had just begun his life.
“We are grateful that Mr. Turner has been formally indicted for the murders of Heather and Bentley Cook. We see this as a step forward in seeking justice for the murders of our loved ones. We have confidence that Mr. Christensen and Mr. Hagerman will prove his guilt beyond a shadow of a doubt. Justice will be served.”
