Man who killed baby, ex to avoid child support gets two life sentences
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A man has been sentenced to two life sentences for the brutal stabbing deaths of his 4-month-old son and the child’s mother in 2019.
Enoch Turner was found guilty Saturday of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, aggravated arson, and especially aggravated burglary in the deaths of 32-year-old Heather Cook and their son Bentley Cook.
Shelby County Prosecutors said Turner was trying to evade his paternal responsibilities when he killed the mother and child.
They told jurors the night before a scheduled paternity test, Turner broke into Cook’s house and stabbed her over 100 times and then stabbed the infant ten times before setting the house on fire.
The prosecution had been pursuing the death penalty, but after Turner’s conviction, agreed to two consecutive life sentences without the chance of parole. The DA’s office said family members of the victims also agreed to the punishment.
“He will never be released from jail,” said Deputy District Attorney Paul Hagerman. “The family wants everyone to remember that being a mom meant everything to Heather, and even though Bently only lived four months, everyone could tell that his mom meant everything to him. It has always been our mission to ensure that Turner never gets out of jail.”
Hagerman served as a prosecutor on the case along with Chief Prosecutor Eric Christensen.
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