Dr Wendy Cook: Beloved South Carolina school principal shot dead by 'acquaintance' in her car
DILON COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA: A man was arrested after the principal of an elementary school in South Carolina was found dead in her car from a gunshot wound. Dr Wendy Cook, 54, was the much beloved principal of Stewart Heights Elementary School, and her death has been ruled a homicide. Her acquaintance has been arrested by authorities and charged with her murder.
Deputies were called to the site of the incident on Saturday, August 20, where they found Wendy's body in the vehicle along with Kyle Church, 31, who was arrested at the scene. According to the authorities, Cook and Kyle were acquaintances. No further detail has been provided regarding their relationship.
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According to People, Church has been charged with one count of murder and one count of possession of a weapon during a violent crime. He is being held without bond.
Dr Cook was employd by the Dillon County School District for over two and a half decades. Students, parents, teachers, and coworkers have been deeply shocked and devastated by the sudden news of her demise.
"Her colleagues and friends in the Dillon County School District 4 talk about the great work she did leading her school and the many impacts she had on her students and staff," State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman said in a statement. "My deepest condolences are with the entire Dillon school community as they grieve this loss."
"Wendy's love for life, learning, children and family was always her driving force," her family wrote in an online obituary. "This was evident in her steadfast march through many degrees and doctrines in Education which yielded over 25 years in this very district. Her dedication across all was only matched by her love of the same."
"Every child deserves a champion, an adult who will never give up on them," the obituary continues, "Who understands the power of connection, and insist that they become the best they possibly [can] be. Dr. Wendy Cook was a true champion, and she will live on in each and every one of us."
Church has not yet filed a plea, and there is no legal representative listed in the court files who is qualified to speak on his behalf. News of further investigation on this incident has not been revealed so far.