I SURVIVED A SERIAL KILLER: The Cook Brothers

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Cold Case Files – "I SURVIVED A SERIAL KILLER: The Cook Brothers"

Podcast: Cold Case Files (A&E / PodcastOne)
Host/Narrator: Marisa Pinson
Date: February 28, 2026
Episode Theme:
This episode of Cold Case Files explores the harrowing crimes of Anthony and Nathaniel Cook—serial killers whose reign of terror gripped Toledo, Ohio, in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Through first-person survivor testimony, expert commentary, and investigative detail, the episode chronicles the long investigation, the Cook brothers’ brutal methods, and the eventual breakthrough in their cold case thanks to the resilience of victims and advances in forensic technology.

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Main Theme & Purpose

• The central theme revolves around the Cook brothers’ serial killings in Toledo, their brazen violence, the fear instilled in the community, and the courage of survival in the face of unimaginable horror.
• Focus is given to survivor Cheryl Fran, whose testimony brings the crimes to life and underscores the lasting impact on victims.
• The episode documents how persistence from investigators and technological advances finally brought justice, closing multiple cold cases.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Context: Unprecedented Violence in Toledo

• Narrator Warning: The episode contains stories involving violence against children. Listener discretion is advised. (00:30)
• Investigator: Anthony and Nathaniel Cook recognized as perpetrators of a "decades-long killing spree unprecedented in Toledo history." (00:39)
• Legal Analyst: Describes the brothers as “ruthless, evil, demonic, psychopathic.” (00:43)

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2. Survivor Testimony: Cheryl Fran's Ordeal

Cheryl Fran recounts her attack in January 1980:

• She was 18, living with her boyfriend Bud and their child.
• Attacked walking home with Bud, threatened with a handgun, forced to put on ski masks. (01:46–04:08)

  "My heart started beating really fast...all I could think of was, he was gonna kill me and then go and get my son." — Cheryl Fran (03:29)

• Led into a garage by two armed men, both were raped and assaulted at gunpoint and knifepoint. Cheryl heard the gun click back and knew their intention was to kill. (04:19–07:17)

  "They put the gun to Bud's head...The second one told the first one, 'Tony, I will go first,' and that's when I was told to take my pants down...When they were done, one of the guys told Bud to hold me tight. 'Cause it would be the last time that he would hold me." — Cheryl Fran (05:51–07:17)

• Bud and Cheryl were shot; Cheryl was severely injured. They went door to door for help, repeatedly rejected until a third household let them in. (08:45–10:02)

  "With a bullet in me. It was at the third house. The man, he let me come in. Bud sat me there and called the ambulance...I thought for pretty sure I was going to be gone, I was not going to make it. And then I blacked out." — Cheryl Fran (09:13–10:02)

• Cheryl survived, but spent four weeks in the hospital where injuries included a collapsed lung, internal bleeding, and organ damage. (12:25)

  "I woke up from the hospital...the doctor said that my right lung collapsed and the bullet hit my pancreas, my liver, and I had internal bleeding in my ovaries." — Cheryl Fran (12:25)

• She gave a description: two Black men, one with a beard, one in a green army coat. This matched the earlier Sandra Pogorski and Tommy Gordon case, suggesting a serial attack pattern. (12:59)

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3. The Crime Wave: Pattern of Killings and Assaults

• Earlier case: Sandra Pogorski and Tommy Gordon, another young couple attacked in their car—Sandra raped and stabbed, Tommy shot. Sandra survived and noticed a man called "King." (04:53–05:45)
• Multiple other murders detailed, including:
  • Connie Sue Thompson (19) killed and dumped in a culvert. (07:17–07:51)
  • 12-year-old Dawn Backus found murdered in an abandoned theater. (13:20–13:36)
  • Scott Moulton and Denise Ziokowski, brutally murdered. (13:36–13:46)
  • Darrell Cole and Stacy Balanik, beaten to death—variation in weapons used as killers sought not to create a "consistent MO." (13:54–14:10)
• Police were overwhelmed, cases going cold due to lack of forensic evidence and mounting fear in the community. (07:51–08:04, 14:10)

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4. Break in the Case: The Sawicki Attack and Identification

• In September of the same year, another violent attack in a van led to the death of Peter Sawicki; two survivors, Leslie and Todd, gave detailed descriptions. (14:19–14:50)

  "He was a bearded black man. That certainly matched the description in several other attacks." — Legal Analyst (14:50)

• Police sketch released; informant recognized Anthony "Tony" Cook. (15:05–15:13)

  "Several days later, a police informant said that, hey, that looks like my friend Tony Cook." — Investigator (15:05–15:13)

• Anthony Cook arrested and convicted for Sawicki's murder in 1982. Still, no evidence tying him to earlier murders, and a second suspect remained at large. (15:27–16:05)

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5. Lingering Fear and the Elusive Second Killer

• Cheryl Fran lived in fear for 15 years knowing the second man was free. (16:05, 16:52)

  "Maybe he's here. Maybe he's looking for me. I was constantly watching over my shoulder." — Cheryl Fran (16:52)

• Nathaniel Cook was suspected but not identified in lineups by surviving victims, allowing him to "blend back into society." (16:29–16:39)

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6. Cold Case Breakthrough: DNA Evidence and Confessions

• In 1997, new DNA technology identified two profiles in evidence from the 1980 attacks—matching Tony and Nathaniel Cook. (16:58–17:15)
• Both brothers arrested, charged in old murders and rapes. Cheryl receives news with relief. (17:30–17:43)

  "When I found out that they finally caught both of them, I thought everything was going to be okay. And I felt relieved." — Cheryl Fran (17:43)

• Prosecutors make a controversial plea deal: Nathaniel would serve 20 years and be released if both brothers confessed to all crimes. (18:02–18:17)

  "They agreed to let Nathaniel Cook out of prison. And after 20 years, if they admitted to everything..." — Legal Analyst (18:02)

• Tony admits to all killings; Nathaniel confesses to three murders. Tony receives another life sentence, Nathaniel 20 years. (18:34–18:52)

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7. Lasting Impact and Reflection

• Cheryl acknowledges relief but reflects on how trauma left lasting scars—her relationship with Bud did not survive the aftermath. (18:59–19:15)

  "I was happy that they were both put away. But my life was never the same again. Bud and I separated probably about a year after it happened. He couldn't cope with me being attacked." — Cheryl Fran (18:59)

• Legal analyst closes by praising Cheryl’s strength:

  "This case highlights the different faces of humanity. On the one hand you had pure evil, but on the other hand you have the strength, the perseverance, the courage of Cheryl." — Legal Analyst (19:15)

• Cheryl’s closing words are powerful and resolute:

  "What I want to say to Anthony and Nathaniel is you may took my innocence and my dignity away when I was 18, but I'm 58 years old right now and there's nothing you can do no more to harm me or hurt me. I was able to rebuild my life. I am through with being a victim. I am a survivor." — Cheryl Fran (19:33)

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Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• "My heart started beating really fast...all I could think of was, he was gonna kill me and then go and get my son." — Cheryl Fran (03:29)
• "They put the gun to Bud's head...The second one told the first one, 'Tony, I will go first'...I was raped by both of them." — Cheryl Fran (07:15)
• "With a bullet in me. It was at the third house. The man, he let me come in. Bud sat me there and called the ambulance...I thought for pretty sure I was going to be gone..." — Cheryl Fran (09:13)
• "Maybe he's here. Maybe he's looking for me. I was constantly watching over my shoulder." — Cheryl Fran (16:52)
• "When I found out that they finally caught both of them, I thought everything was going to be okay. And I felt relieved." — Cheryl Fran (17:43)
• "What I want to say to Anthony and Nathaniel is you may took my innocence and my dignity away...but I'm 58 years old right now...I am through with being a victim. I am a survivor." — Cheryl Fran (19:33)

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Timeline of Key Events

• 00:30–07:17: Cheryl Fran’s abduction, assault, and survival.
• 07:17–10:02: Aftermath—search for help, medical crisis, hospital recovery.
• 12:25–12:59: Cheryl’s detailed police report and the connection to a wider pattern.
• 13:20–14:10: Escalation of murders, rising public fear.
• 14:19–15:27: The crucial Sawicki case; suspect identification, Tony Cook’s arrest.
• 16:05–16:58: Lingering threat; 15 years with the second killer free.
• 17:15–18:52: DNA testing, arrest and confession, trials and sentences.
• 18:59–19:33: Survivors’ healing and impact of trauma.

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Conclusion

This episode of Cold Case Files is a chilling yet inspirational account of survival and justice. Through the detailed, emotional account of Cheryl Fran and expert analysis, listeners come away with a sense of the horror the Cook brothers inflicted, as well as the resilience of those who survived and those who doggedly pursued justice on their behalf. The show captures both the darkness of unchecked violence and the light of survivor’s strength, concluding on a note of hope and empowerment.

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Transcript

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[Narrator]

This episode contains stories involving violence against children. Listener discretion is advised. Anthony and Nathaniel Cook have been arrested

[Investigator/Reporter]

after a decades long killing spree unprecedented in Toledo history.

[Legal Analyst/Commentator]

These serial killers were ruthless, evil, demonic, psychopathic.

[Voice Actor/Storyteller]

This campaign, two hours sure they was dead.

[Cheryl Fran (Survivor)]

He started coming across the street. My heart started beating really fast.

[Voice Actor/Storyteller]

Walking garage around the corner.

[Cheryl Fran (Survivor)]

I heard the gun click back and that's when I knew they were going to kill me.

[Voice Actor/Storyteller]

Right then I had them hug each other.

[Cheryl Fran (Survivor)]

I pleaded with them to please let us go and they said no, that my time will come and shot him.

[Voice Actor/Storyteller]

One time I seen him walking down the street, then got out the truck and followed up.

[Investigator/Reporter]

Behind him had to come real people

[Narrator]

who faced death and live to tell how this is. I survived a serial killer.

[Cheryl Fran (Survivor)]

I am Cheryl Fran and I survived a serial killer. In January 1980, I was 18 years old and I was taking care of my 2 year old. My son's father and I, we were living together in Toledo. His name was Bud. Bud was a meat cutter at a local grocery store. We didn't have a car so I would walk to the store to meet him so he wouldn't have to walk by himself. That night. Bud's brother Don was with my son. Around 12:30, I walked down Seeger Street. It took me about 15 minutes to walk to the store. I met Bud and we went back the same way that I came. We were within 20ft of our house. I seen a man across the street in a green army jacket and a ski cap. He started walking a little bit faster and then he started coming across the street. My heart started beating really fast and I looked at Bud and he just said, don't worry, you're with me. He came up to us. He was a black man with a beard. And the next thing I knew he pulled a handgun. It was the first gun I've ever seen in my life. It crossed my mind that this is a robbery. We offered Bud's watch, wallet just so he would leave us alone. He put his hand out for us to give him the stuff, and he just stuck it in his pocket. I thought, okay, he. He's going to let us leave. That's all he wanted. And then he threw two ski caps at us and told us to put them over our face. The man said, they'll shoot you if you start to run. I have the ski mask over my face. It wasn't totally blacked out. You could see through the fabric. It was very dark. I didn't know what was going to happen. And then I remember in Bud's wallet was our address where our son was at. All I could think of was, he was gonna kill me and then go and get my son. And that's when he made us walk down an alley.

[Narrator]

This is the voice of Anthony Cook.

[Voice Actor/Storyteller]

Walking through the alley, walking through the Vanit garage around the corner.

[Cheryl Fran (Survivor)]

He pushed the gun in Bud's back and told us to stop right here. I was able to look a little bit then because I lifted my mask up. Someone was coming. He was very tall, and he was husky, and he had an army jacket on. 2. He waved in the first one, and my heart dropped. That's when I realized there was two of them. My heart started beating even faster.

[Narrator]

Brian Duggar is an investigative journalist.

[Legal Analyst/Commentator]

About eight months before Cheryl and Bud were attacked, there was a young couple, Sandra Pogorski and Tommy Gordon, that were sitting in a car. Two black men forced their way into the car and took them to a field in western Lucas County.

[Voice Actor/Storyteller]

Got the guy out. He broke and ran, and I think I shot three or four times, and he was on the ground.

[Narrator]

Terry Austin is a legal analyst.

[Investigator/Reporter]

At that point, Sandra was raped and stabbed multiple times.

[Legal Analyst/Commentator]

They left her for dead, but she did survive. Then she eventually was able to get help. And Sandra told police one of them was bearded. And she said one person called the other abductor King.

[Investigator/Reporter]

But there was nothing else for the police to go on, and the case eventually went cold.

[Cheryl Fran (Survivor)]

They just told us to go into the garage. Bud was trying to stay cool so he wouldn't agitate them. I was hysterical. My heart hurt from being scared. I pleaded with them to please let us go. And they said no, that my time will come. They put the gun to Bud's head. And then the first one had a knife to my throat. The second one told the first one, tony, I will go first. And that's when I was told to take my pants down. I was in shock, and I refused. And that's when he took the knife deeper into my throat. I heard the gun click back. And that's when I knew they were gonna kill me. Right then, part of me wished that they would've just killed me. I was raped by both of them. I couldn't catch my breath. My heart was pounding so fast it felt like I could have had a heart attack. When they were done, one of the guys told Bud to hold me tight. Cause it would be the last time that he would hold me. I was petrified who was going to raise my son. That's all I could think about. We just kept telling each other we loved each other and things were going to be okay. Even though we were pretty sure they weren't.

[Legal Analyst/Commentator]

Ten days before Cheryl was attacked, police find the naked body of 19 year old Connie Sue Thompson in a culvert out in rural Lucas County.

[Voice Actor/Storyteller]

I couldn't let her go and I just picked up a piece of wire and started choking her.

[Legal Analyst/Commentator]

At this point, police did not necessarily make a connection with the Gordon and Pogorski abduction. But this was another young woman who was taken off the streets of Toledo and ended up dead.

[Investigator/Reporter]

The body was decomposed and so the authorities were not able to get much forensic evidence. There wasn't anything that the authorities could use to try to track down any particular suspects.

[Cheryl Fran (Survivor)]

In a garage, Bud held me so tight that it felt like I couldn't breathe even more.

[Voice Actor/Storyteller]

I had them hug each other and shot.

[Cheryl Fran (Survivor)]

One time I heard the gun go off, but I didn't feel where it went in. There was no pain at that point, but I started screaming and then they ran out. I think it was because they only had one bullet.

[Legal Analyst/Commentator]

The fact that they had only one bullet indicated that there wasn't any premeditation on the part of whoever did this. The urge just took over them to abduct this couple.

[Cheryl Fran (Survivor)]

Because I did not feel the bullet go in me. I thought everything was going to be fine, but Bud made me turn around. There was a big puddle of blood. That's when we realized I was hit. Bud wanted to call the ambulance or the police because he was afraid I was gonna die. Right there. I could see our house, but we didn't go home because my son was there. If I did die, I wouldn't have wanted to be in the apartment with him there. The first house we went to, they wouldn't answer the door. The second house there was a little old lady. She seen me bleeding and she told us to go away. And I thought, I'm dead for sure. Because I couldn't keep moving from house to house. With a bullet in me. It was at the third house. The man, he let me come in. Bud sat me there and called the ambulance. The wait seemed like forever. I was bleeding all over the place. I had a hard time breathing and I got really weak. Everything was like a blur. I thought for pretty sure I was going to be gone, I was not going to make it. And then I blacked out.

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[Cheryl Fran (Survivor)]

When I woke up from the hospital, I remembered everything. The two men, the rape, the gunshot. Bud was hysterical, so they sedated him. The doctor said that my right lung collapsed and the bullet hit my pancreas, my liver, and I had internal bleeding in my ovaries. I was in the hospital for four weeks. When the police come out, I was able to give them a full description.

[Legal Analyst/Commentator]

That description was two black men, one bearded, one wearing a green army coat. And one of the attackers had been identified as Tony. That matched the description in the Sandra Bugorski and Thomas Gordon case. At that point, police believe that they were dealing with possibly serial killers.

[Investigator/Reporter]

Just two weeks later, the police found the body of 12 year old Dawn Backus. She was found in an abandoned theater in the basement.

[Voice Actor/Storyteller]

Picked up a cinder block and I throwed the cinder block on the head.

[Legal Analyst/Commentator]

In late March, another young couple, Scott Moulton and Denise Ziokowski, were brutally murdered.

[Voice Actor/Storyteller]

Open up the trunk and. And fired multiple times to make sure that they were dead.

[Investigator/Reporter]

Just a few months later, Darrell Cole and Stacy Balanik were found in the trunk of their car, beaten to death.

[Voice Actor/Storyteller]

I had used a gun before and I didn't want to get a consistent MO and they conveniently brought a baseball bat.

[Legal Analyst/Commentator]

This was a really terrifying time in Toledo. Bodies were starting to pile up. The police still had no suspects.

[Investigator/Reporter]

Then in September, a tragic event blew the case wide open. Todd Sabo, Leslie Sawicki and Leslie's father, Peter Sawicki, were attacked by an individual in the back of a van.

[Legal Analyst/Commentator]

A fight broke out and the suspect shot Peter Sawicki and shot Sabo multiple times.

[Investigator/Reporter]

Tragically, Peter ends up dying. The police were able to get a detailed description of the attacker from both Leslie and Todd.

[Legal Analyst/Commentator]

He was a bearded black man. That certainly matched the description in several other attacks.

[Investigator/Reporter]

Ultimately, the sketch artist was able to draw a picture that could be disseminated into the public.

[Legal Analyst/Commentator]

Several days later, a police informant said that, hey, that looks like my friend Tony Cook.

[Investigator/Reporter]

Tony Cook was a handyman and back in the 70s, he actually served some time for armed robbery. Anthony Cook perfectly matched the sketch. So the police arrest him.

[Legal Analyst/Commentator]

They had him in the Peter Sawicki case because you had two surviving witnesses who both identified him. Police believed that Tony Cook was behind the other attacks, but unfortunately, they did not have any concrete evidence to tie him to those cases.

[Investigator/Reporter]

On March 13, 1982, Anthony Cook was convicted of killing Peter Zywicki, and he received a life sentence. But there's still one big problem. Police know that there is a second suspect out there, and they still haven't caught him.

[Cheryl Fran (Survivor)]

I worried about the other one. I was afraid that he could find me.

[Legal Analyst/Commentator]

Police knew that Peter Sawicki murder was the one that Tony Cook committed by himself. But there were two men involved in many of these killings. And by some of the descriptions given to them, that person did sort of match Tony's younger brother, Nathaniel Cook.

[Investigator/Reporter]

Unfortunately, a photo of Nathaniel Cook was put in a lineup, and neither Sandra Pigorski or Cheryl Bartlett were able to identify him.

[Legal Analyst/Commentator]

He just kind of blended back into society for the next 15 years. And when you think about Cheryl, it meant she had to live with the fear for the longest time.

[Cheryl Fran (Survivor)]

Maybe he's here. Maybe he's looking for me. I was constantly watching over my shoulder.

[Investigator/Reporter]

Fifteen years later, in 1997, the Lucas county prosecutor learned some new information about DNA testing. So they decide to use this new tool on some of the unsolved murders back in the 1980s.

[Legal Analyst/Commentator]

In Sandra Pigorski's underwear, they found some semen stains. And when they sent it away for testing, they were able to actually determine that there were two distinct profiles. Tony, Nathaniel Cook.

[Investigator/Reporter]

Nathaniel Cook was immediately arrested. And of course, Anthony Cook was already serving time in prison. Both were charged with the murder of Tom Gordon and the rape of his girlfriend, Sandra.

[Cheryl Fran (Survivor)]

When I found out that they finally caught both of them, I thought everything was going to be okay. And I felt relieved.

[Investigator/Reporter]

At this point, the police want to solve all these other crimes, too. Unfortunately, they don't have DNA evidence to connect the brothers to those crimes.

[Legal Analyst/Commentator]

Eventually, the prosecutors cut a deal. They agreed to let Nathaniel Cook out of prison. And after 20 years, if they admitted

[Investigator/Reporter]

to everything, both brothers thought this was a good deal. So they agreed to talk.

[Voice Actor/Storyteller]

Let's start on Bartlett, the one in the garage.

[Legal Analyst/Commentator]

Can you fill us in on that one?

[Voice Actor/Storyteller]

I had a robbed. I think I took the dude to watch. I felt it away later raped the girl. Nathaniel was with me.

[Legal Analyst/Commentator]

Tony ultimately admitted to all the killings. The police certainly believe that he was involved in others. Nathaniel only admitted to killing three. Dawn Backus, Tommy Gordon, and Connie Sue Thompson.

[Investigator/Reporter]

Tony Cook received another life sentence. Nathaniel cook actually received 20 years because of the plea deal.

[Cheryl Fran (Survivor)]

I felt relieved and I was happy that they were both put away. But my life was never the same again. Bud and I separated probably about a year after it happened. He couldn't cope with me being attacked.

[Legal Analyst/Commentator]

This case highlights the different faces of humanity. On the one hand you had pure evil, but on the other hand you have the strength, the perseverance, the courage of Cheryl.

[Cheryl Fran (Survivor)]

What I want to say to Anthony and Nathaniel is you may took my innocence and my dignity away when I was 18, but I'm 58 years old right now and there's nothing you can do no more to harm me or hurt me. I was able to rebuild my life. I am through with being a victim. I am a survivor.

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[Cheryl Fran (Survivor)]

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