GODFREY — A Godfrey teen charged with terrorism threatened to harm people at a school, according to a sworn statement by his grandmother in a petition to become her grandson’s legal guardian.
Debra D. Thomas, the grandmother of Keaun L. Cook, 18, said her grandson threatened Aug. 24 “to go to school and harm people,” according to a petition she submitted to request temporary guardianship. Thomas called police and Cook was taken to Gateway Medical Center in Granite City, where he stayed until Aug. 29.
Cook remains in custody at the Madison County Jail on one count of providing material support or resources to a terrorist organization and one count of making a terrorist threat — both felonies.
Thomas, 56, requested she be appointed temporary guardian of Cook because his father, a felon, is residing in a federal prison. Cook’s mother died in 2011.
Cook’s mental and physical welfare would be best protected by appointing his grandmother as guardian, “because he has become a threat to himself and other people,” according to the petition, signed Aug. 31.
Thomas also said in her sworn statement that her grandson is “schizophrenic and refuses to take his medication.”
Judge Jennifer Hightower on Friday ordered that Cook undergo a mental evaluation to determine if he is fit to stand for trial. Daniel Cuneo, a Belleville-based doctor, will perform the evaluation. Cook’s mental illness qualifies him as a disabled adult, making his grandmother eligible to become his guardian, even though he is 18.
The Third Judicial Circuit Court of Madison County on Tuesday ordered Thomas be appointed Cook’s guardian, authorized to make “any necessary medical decisions.”
Hightower questioned Cook earlier this week during a bond hearing, which was once again postponed Friday until the evaluation is complete. In the evaluation order, Hightower said after observing Cook, she found “there is a bonafide doubt about the defendant’s fitness for trial.”
The first hearing in Cook’s case was held Wednesday after State’s Attorney Tom Gibbons filed a motion late last week to withhold bail for Cook. Gibbons said Cook is too dangerous to be released. The judge decided to postpone the hearing after Cook’s attorney, public defender John Rekowski, requested more time to evaluate Gibbons’ motion.
The bond hearing, which will take place after the mental evaluation, has not yet been rescheduled. Cook will be held without bail in the meantime.
