Reginald Cook

David Graham's Story

A Hard-Working Family Man

August 3,1983 started out the same as any other day for the Graham family. As he did every morning, 55-year-old David Graham kissed his wife Patricia goodbye and the Grahams told each other “love you” as David left for work.

Mr. Graham was the owner of Graham and Colton TV Sales and Service in Clintonville, Ohio. He had worked there since coming out of the Navy, where he proudly served in both World War II and the Korean War. The family-owned store, founded by Mr. Graham’s father Jim, had been in the same location for 60 years and was a staple in the community. Mr. Graham had worked side by side with his father until Jim retired years earlier.

The Graham’s had five adult children. Mr. Graham was an amazing grandfather, father, husband, son, brother, and friend. He lived his faith quietly, his philosophy was “walk it, not talk it.” Mr. Graham was always willing to assist anyone who needed help and if someone came into the store and couldn’t afford repairs on their TV he would do it for free. If a person’s TV was beyond repair and they couldn’t afford a new one he would give them one.

A Cold-Blooded Senseless Murder

On the afternoon of August 3, 1983, Reginald Cook had been watching the store to see when Mr. Graham would be working alone. There were two additional employees working at the time however they were both out on service calls. After confirming Mr. Graham was alone Reginald Cook entered the store. There is little doubt that Mr. Graham greeted Cook with a smile as he did everyone. According to police reports Reginald Cook walked straight up to the counter, put his sunglasses and his can of soda down, and shot Mr. Graham in the chest at close range. No words were exchanged.

Mr. Graham somehow managed to stagger out the back door of the store and stumble to the B&J Tavern next door. He entered the back entrance of the tavern and told the owner he had been shot and asked him to call the squad. It was truly a miracle that Mr. Graham, who was mortally wounded, was able to make it next door and give detailed information about his assailant the first police officer on the scene. Authorities told the Graham family that Mr. Graham should have died instantly at the scene from the fatal wound administered by Reginald Cook.

Mr. Graham told the police officer that the killer had left behind sunglasses and a pop can, and then he stated “he didn’t have to do that. He didn’t have to shoot me”. Mr. Graham was right, Reginald Cook didn’t have to shoot him. He would have let him take anything in the store that he desired, just not his life. Mr. Graham was rushed to the hospital where he died from his injury a few hours later.

An Inspiration To Many

Mr. Graham was well known in neighborhood and for the large sign hanging in the front window of his store. It featured a different bible verse every day and was an inspiration to the many people who passed by the shop.

The Graham family did not have any idea how many people had been encouraged by the shop’s window sign until Mr. Graham’s funeral. Total strangers came to the funeral home to tell the Mr. Graham’s family how much the messages had meant to them. Many claimed it gave them encouragement when they needed it most. A local dentist said “It was a kind of beacon to me that I looked forward to seeing at the end of every day on my way home. I had always admired him. Mr. Graham wasn’t afraid to express his faith.” One of Mr. Graham’s children stated, “We admired our dad for the person we knew him to be but to hear from perfect strangers about the impact he had on their lives was such a blessing to us.”

A Killer On The Run

Cook spent over two months evading authorities as police continued the search for Mr. Graham’s killer. During his time as a fugitive Cook and an accomplice decided to rob a Curtis Mathis electronics store. On September 18, 1983, Cook and the accomplice stormed the Curtis Mathis store and forced two college age employees to lie on the floor. Cook and his accomplice held the employees hostage at gunpoint, bound their hands and feet, and proceeded to rob the store. According to the employees Cook wanted to kill them however the accomplice managed to talk him out of it. A short time later police had identified Cook as the suspect in the murder of David Graham. Realizing he had been identified Cook turned himself into authorities on October 13, 1983.

A Long Criminal History

Reginald Cook was a career criminal with a very lengthy juvenile record. He also had two prior adult felony cases however he faced no real consequences for his actions. Cook committed a breaking and entering with a gun in 1979 for which he was sentenced to 1 to 5 years but was released early on parole. Almost immediately after being released he committed an aggravated robbery with a gun specification. He received a sentence of 6 to 25 years and only served only 19 months of his sentence. Shortly after being paroled for that crime Cook murdered David Graham.

A Convicted Killer With Zero Remorse

After Graham’s arrest police matched fingerprints found on the soft-drink bottle and sunglasses that were found in the store to Cook. Cook also matched the description Mr. Graham gave police before he died. It took a jury only one hour to find Cook guilty of murdering Mr. Graham.

Franklin County Judge Dale Crawford sentenced Reginald Cook to 15 years to life in prison plus 3 additional years for using a gun to kill Mr. Graham. That sentence was to be served in addition to his previous sentences that were not fulfilled as a result of Cook being paroled. At sentencing Cook showed absolutely no remorse and continued to deny being in the store despite the fingerprint evidence found in the shop. Cook was never charged for the Curtis Mathis robbery likely because he received a life sentence for Mr. Graham’s murder and no one expected him to be released a third time.

No Parole

Reginald Cook is a career criminal who has no remorse, no conscience, and has no respect for human life. Cook has been in trouble with the law his entire life. Twice the Ohio Parole Board gave Cook the chance to redeem himself. Rather than take advantage of these opportunities Cook continued his criminal activities resulting in the senseless murder of David Graham. Reginald Cook has been given far too many breaks and does not deserve any more chances or the privilege of freedom.

Releasing Reginald Cook at any point would be a complete injustice to David Graham and the entire Graham family. In addition, paroling Reginald Cook at any time would pose a very serious risk to the community, especially local businesses and their employees. To further the interests of justice and protect society we urge The Ohio Parole Board to give Reginald Cook the maximum ten-year continuance before his next parole hearing.