Betsy Cook was an urban pioneer who encouraged the rebirth of the Lafayette Square area in the city of St. Louis. Cook, a symbol of efforts to bring residents back into the city, had been head of the Lafayette Square Restoration Committee and also president of Neighborhood Marketing Services Inc., a nonprofit organization that promoted residential resettlement in the inner city. She had lived in the neighborhood about 10 years. At the age of 38, she was found stabbed to death in her home. Two decades later, her murder was solved due to a DNA match with a man already serving life in prison for another murder, Danny Kittrell. He was convicted of Betsy's murder and sentenced to another life term. Police believe Kittrell was living several blocks away from Cook's home at the time of her murder but moved out of the city eight days after her death.
Betsy was much-loved by the St. Louis community, as well as her family. A gazebo in Lafayette Park in St. Louis bears Cook's name, remembering her faith in the neighborhood during her eight years as an "urban pioneer."
Betsy was much-loved by the St. Louis community, as well as her family. A gazebo in Lafayette Park in St. Louis bears Cook's name, remembering her faith in the neighborhood during her eight years as an "urban pioneer."
Betsy Cook was an urban pioneer who encouraged the rebirth of the Lafayette Square area in the city of St. Louis. Cook, a symbol of efforts to bring residents back into the city, had been head of the Lafayette Square Restoration Committee and also president of Neighborhood Marketing Services Inc., a nonprofit organization that promoted residential resettlement in the inner city. She had lived in the neighborhood about 10 years. At the age of 38, she was found stabbed to death in her home. Two decades later, her murder was solved due to a DNA match with a man already serving life in prison for another murder, Danny Kittrell. He was convicted of Betsy's murder and sentenced to another life term. Police believe Kittrell was living several blocks away from Cook's home at the time of her murder but moved out of the city eight days after her death.
Betsy was much-loved by the St. Louis community, as well as her family. A gazebo in Lafayette Park in St. Louis bears Cook's name, remembering her faith in the neighborhood during her eight years as an "urban pioneer."
Betsy was much-loved by the St. Louis community, as well as her family. A gazebo in Lafayette Park in St. Louis bears Cook's name, remembering her faith in the neighborhood during her eight years as an "urban pioneer."
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
