911 call reveals last moments of woman's life
The pressing nature of the call was not relayed to police by the dispatcher
The Associated Press
DALLAS — A television station has broadcast a leaked copy of a terrified woman's call to 911 last summer just before she was killed in a case that has prompted widespread changes in the way police respond to reported domestic disturbances.
The lack of urgency by police to 32-year-old Deanna Cook's Aug. 17 call caused a public outcry and led to the punishment of dispatchers and the review of police procedures.
Dallas police have declined to release the recording but a copy was leaked to Dallas station WFAA, which broadcast a portion of it Wednesday.
Cook is heard in the background pleading with her attacker not to harm her. She never spoke with the dispatcher after she called 911 on her cellphone because she was too busy frantically begging for her life.
The pressing nature of the call was not relayed to police by the dispatcher. Officers went to Cook's home nearly an hour later, found nothing amiss and left. It wasn't until two days later that her body was discovered in an overflowing bathtub after her family had called 911 expressing concern for her safety.
Cook's former husband, Delvecchio Patrick, was later arrested and charged with killing her. He has not entered a plea in the case and remains in custody on a $500,000 bond. His attorney, Roger Lenox, would only comment Thursday that Patrick is "innocent until proven guilty."
Cook had called 911 several times in the months before her death to express concern about Patrick and what she described as his threatening, violent behavior.
Cook's death led to a flurry of changes by Dallas leaders who acknowledge operators are sometimes forced to work long hours and handle an overwhelming volume of calls. Officials hired more operators, changed how calls are logged and assured residents that their 911 calls won't go ignored.
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Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Caroline Mitchell Friday, March 08, 2013 6:27:30 PM an almost identical situation ended in the caller's death in pittsburgh. The terrified victim had called 911, speaking softly because her assailant was in the house and she did not want him to hear her. the dispatcher believed the caller was was 'calm' and attached no urgency to the call when she reported it to police. police showed up some time later; the attacker answered the door and assured the police that e everything was fine. teh police never asked to speak directly to the caller. a day later the caller was found murdered. due to a strong dispatch union, it is unlikely that those involved will see any meaningful discipline. 
Carol Chambers Weindruch Saturday, March 09, 2013 2:21:23 PM The victim is primarily responsible for her death. It clearly states she called often because of the suspects violent behavior. Police can respond slowly or quickly but when that violent person decides this is the day they are going to kill their victim it doesn't really matter. It takes only seconds to kill someone and a phone call to 911 isn't going to help. The victim knew the risk an chose to stay. We has a people have got to teach abuse victims to GET out of the abusive relationships. You can't save someone who refuses to see the danger! 
Jessica Krause Saturday, March 09, 2013 2:40:56 PM Really?! Id think the responsibility would fall w the killer, but stupid me. What do I know? Thats like sayin a woman who is a flirt is responsible for her rape. What the hell is wrong with you?! 
Sarah Zed Saturday, March 09, 2013 2:49:07 PM Ummm Carol. She DID get out of the relationship. She moved around. She SAW the danger. People like YOU are the problem.
Michael Hatfield Saturday, March 09, 2013 3:19:11 PM Carol, your ignorance is overwhelming.
Your remark "The victim knew the risk an chose to stay." Shows that either you failed to watch the video or read the story, or that you are unable to comprehend the details of the story. The killer was her ex husband, so she DID in fact try to leave.
You go on to say "We has (sic) a people have got to teach abuse victims to GET out of the abusive relationships." She tried, she left him, she divorced him and she moved, what else would you suggest that she do? When is it no longer her responsibility to do something more, and the ex husbands responsibility to man up and leave her alone?
You closed with this, "You can't save someone who refuses to see the danger!". Again, your ignorance to this case is remarkable, she did see the danger, she tried to deal with it by moving, by contacting law enforcement, by filing complaints and the advice she gets from the very department that failed to act was 'don't open the door'.
I would suggest you do some research on abusive relationships, then come back and apologize for your stupidity, those of us who understand will be here waiting.
Jason Koontz Saturday, March 09, 2013 6:00:10 PM Good lord I hope you have nothing to do with any emergency response agency. That has to be the most ignorant comment I've heard in all my years. Tell you what. If thats what you think, I'll give you an invite. Step on down to a local woman's shelter, or do a ride-along with an agency of your choosing, be it police, fire, emergency medical services, or even in a dispatch center. I'll bet my next 3 paychecks that comment will not only get retracted, you'll lose your lunch at the thought it was ever made
Michael N. Ruff Monday, March 11, 2013 4:35:35 PM Carol wins the clueless response of the week award. 
Marie Glasser Saturday, March 09, 2013 5:48:31 PM Carol, obviously you have never been in an abusive relationship or been in a situation like this. I was abused for many years, left several times and each time he found me and beat me even worse. I tried to call police in on town and over heard the officer tell my then husband that "EVERY NOW AND THEN HIS WIFE NEEDS TO BE SMACKED AROUND BUT HE MAKES SURE SHE DOESN'T CALL ANYONE" I have also been an 9-1-1 dispatcher and know that restraining orders don't work, if the person wants to get to the victim a piece of paper is not going to stop them and have heard more nastiness and violence on the phone than I ever imagined. I was also a fire fighter and have seen what happens when calls go unanswered or delayed or even when calls haven't been made because of fear or more and often times worse violence. To say that it was the victims fault in this situations is not only rediculous but as ignorance as can be. I agree with Jessica when she asked if a rape victim is to blame if she is dressed nice and is friendly. People like you who have clearly never been in this sort of situation find it easy to pass judgement and clearly have no idea what you are talking about. The dispatcher in each of the calls never once asked anything about the stalker, if there were weapons, or if there was in fact any restraining orders in place, and for the final call (in the dispatch center I worked in) if I had taken a call like that especially seeing the name and quite possibly knowing the history, I would have sent an officer immediately because of what was happening in the back ground. Pull your head out of the dirt, this is real life, not disney land. 
Wayland Slater Monday, March 11, 2013 4:13:29 PM What ever happened to good old fashion common sense? Whether it's a man or woman calling 911 and are begging for their lives, it should take top priority. Especially, even if, it is a "familiar" name or address. When it comes to domestic abuse it can be a one time thing and that's all it takes, or it can be something that esculates each time 911 is called.
And it doesn't have to be a domestic. It could be an assault of any kind.
We all get frustrated over "repeaters" but I learned early in my career. You can't fall into the "boy who called wolf" syndrome. That story has two lessons. One to the boy and the second to those who heard their cries.
Telecomunicators need to listen to not only what is being said or how it is being said, but they need to listen to the background noise. 
Diana Sprain Thursday, March 14, 2013 10:02:22 PM This was a terrible incident. Chances are, any Communications Center has a SOP requiring immediate response REGARDLESS of how calm or hysterical the victim sounded over the phone. Having been around this profession long enough, I know when a Public Safaty Telecommunicator (Dispatcher) hears a person begging for their life, that becomes the highest priority call. It doesn't matter how many times in the past the cops have been to the address before. Law enforcement is required by law to respond.
Dispatchers must act. First, becuase that's what we do. Second, becuase it's called CYA. You might have heard of this acronyn. It means COVER YOUR A*&&*^#.
Domestic violance is at an epidemic level. More people are killed by family members. We can't ignore these pleas for help. Maybe the call you take will be the one when that victim makes that step to break the circle of violence.
Brushing it off as 'it's jsut the Joneses fighting again" and she'll just go back to him is the wrong attitude to take. 
Matthew Ervin Tuesday, March 19, 2013 11:44:11 AM Yep, Carol, you're right, she chose to stay. And also may I add, guns are for protection, if you feel your life is in danger, carry one! use it! Matthew Ervin Tuesday, March 19, 2013 11:51:24 AM I mean, you can only cry wolf so many times.....then when there is really a wolf, nobody is going to "rush" to your aid. 
Liz Willis D'Souza Sunday, March 24, 2013 8:02:17 PM I would think the officers too are partially to blame. When they finally show up to an "urgent" call, they just leave because there is no answer? What if she was not dead yet? He could have been hiding in a closet with her or something. He had all the time in the world after they were gone. 
