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Police Investigating Greenfield Woman's Death

GREENFIELD (KDKA) – A woman was found dead inside her Greenfield home Wednesday and her husband has been taken into custody.

According to police, 57-year-old Lois Cook was found dead in her home in the 4000-block of Windsor Street around 6:30 p.m.

"It was wrapped in a tarp," Lt. Kevin Kraus says. "The body was covered in woodchips  and it was lying on the floor in the basement."

Police were called to the home for a welfare call after Cook's co-workers said she had not been at work for several days.

When police arrived, her husband, Bruce Cook, answered the door and said he had not seen his wife for three days. Cook allowed officers to search the home.

Officers found smeared blood on the floor and eventually found Lois Cook's body in the basement. She was allegedly wrapped up in a tarp and had suffered serious blows to the head and neck.

Upon questioning, Bruce Cook said that he had noticed her body in the basement a couple of days ago and had washed off some of the blood with a hose.

Officers also saw what they believed to be an explosive device made out of aerosol cans, PVC pipe and wires.

The Bomb Squad was called in and determined the device was a fake and the all-clear was given.

"He became involved in an argument with her," Lt. Kraus adds. "He proceeded to hit her with some sort of blunt object. He then proceeded to strike her in the head and neck with a pick ax."

Bruce Cook was taken into custody and charged with criminal homicide, possession of a facsimile of a weapon of mass destruction, abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence. More charges are expected to be filed.

He is being held in the Allegheny County Jail.

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