70-year-old Twin Peaks woman arrested in decades-old cold case killing in Crestline
A 70-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of killing a man in Crestline after authorities reopened a 28-year old cold case, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s officials reported.
Diane Elizabeth Cook remained in custody Thursday at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga, with bail set at $1 million, sheriff’s booking records show.
The San Bernardino County Superior Court on Tuesday charged Cook with murder, according to court records, which show no scheduled court date.
Cook was arrested at 1:52 p.m. Wednesday in the 24600 block of Bernard Drive in Crestline on suspicion of killing 35-year-old Rick Hafty, sheriff’s officials reported.
On Feb. 27, 1993, Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Station deputies responded to a call for service at a residence for a shot man. The victim was later identified as Hafty, sheriff’s officials said.
Hafty was transported to San Bernardino Medical Center and was pronounced dead from the gunshot wound. Homicide investigators responded to the location and conducted an investigation. At the time, investigators exhausted all leads and the case remained open.
Cook previously arrested
Sheriff’s deputies reported that Hafty was shot in the 23500 block of Lake Drive in Crestline. An unidentified woman had called authorities to report she had shot her boyfriend after a dispute, the San Bernardino County Sun reported in 1993.
Deputies later arrested Diane Cook, then 41, of Crestline for investigation of murder, the Sun reported. Authorities did not disclose details of the investigation, including why Cook was released in the 1993 case. Authorities also did not tell what new evidence led to Cook's latest arrest.
Hafty was a native of Alhambra and worked as a driver for S.E. Pipeline Construction out of Santa Fe Springs.
His survivors at the time were his two daughters, his parents and a sister. A memorial service for Hafty was held at Green Acres Chapel Bloomington.
Cold case reopened
In June 2021, investigators from the Sheriff’s Cold Case Homicide Team re-examined the case and reopened the investigation.
Since that time, investigators conducted numerous interviews and re-examined all the physical evidence related to the investigation.
Investigators eventually identified Cook of Twin Peaks as a suspect and she was arrested on Wednesday, sheriff’s officials said.
The investigation team of detectives included Eric Ogaz, Art Alvarado, District Attorney Investigator Jesse Moon, Fontana Police Detective Katie Clark, Deputy District Attorney Lloyd Masson and Sergeant Justin Giles.
Anyone with information about the ongoing investigation is asked by the sheriff's department to contact Detective Eric Ogaz or Sergeant Justin Giles at 909-387-3589. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78CRIME (27463) or may leave the information on the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Instagram @RenegadeReporter and Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: 70-year-old woman arrested in cold case killing in Crestline
