Alleged murder victim identified in neighbour swap love triangle after woman left female partner for man next door and 48-year-old ended up dead from multiple stab wounds
An alleged victim of a lovers’ triangle has been identified after her body was left to rot in a house for five days before it was discovered with multiple stab wounds.
Sharn Dee Cook, 48, was in a long-term relationship with Anne-Marie Streek, 40, also known as Annie Ringuett, before Ms Streek took up with next-door neighbour Stephen Henry Evans, 44.
NSW Riot Squad police battered in the door of Evans’ home on Joshua Street, in Goulburn, during a dramatic arrest of him and Streek who were handcuffed and led away before astonished residents on Thursday morning.
It came after police were earlier called to the neighbouring house at 7am on January 3, following a concern for welfare report.
Officers forced entry into the home where they located the body of Ms Cook with multiple stab wounds.
Detectives allege she had been murdered on December 30. Ms Cook’s dachshund is believed to be missing from the home.
Police allege the accused couple visited Lake Burrinjuck near Yass between December 31 and January 3, driving a light blue Toyota Camry and towing a small white fishing boat.
After arresting Streek and Evans, forensic police spent two days seizing alleged evidence.
The body of 48-year-old Sharn Dee Cook (left with her ex-lover Annie Streek) lay with multiple stab wounds for five days in the Goulburn house the women once shared
Police arrested Stephen Henry Evans, 44, who they say became romantically involved with his neighbour Annie Streek before the couple allegedly murdered Ms Streek’s ex-lover Sharn Cook
Detectives alleged Sharn Cook was murdered on December 30 by her ex-partner Annie Streek (right being led away by police) and Ms Streek’s new lover, the women’s neighbour, Stephen Evans. Residents say Sharn Cook’s dog (left) is missing and police say the accused couple drove to Lake Burrunjuck after the alleged murder towing a boat
‘We established that the 48-year-old woman was [allegedly] actually murdered on the 30th of December but her body wasn’t located until the 3rd of January,’ Superintendent Joe Doueihi said.
He said police were still investigating the motive behind the alleged murder but the victim had been in a relationship with the accused woman for ‘several years’ before it ended in May last year.
Police are seeking any information relating to the movements of the accused couple near Lake Burrinjuck in the vehicle with registration CJ49XV, towing the white boat.
Despite changing her Facebook profile picture to one of herself with a man, possibly Evans, Streek kept photographs on her page of herself and Ms Cook with their arms around each other.
In posts made in April 2022, three years before they split, Ms Cook wrote: ‘Look at us, I absolutely love this picture bub. Love you so much, more & more everyday.’
Streek replied: ‘Ohh beautiful … Thanku 4 still being here 4 me even at my worst, I know we have been going through alot but thanku 4 still making sure I was ok.’
Ms Cook responded: ‘Baby I will always be there right by your side, as I said in my vows, i’m always going to be there in all things good or bad, I’ve always got you no matter what ok. “Set in stone” “By your side” you don’t need to thank me, i’m your person, even when things are blank, and you disappear (loose time) i’m always going to be here for you and to help you through your toughest of challenges that life throws your way. You are my person and I love you so much.’
Police charged Streek and Evans with domestic violence-related murder and the pair faced court on Friday where they did not apply for bail.
In Facebook posts three years before Annie Streek (left) allegedly murdered her, Sharn Cook (right) wrote, ‘Baby, I’m always going to be there in all things good or bad … and to help you through your toughest of challenges that life throws your way’
Police believe the accused couple visited Lake Burrinjuck near Yass between December 31 and January 3 driving a light blue Toyota Camry and towing a small white fishing boat
Next-door neighbour Stephen Henry Evans under arrest in his shorts and placed into a police paddy wagon before being taken off and charged with murder
The relationship between Sharn Cook and Annie Streek (above, together in 2022) broke down in May last year, police say, seven months before the alleged murder
They are due to appear before Goulburn Local Court on April 15.
Superintendent Doueihi said the alarm was raised by a friend of Ms Cook after the woman failed to turn up to an appointment.
He confirmed Streek and Ms Cook had been in a relationship for several years and had lived together at the Joshua Street address where Ms Cook’s body was found.
