Legislative assistant to NC senator facing arson charges

Tuesday, November 25, 2025
WAKE COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) -- A woman who's a legislative assistant to a North Carolina senator is facing arson charges in Wake County.

Diane Cook, 38, made her first appearance on Tuesday, where a judge set her bond to $150,000 and ordered no contact with any of the victims or any of the neighbors near them.

According to Raleigh Police, Cook allegedly set a townhome on Boca Point in northeast Raleigh on fire last Thursday while two people were inside. Neither of those people was seriously injured.

Police have not released a motive, nor additional details about the investigation, but prosecutors revealed more information on Tuesday.

"The neighbor had doorbell camera video footage showing this defendant allegedly attempted to use a candle to set the connected residence, not the one that was ultimately on fire," the prosecutor said.



According to the prosecutor, neighbors said they've had issues with Cook in the past.

"The neighbors were able to review video footage with law enforcement and said with, according to them, 100% accuracy, that this was somebody that's known to them. They've had issues with her, in their words, stalking them in the past," the prosecutor said.

Cook is the legislative assistant for State Sen. Norman Sanderson.

ABC11 reached out to his office and the NC Senate Leadership for comment, as well as Cook's attorney, to learn more about the circumstances surrounding the charge, but has not heard back.

Cook's next court date is Dec. 16.

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