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Monday, June 17, 2013

Ind. Woman Sentenced To Die At 16 To Be Released

An Indiana woman put on death row at age 16 for killing an elderly Bible school teacher is scheduled to be released Monday after serving a prison term that was shortened after the state Supreme Court intervened.

Paula Cooper's death sentence at such a young age sparked international protests and a plea for clemency from Pope John Paul II. Now 43 years old, Cooper is being given a second chance at her life.

Cooper was 15 when she and three other teenage girls showed up at Ruth Pelke's house on May 14, 1985, with plans of robbing the 78-year-old Bible school teacher. Pelke let Cooper and two of the teen's companions into her Gary home after they told her they were interested in Bible lessons.

As the fourth teen waited outside as a lookout, Cooper stabbed Pelke 33 times with a butcher knife. Then she and the other girls ransacked the house. The four girls fled with Pelke's car and $10.

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6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Never give evil a second chance. This is one reason why our country has been destroyed from within. The failure to enforce the laws that protect life and a civilized society.

Anonymous said...

Wiki quote: Paula Cooper (born August 25, 1969 in Gary, Indiana was sentenced to death by electrocution on July 11, 1986 for the murder of 78-year-old Ruth Pelke. Cooper was only 15 at the time of the murder.

Comment: 10bucks and a stolen car ride was the 4 girls payoff for stabbing to death a decent human being. The person that committed the crime should still be electrocuted, not pardoned.

Gary said...

Having spent all these years in the prison system there no chance in hell the lady can survive in the real world. Who wants to bet the outcome here isn't a pretty one?

Anonymous said...

I feel bad for ruths family...thats messed up.

Anonymous said...

Quote from Pope John Paul ii: She did what? How old is she? 43? Well, she's A. TOO OLD and B. Not a boy. No clemency granted. Send in my choir boys.

Anonymous said...

She got a FREE education, After having gotten into trouble IN PRISON 23 times! Why don't we just wipe her slate clean and let her start over too! NOW she is possibly going to try and TEACH young adults out in the community! What the heck is going on in America? What a great country for the screw ups!!