Un altro ricorso alle Nazioni Unite ha ricevuto un milione di firme. [12] Although she was sentenced to 60 years, Indiana law dictates that offenders earn one day off from their sentence for each day served with good behavior. Nipote di Pelke, Bill Pelke, inizialmente favorito la pena di morte per Cooper, ma in seguito si è unito al movimento che vi si oppongono nel 1987. La difesa ha presentato prove del fatto che Cooper era un fuggiasco cronica che era stato abusato fisicamente e costretto a guardare lo stupro di sua madre e di aggressioni violente da suo padre. Ronald E Franklin (author) from Mechanicsburg, PA on September 20, 2014: Hi, travel_man1971. I'm sure this story must bring back very sad memories. I appreciate all the people who said they would pray for Paula. Whatever happens with her, I think Bill's attitude is a great example for all of us. I think you said a very important word - we really need to be praying for Paula Cooper. One of those who got personally involved was Pope John Paul II, who sent a papal emissary to Indiana, and personally appealed to Governor Robert Orr to spare Cooper’s life. He became one of the strongest and most visible advocates for removing Cooper from death row. Carrie Peterson from Colorado Springs, CO on May 30, 2015: Her suicide begs the question: Is clemency for people convicted so young, with no life experience out in the real world, really a gift or is it a worse punishment than them staying in prison for life. It's white people's behavior toward blacks, particularly over the last 60 or so years, that has me still so baffled. “She knows she took something valuable out of society. Thanks, Nate. I usually am forgiving of most things, but I know I wouldn't be able to forgive in this case no matter how much time had passed or how reformed the prisoner became because in the end, she still committed a vicious and horrendous crime against a woman who did nothing to her (or her friends). But she finally decided “it was time to really sit down and buckle down and get it.”. According to court records, Cooper personally stabbed Mrs. Pelke in the chest and stomach 33 times, killing her. I will continue to hope and pray that Paula Cooper has found the true meaning of life and that she will prove that second chances are a good thing. That's where faith comes in. Nathan Bernardo from California, United States of America on September 17, 2014: Amazing story and Bill is an incredible guy. Ronald E Franklin (author) from Mechanicsburg, PA on May 24, 2015: Thanks much, bzirkone. Ha scritto di aver perdonato Cooper in un libro del 2003, viaggio della speranza . Peg, I think you're right that Paula seemed to resent being the face of the crime, and the only one of the four sentenced to death. [5][6][7], Cooper's lawyers described her as a victim of sexual abuse who had attended ten different schools by the time of the murder. "Love never fails." According to police, Cooper skipped school with three friends (Denise Thomas, aged 14; Karen Corder, aged 16; and April Beverly, aged 15),[4] drank alcohol, and smoked marijuana before visiting Pelke, a neighbor, ostensibly to ask about Bible lessons. I have nothing but admiration for Bill and his vast amount of forgiveness. And there is no way to tell the difference. They told Mrs. Pelke they were interested in her Bible lessons, and she invited them in. Blessing those who curse you and spitefully use you isn't easy, but it's what we are called to do. I have had a crime committed against me not once, but twice by the same person and if the person had not been released from prison on "good behavior" merits, then the second crime against me would never have happened. I know this girl was only 15, but a teenage killer is not a rare story, just the death penalty: "Cooper, age 15, devised a scheme with her friends to obtain money. It was a bright spring day in 1985.

“She would take it back in a heartbeat if she could, but she knows she has to live with it for the rest of her life,” he said. Anche se il cambiamento è stato una reazione al caso di Cooper, il legislatore ha chiarito che la modifica non ha influenzato la condanna a morte di Cooper. Then, armed with a knife, they went to the home of 78-year-old Bible teacher, Ruth Pelke. A year later, Cooper was sentenced to death on July 11, 1986. Cooper's age and sentence attracted an international uproar, especially in Europe, including a condemnation from Pope John Paul II. Most of the other murder articles do. For me, this story is much more about Bill than it is about Paula Cooper. Thanks for sharing your point of view.

Paula e le sue amichette – Denise Thomas, 14 anni, Karen Corder, 16 anni, e April Beverly, 15 anni – avevano saltato la scuola, s’erano bevute quello che avevano potuto e … For me, the power of forgiveness is what this story is all about. Whether she is truly reformed or not will remain to be seen as I'm sure, in her freedom, she will be under scrutiny until the day she dies. Era 43 al momento del suo rilascio. While serving her term, she earned a GED, a vocational degree and, in 2001, a bachelor’s degree. Alla condanna, Lake County procuratore James McNew ritratta Cooper come un disadattato sociale senza speranza di riabilitazione e ha chiesto la pena di morte. Morì il 26 maggio 2015, a seguito di un apparente suicidio.

Should an act committed at 15 preclude that person ever having a 2nd chance? As for Paula Cooper, it was stated that she was an abused child. Aveva ammesso di aver trafitto 33 volte con un coltello Ruth Pelke, insegnante di religione. Bill Pelke advocating against Paula Cooper's execution. Thanks so much for reading and sharing. I wonder ... if the victim was an elderly black and the perp was a 15-year-old no good tramp white female and the white female got the same sentence...if blacks would have rallied - so fervently! He wrote of having forgiven Cooper in a 2003 book, Journey of Hope.[14]. I think Bill Pelke's determination to forgive in the face of such a heinous crime against his family challenges all of us to realize how much forgiveness we have received from God. That is why God will bring his solutions to all our problems very soon. Over time Bill Pelke became more and more convinced that his grandmother would have had an attitude of love and compassion for Paula Cooper and her family. Cooper difensore pubblico le consigliò di dichiararsi colpevole. È il 14 marzo del 1985. Dora Weithers from The Caribbean on September 18, 2014: Beautiful story and well told. But I was so convinced that’s what she would have wanted that in a short prayer I begged God to please, please, please give me love and compassion for Paula Cooper and her family.". One thrust was so powerful that it went clear through the victim’s chest, leaving a mark on the floor beneath her. But then his thoughts began to turn to how his Bible-teaching grandmother had lived, and what she stood for. May God bless him abundantly and give him strength and comfort always. It is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and should not be substituted for impartial fact or advice in legal, political, or personal matters. Blacks to me are not so hard to figure out. Once he received media attention...a white female raced to his cell and pleaded with him to marry her (No, I'm not kidding). I don't think you can have a hard and fast rule about that. It does no good, though, to respond with violence which only puts one on the same level as the miscreants. In this instance, death may have been merciful. But it's a very tough call! After serving 26 years, three weeks, and three days, Cooper was released on 17 June 2013. In 1988, a Supreme Court decision, Thompson v. Oklahoma, barred the death penalty for defendants under the age of 16 at the time of the crime. Lei era considerato il capobanda del gruppo di ragazze, di età compresa tra 14 a 16, che erano tutti frasi da 25 a 60 anni dato per il loro ruolo nel crimine. Ruth Pelke was a 78-year-old American from Gary, Indiana, who was murdered by Paula R. Cooper (August 25, 1969 – May 26, 2015), aged 15, on May 14, 1985. Cooper stabbed Pelke 33 times with a butcher knife before stealing ten dollars and her car. I'm not aware of any racial dimension to this crime - no one involved in the case that I know of, at the time or since, has said there was any racial element in it.



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