Global InformationMurder of Ruth Pelke information
| Murder of Ruth Pelke | |
|---|---|
| Location | Gary, Indiana, U.S. |
| Date | May 14, 1985 |
Attack type | Robbery, homicide by stabbing |
| Victim | Ruth Pelke, aged 78 |
| Perpetrator | Paula R. Cooper |
| Charges | Murder |
| Sentence | Death (later commuted to 60 years in prison) |
Ruth Pelke was a 78-year-old American living in Gary, Indiana, who was murdered by Paula R. Cooper[1] (August 25, 1969 – May 26, 2015), then aged 15, on May 14, 1985. Cooper stabbed Pelke 33 times with a butcher knife before stealing ten dollars and her car. 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. In 1989, her sentence was commuted to 60 years in prison.[2] On June 17, 2013, slightly less than 27 years after her initial sentencing, Cooper was released from Rockville Correctional Facility. She died on May 26, 2015 at the age of 45, following an apparent suicide.
- ^ Stoner, Andrew E. (July 2007). Notorious 92: Indiana's Most Heinous Murders in All 92 Counties. AuthorHouse. p. 214. ISBN 9781600080241.
- ^ "Woman's Execution for Murder at 15 Is Barred". Associated Press. 1989-07-13.