Paula Cooper : Once-Youngest Death Row Inmate Dies From Apparent Suicide

Paula Cooper, a woman who once sat on Indiana’s death row as its youngest inmate died Tuesday of an apparent suicide.

Paula Cooper was released from jail in 2013 after doing time for her part in the murder of 78-year-old Bible studies teacher Ruth Pelke when she was 15 years old. The Supreme Court overturned her 1986 death sentence in 1988, putting a new rule in place that convicts under the age of 16 cannot be sentenced to death.

She completed 28 years of her 60-year prison sentence, getting out early due to good behavior two years ago.

Bill Pelke, the grandson of the murder victim, was active in opposing her death sentence and had visited Cooper in jail as well as helped her out.

“My grandmother would have been appalled she was on death row and that there was so much hate and anger and desire for her to die,” he explained. “I was convinced my grandmother would have had love and compassion for Paula and her family.”

Pelke was saddened by her death and had been hoping she would travel with his charity the Forgiveness Project.

Paula Cooper died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Indy Star reports. She was found outside of a home in Indianapolis’ northwest side.

Agencies/Canadajournal