On May 26, 2015, Paula Cooper, a 45-year-old female, was found deceased in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her death was the result of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound. As the cause of death was determined to be suicide, there were no arrests made or suspects sought in connection with the incident. A suicide note was reportedly found at the scene.
Cooper's life was marked by a past that had drawn significant public and international attention.
At the age of 16, she was sentenced to death for her role in the 1985 murder of a 78-year-old Bible studies teacher, Ruth Pelke. The case sparked widespread debate and outrage due to her young age, with millions signing petitions for her sentence to be overturned. Even Pope John Paul II made a plea for clemency on her behalf.
In 1988, the Indiana Supreme Court commuted her death sentence to a 60-year prison term. This decision came in light of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that deemed the execution of individuals under the age of 16 at the time of their offense to be unconstitutional. After serving 28 years, during which she earned a bachelor's degree, Cooper was released from prison on June 17, 2013. Less than two years after her release, she took her own life.
