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Cleophus Cooksey found guilty of serial murders
A jury in Arizona has convicted Cleophus Cooksey Jr. on multiple charges, including murder. The man went out on a killing spree over the span of three weeks and killed eight people, including his mother and stepfather. FOX 10's Kenzie Beach reports.
PHOENIX - A Valley man accused of murdering eight people, including his mother and stepfather, has been found guilty on all counts.
What we know:
The verdict for Cleophus Cooksey Jr. was read in court on Sept. 25. The man was found guilty on 14 counts, including eight charges of first degree murder.
The backstory:
Cooksey was accused in a series of murders and other crimes back in 2017, including robbery, kidnapping and sexual assault.
The alleged killing spree began on November 27, 2017, with the deaths of two men found shot dead outside a car in a parking lot. It ended a few weeks later when Cooksey’s mother, Rene, and stepfather, Edward Nunn, were found dead in their apartment, shot at close range.
Throughout the trial, prosecutors argued that forensic evidence, including bullets from two 9-millimeter guns found at the crime scenes, and GPS data, all linked Cooksey to the string of killings.
The defense contended that the prosecution's forensic evidence was unreliable, did not present motives for all the killings, or connections to all the victims. There were also no eyewitnesses.
Cleophus Cooksey: Accused serial killer's trial begins in Phoenix
The trial of a man believed to be behind a deadly murder spree began on May 5. Opening statements took place in the case against Cleophus Cooksey, Jr.
What they're saying:
As the verdict was read, the cries of the victims' families echoed throughout the courtroom, and some jurors were visibly impacted.
"He took my mom. The only support system that I had," said Adriana Rodriguez, who is the daughter of one of the victims.
"He took away my grandkids, Dad. They will never know him," said Carrie Carr, who is related to one of the victims.
"I watched [Cooksey] grow up as a little boy, and I wanted to see his eyes when he stood up to walk out the courtroom, to see if he had any sympathy. And he had none, you know, and that, it kind of broke me down, too," said Eric Hampton, who was friends with some of the victims. "He doesn't have any heart at all. The way, you know, to actually do these things to people. And actually, the worst part, kill your own mom is just -- he's a monster."
According to police, some of Cooksey's victims were strangers. That includes Adriana's mother.
"She was a hard-working mom, and she would have been a great nana," said Adriana, as she remembered her late mother. "I lost my mom very young when I was 17, and after that I had a beautiful daughter, and she never got to meet her."
What's next:
A jury will decide whether Cooksey will face the death penalty.
The Source: Information was gathered from Maricopa County Superior Court and previous FOX 10 reporting.