Paula R. Cooper was born on August 25, 1969, in Gary, Indiana. 

On May 14, 1985, Paula Cooper, along with three friends, planned to skip school and instead went to the home of 78-year-old Ruth Pelke. The group had been drinking and using drugs. They approached Pelke under the pretense of wanting to learn about her Bible classes. Once inside, they attacked her. One of the girls struck Pelke with a vase, which injured her. Cooper then stabbed Pelke 33 times using a butcher knife.

After the attack, the girls searched the house for valuables. They stole ten dollars and the keys to Pelke's car. Following the murder, they used Pelke's car to leave the scene. Cooper was arrested quickly after the murder, as the police were able to trace the stolen vehicle.

During her time in custody, Cooper exhibited aggressive behavior, including attacking guards. She bragged about her involvement in the murder and expressed a willingness to commit violence again. After reviewing the evidence, she was charged with murder and later pled guilty to the charges.

On July 11, 1986, Cooper was sentenced to death. However, her case attracted significant public attention. Many people campaigned for her release, citing her youth and background. Motivated by public outcry, including appeals from international figures like Pope John Paul II, her sentence was reviewed.

By 1989, after several legal challenges and changes in laws regarding the execution of minors, the Indiana Supreme Court commuted Cooper's death sentence to 60 years in prison. She served her time and earned her GED while incarcerated. Eventually, Cooper was released from prison on June 17, 2013.

Sadly, she died on May 26, 2015, in what was deemed an apparent suicide. Bill Pelke, Ruth Pelke's grandson, initially supported the death penalty for Cooper but later forgave her and became an advocate against capital punishment.