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True Crime Brewery

Death Sentence: The Murder of Ruth Pelke & the Punishment of Paula Cooper

True Crime Brewery

Tiegrabber Podcasts

True Crime, Documentary, Society & Culture

4.51.1K Ratings

🗓️ 25 March 2024

⏱️ 91 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

On a weekday afternoon in 1985 in Gary, Indiana, fifteen-year-old Paula Cooper stabbed 78-year-old Ruth Pelke to death. In a city with a history of racism, Ruth was a white, beloved bible teacher who refused to move out of her overwhelmingly black neighborhood. When Paula and her friends showed up at Ruth’s door that day […]

Transcript

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0:00.0

Jersey, there's something in the wild sea air that invigorates the soul.

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In nourishing catch hauled in fresh from the tide this morning,

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in the drama of cave waterfalls and crushing waves on soaring cliffs in miles of untouched bays washed clean by the biggest heights in Europe.

0:18.0

However you feel when you land on our shores, when you resurface, you will feel renewed feel renewed restored reinvigorated.

0:24.6

Fly to Jersey in around an hour from UK airports.

0:27.6

Plan your adventure at Jersey.com. True Crime Brewery contains disturbing content related to real life crimes. Medical information is opinion

0:46.0

based on facts of a crime and should not be interpreted as medical advice or treatment.

0:51.6

Listener discretion is advised. or I'm Jill and I'm Dick. On a weekday afternoon in 1985 15 year old Paula Cooper stabbed

1:08.2

78 year old Ruth Pelke to death in a city with a deep-seated history of racism, Ruth was a white

1:16.3

beloved Bible teacher who refused to move out of her overwhelmingly black neighborhood.

1:21.4

When Paula and her friends showed up at Ruth's door that day asking about

1:25.3

Bible studies, Ruth had happily invited them in. Paula and her friends were black, but Ruth was a person

1:32.0

who did not judge people by race.

1:34.0

She really loved all people.

1:36.0

It was at the core of her beliefs.

1:38.0

Join us at the quiet end for death sentence,

1:41.0

the murder of Ruth Pelky, and the punishment of Paula Cooper.

1:45.3

When Paula was sentenced to death, few argued against the state's impending execution of a

1:50.3

tenth grader.

1:51.8

But when the victim's grandson forgave the girl, the media brought the story to the forefront, and millions signed petitions in support of Paula.

2:00.0

So this case raises questions about the value of a human life and whether our justice system is made for rehabilitation or just retribution.

2:10.0

And with me is my beer expert with a beer for us to drink.

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