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Local News

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Findlay woman campaigns to keep murderer in prison
Findlay Inn & Conference Center -Downtown Findlay
By JORDAN CRAVENS

staff Writer

A Findlay woman has made it her mission to keep convicted child murderer Christopher Cooper from ever again walking the city's streets.

Becky Potter's 9-month-old daughter was raped and beaten by Cooper, the brother of Potter's ex-husband, on Aug. 16, 1979. Monica Sue Williams died of injuries suffered in the beating five days later.

Cooper, 48, is scheduled for a parole hearing in December at the Marion Correctional Institution where he has been incarcerated since 1980. A date has not been set.

Cooper was turned down for parole in December 2006, and this is his first hearing since, according to JoEllen Smith, spokeswoman with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections.

With the possibility of her baby's killer being set free, Potter said she has been doing everything she can to keep him locked up.

"I know I don't want to go to the grocery or to the park and run into him anywhere. I don't know what I would do," Potter said. "His life should be in there."

Potter, along with friends and family members, have been canvassing the city in an attempt to remind community members of her daughter's murder and to convince people to write letters to the Ohio Adult Parole Authority urging denial of Cooper's release.

She has also been writing letters to local and state politicians.

"The reality is, in my opinion, there is no rehabilitation for a rape of an infant," Potter said. "I don't believe he should be allowed out and I want the community to all write."

Cooper committed the crimes when he was 18 years old. He was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison by Judge Robert Walker after he pleaded guilty to murder in May 1980.

Potter is scheduled for a phone conference with members of the parole board on Nov. 23.

"That tells me that this must be taking place early in December," she said of the parole hearing.

Hancock County Prosecutor Mark Miller said his office has sent letters opposing Cooper's release.

"We are opposed to his release and have been in the past and will continue to be opposed," he said.

The prosecutor's opposition to his release was based upon the "heinous nature of the offense," Miller said.

The prosecutor's office will not be permitted to have a representative at the prison interview, but if Cooper's request is put before a full parole board hearing, Miller said his office will have someone there.

Potter said if Monica Sue were alive today, she would be 31.

"She didn't have any opportunity to do anything, she was nine months and two weeks old," she said.

"Some people may have forgotten, but I don't forget," she said. "I can't bring my daughter back, but I can't let this happen to someone else."

Potter said the thought of her child's killer being released from prison sickens her.

"Who wants him as their neighbor?" she asked. "Why should we let a known child rapist and murderer out?"

While he was not Monica Sue's biological father, Potter's husband Phil, who has joined in the canvassing efforts, said he thinks of Cooper being free each time he walks by a young child.

"Every time you see a little child, a little baby ... you think 'Oh man, if this guy gets out, this child is at risk,'" he said.

"We need help from the community because it is their speaking out, as well as mine and my family's, that is going to prevent him from walking our streets or being our neighbor," Potter said.

Letters should contain Cooper's full name and Inmate Number A158707, and must be signed and dated.

Letters can be sent to:

Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections
770 W. Broad St.
Columbus, OH 43222

E-mails may be sent to:

All correspondence must be submitted by Dec.1, according to Potter.

Cravens: 419-427-8422,

Send an e-mail to Jordan Cravens
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23 Comments (3 pages)

Latest comments listed first.
Rob wrote:
Teresa's comment
“ Yeah, let's just let them all out, Manson, Ramirez, Ridgway, to bad Dahmer & Bundy are dead, they should have been let out to, right Teresa?? Lets send them all to your house and you could tell them all about how you got over your hate and spite of them. You could tell them all about how you believe in God. Of course, I'm not sure how far the conversation would get since they would probably be raping & killing you mercilessly, then dismembering your body. ”
Sunday, November 01, 2009 10:40:32 PM
teresa wrote:
Stupid
“ Stupid
Is our Prison not over crowed now give the man chance. Get over your hate and spite. I believe this a thing of spite. I dont know who you are. I believe in God and feel you to pray and ask GOD to forgive you.now do know.LET HIM BE FREE. LET LIVE HIS OWN LIFE I THINK GOD FORGIVE WHAT HE DID.PLEASE LET HIM OUT. ”
Sunday, November 01, 2009 2:10:04 AM
Stacy wrote:
Never deserves to be released!
“ Thank you so much Mrs Potter for bringing this article to our attention. I am the same age as your daughter would be and I have a beautiful two year old daughter. I can not imagine your loss and pain. I forwarded to everyone I know to write a letter and I am both writing and emailing a letter after this message. God bless you and thank you for speaking out to help keep my child safe. ”
Thursday, October 29, 2009 10:57:59 AM
APRIL W wrote:
oh my god!
“ HOWCOULD THEY LET THIS SICK MINDED MURDERER OUT OF PRISON OH MY GOD FOR REAL KEEP HIM IN THERE WHERE HE BELONGS WE HAVE OUR CHILDREN OUT HERE AND WE LOVE AND WANT TO KEEP THEM SAFE SO PLEASE KEEP THIS THING IN PRISON! ”
Tuesday, October 27, 2009 9:42:45 PM
Jamie wrote:
Yes I believe in Capital Punishment
“ When a crime has been commited that is so heinious and the criminal admits to it and you know for a fact they did it. By God Capital Punishment should be done. We cannot afford to feed everyone in prison for all these crimes. Let them die also. Why should we feed, house, and keep these criminal sickos. Prisons are full start taking them out one by one and kill them like they have killed. I work hard for my money and I hate feeding these people when they do not deserve it. An Eye for an Eye. And yes I do believe in God but why should we keep filling up prisons that are way too full now. I don't want to keep them for life and yet yes I do if they are killed in soon.
If I had a family member to do this kind of crime...I would be the first to say HANG THEM. I don't care who they are they deserve the death penalty! ”
Tuesday, October 27, 2009 9:35:18 PM
adam wrote:
stacy
“ i totally agree ”
Tuesday, October 27, 2009 8:47:52 PM
maria powell wrote:
save the community from sex offenders
“ once an offender always a offender. cooper will never change even though he was 18 when he commited the crime he at the time knew what he did was wrong. the baby monica never had a chance in hell to know life. we need to stick togeher because i am a grandmother of twin grand-daughters and i never would feel safe with a guy like cooper walking the streets of findlay. ”
Tuesday, October 27, 2009 7:50:44 PM
Stacy wrote:
Adam
“ I realize that you can look theese people up on line. I actualy keep up on it. However you can know where they live & work. But do you know where they hang out & where they are 24/7. Thats whats important to me! We never know if they are walking down our street or by our childrens schools or bus stops. This is whats scares me! & just because they are supose to register doesnt mean they will. & one last thing there are so many who just havent been cought yet. So that is where i was coming from when i said we dont even know who & how many are already in our community. But im very greatful that we do have a sex offender list. I just wish it was compleatly fool proof! ”
Tuesday, October 27, 2009 7:47:14 PM
Doug wrote:
Perverted Justice!!!
“ First and foremost I say this man did indeed commit a hideous crime and as a society we must have tools to deal with such. Fortunately we have this tool we call our judicial system to protect society from people not only like Mr.Cooper but also from people like Nat, Adam and Jamie that think vigilante justice is ok. The taking of a life is not ok for anyone in society. God will deal with Mr Cooper on this someday and as true Christians we should accept that unconditionally! Denied parole, of course, he should be locked down 23 out of 24 hrs every day. The death penalty has been a failed judicial process in America and continues to be a bad idea! If you think it's ok that as a society to kill innocent people to justify death of the guilty, step up and volunteer one of your family members or yourself! I say let them rot in jail..... ”
Tuesday, October 27, 2009 4:54:16 PM
sarah wallen wrote:
keep him behind bars
“ i wrote a email to support your family becky potter i am the same age as your daughter and have 2 son that i try to keep safe thank you for let the community know that he could be release soon i hope they make the right dicession and keep him behind bars ”
Tuesday, October 27, 2009 3:53:08 PM
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News Briefs Work scheduled on Findlay streets
Findlay's Main Street, northbound, will be reduced at times to one lane between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. for waterline connection.

Main Street will not be accessible from East Lincoln Street. Lincoln Street will be closed to through traffic from South Main Street to South Blanchard Street from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for continued improvement work. Access to local businesses and residents only will be maintained.

Recount planned in trustee's race
OTTAWA -- After certifying election results on Wednesday, the Putnam County Board of Elections has announced a recount will be required for the Union Township trustee race, according to Deputy Director Shelly Burkhart.

The recount will be completed on Wednesday at the county elections board office, 336 E. Main Street, Ottawa.

Incumbent Daniel R. Ellerbrock has secured his position on the board, earning 685 votes. However the remaining trustee spot will require a recount as Gery P. Wurth earned 598 votes and Mark J. Kahle collected 601 votes, according to official results.

An automatic recount is necessary if the margin is within one-half of 1 percent of total votes cast, according to state law.

Road to be closed
Forest Lake Drive, between Marion Township 237 and Indian Lake Drive/Forest Lane, will be closed today for a pipe installation.

The road is expected to open by 5 p.m., weather permitting.

Motorists are advised to use Township 242.