Convicted serial killer Cleophus Cooksey gets death penalty

PHOENIX — Editor’s Note: The above video aired in our 5 a.m. newscast on Thursday, Dec. 18.

An Arizona jury has sentenced convicted serial killer Cleophus Cooksey to death on six of eight counts of murder. 12News was live in the courtroom when the verdict was announced.

This decision comes nearly three months after Cooksey was found guilty of killing eight people in 2017, including his mother and stepfather. For the murders of his mother and stepfather, it is undecided if he gets the death penalty.

12News spoke with some of the victims’ loved ones back in September when the guilty verdict was announced. 

“I left my mom very young when I was 17, and after that I had a beautiful daughter,” Adriana Rodriguez said. “She never got to meet her. I mean, [Cooksey] took my mom. He took my mom. The only support system I had.”

The 43-year-old was found guilty in September of shooting and killing them over three weeks.

All along, Cooksey has maintained his innocence.

The jury reached a verdict on his case on Wednesday afternoon, leading to Dec. 18’s sentencing decision on six of eight counts.

12News has footage from 2017, which is when Cooksey was caught in his own mother’s and her husband’s apartment. Authorities told 12News that Cooksey was covered in blood, and their bodies were inside. 

Prosecutors admitted they didn’t have a motive for every murder, but Cooksey was also charged with a mix of armed robbery, sexual assault and kidnapping. 

These murders happened eight years ago. It’s taken a while to get to this point for the victims’ families, who now have an answer.

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