Cleophus Cooksey, Jr.: Jury reaches verdict in Arizona trial of man accused in 8 murders

PHOENIX – A Valley man accused of murdering eight people, including his mother and stepfather, will soon learn his fate. 

After a five-month trial, the jury has reached a verdict in the case of Cleophus Cooksey, Jr.

The backstory:

Cooksey is 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.

What’s next:

The verdict will be read at 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 25.

If Cooksey is convicted, he is facing the death penalty.

Cleophus Cooksey, Jr. (file)