Step by Step A Journey of Hope: Bill Pelke

[cathkarr]

Wow! This speaks volumes. I don't believe I would have this kind of forgiveness and compassion for an individual if they were to murder a member of my family. This woman opens the door to her home and ends up being savagely killed on her living room floor, because someone had a hard life. There are millions of people who have had hard lives and they don't go around killing innocent defenseless old women. I don't know if I agree with the death penalty, but watching this story on Discovery...

[Goodiez83]

i'm watching deadly woman on IDiscovery right now about her and i just want to know if she really killed her over just money? because if so then that was a waste of her life and the person she killed.....I mean she shouldn't of done that to the woman, a lot of people would of just say that she could of just robbed her but not to kill her....to me she shouldn't of done neither but if that would of happened to me i would rather be robbed than dead

[choppedpeanuts2]

Journey of Dopes!

[swlovesvegans]

yea this guy got her killer off death row after 9 million signed a petition and intervention from the Pope! no joke

[fuzzywuzzy2622]

An eye for an eye! She deserved to be put to death! This is a perverse syndrome where the victims want to be liked by the killers.

[choppedpeanuts2]

@fuzzywuzzy2622 Interesting observation. Thanks!

[ZexiLexie61]

@fuzzywuzzy2622 She did not. I'm not saying I agree with what she did but, she don't deserve to die. At a very young age she was already abused she watched her mother get raped by her father. She already been to 5 DIFFERENT High schools and in-and-out of MANY foster homes. The one thing they could have done was given her treatment to this. She wasn't the one that actually killed her. The main stab was from one of the other girls.

[vee3367]

This is a heartbreaking video. GOD BLESS YOUR HEART AND SOUL FOR FORGIVING THIS LADY!

[APhilCollinsFan]

well ! if he forgive the killer ! let the killer live.

[Honeybutta1983]

Killing someone for killing someone would be wrong !!! The person that pulls the switch on the chair is just as bad as the person with a knife or gun !!!! The bible says thou shalt not kill . He is the judge In the end not man !!! What the girl did was wrong but if jesus forgave us all for our Sins ... Who are we to not forgive or be judges ?

[Hans021220]

What a wonderful,wonderful man!He fr sure has the love of Jesus in his heart!

[lacabrona86]

oh my god, this mad has the biggest heart, and is truely blessed... i dont think i could have been that strong to forgive her

[MrAladdin1991]

Does he realize what he is saying? I'm Anti-Death Penalty too,but Paula bragged about brutally murdering Ruth.Paula probably doesn't even care about the pain she has inflicted on his family.However,I don't know them and I could be wrong.But his Grandma was MURDERED so I thnk she might have wanted the death penalty foir her own killer.

[spaziete1]

If she had to do it all over again, she would have -- she should have been executed for what she had done!! that's today problem with the system, those against the death penalty feel it is inhumae - but what about the victim, it was inhumae the way she had murdered that woman -she deserves death!! Our system is to leanient on criminals today - no wonder why there is so much crime!!

[Hans021220]

@spaziete1 I understand your view of point,but on the other hand executing the killer does not bring the victims back...

[jdlund]

@spaziete1, yes it was inhumane the way she murdered that woman. It is gruesome betrayal of one's own humanity to intentionally end another person's life. However, that's precisely why it is wrong for the State to do it. The government walks someone from his or her cell, straps them to a chair or gurney and intentionally ends his or her life. That is clearly murder by any definition, period. If it was wrong for the murderer to kill, it's wrong for the State to do the same.

[jdlund]

@spaziete1, oh and if our criminal system being too soft is the problem, why is it that many countries without the death penalty, nicer prisons and less harsh punishments have far, far lower crime rates per capita? Having harsher punishments wouldn't do a damn thing, criminals don't really determine their behavior based upon the punishment they are likely to receive.

Either way, bottom line, murder is wrong, it's a line that shouldn't be crossed, by 15 year old girl or by the State of Indiana.

[TheGreywolf1955]

Moron! That woman doesn't deserve to draw air!

[kimchigirl420]

I WAS LOCKED UP WITH PAULA COOPER. I MET HER.

[mrs21e]

i use to stay in Gary indiana and now i stay in indianapolis indiana this happen before i was born but in her statement that she made said "i will do it again" and she is to be released in 2014 for good behavior

[kimchigirl420]

@mrs21e I was actually locked up with her and met her.

[kimchigirl420]

@mrs21e I was actually locked up with her and met her. She seemed to be alright when I came through. She didn't seem to really get into serious trouble, nor exhibited violent behavior.

[Zyworski]

Mr. Pelke's ability to muster forgiveness in his heart is truly an act of deep spiritual strenth that leaves me humbled. Evolving world opinion on the execution of children and the mentally deficient leave us out of step as the leader of justice in the free world. It is difficult to say that she is unpenetent when she plead guilty without trial or negotiated agreement. Paula now has a projected release in 2014 and I reject any political pandering by meddling in what is a legal process.

[IchLiebenBill]

She was spared actually because Pope John Paul II interfered since he is against death penalties... Just read an article from yahoo awhile ago...

[Karma2Die4]

Cont: I commend Mr Pelke, he did not allow hatred to over power his compassion and forgiveness. I believe that GOD is quite proud of Mr Pelke and whatever others think of Mr Pelke doesn't really matter. I had a member of my family murdered in 1983, it was brutal and senseless. However, I decided that if I can not forgive this person for taking away a loved one of mine then I have no right to bend my knees and ask GOD to forgive me..RIP MS Pelke...

[Karma2Die4]

For those people who imply that the victim's grandson is an idiot or brain dead and/or a whinner is as uncompassionate as Paul was during the murder. She was a 15 year old kid who came from an environment that produced her and her actions reflects the brutality. No, I am not defending what she did, however, before any of you pass judgment on another, take a VERY good look at yourselves. Yes, I am a LIBERAL thinker and damn proud of it and always remember, Jesus was the original LIBERAL...

[Michele640]

I respect Bill Pelke's will, but in his place I would have never started a campaign in favor of my grandmother's murderer, whether the latter was man or woman, young or old.

[triggadiva75]

i did time with all 4 girls and paula does have remorse she lives with what she did every day

[LAYBACK30]

@triggadiva75 Thats fine but why the hell did she do something so dumb. I've seen people say that she acted as she wasnt even sorry for it. She better thank God everyday for some one like Bill Pelke.

[Zyworski]

@triggadiva75 Thank you for sharing your informed opinion.

[sadiez321]

@triggadiva75 you are the dumbest bitch in the whole fucking world. maybe she'll do to you what she did to the old lady ;]

[Ingerwersen]

I SAW THIS STORY ON ID NETWORK TODAY, WOW. IM SURE I COULD NOT FORGIVE. GOD BLESS YOUR FOR BEING ABLE TOO

[berlynn2]

it must have taken alot of courge to for give this person.

[cynthiacher]

Bill Pelke is an idiot. I've seen Paula Cooper in interviews; she has NO remorse at all. An interviewer asked her if she was sorry; she would NOT say she was sorry. She's not sorry. She's a sociopath. And Bill Pelke is brain-dead, bleeding heart clod.

[myleftnutts]

@cynthiacher so where is paula Now,did they fry her yet or what???. she still can't be on death row since "86" raygunn ronnie was head azzhole back then.

[cynthiacher]

@myleftnutts She's still in prison. She DID get the death penalty, but a lot of idiots like Bill Pelke whined about how unfair it was because of her tender age. So she got 60 years in prison. But she'll only have to do half of that. She's due to be released in 2014. She is one scary individual. When asked in an interview if she was sorry for what she did she sidestepped the question by saying "what does "sorry" mean?" She's a sociopath.

[KYMAMI]

I also just seen this on tv,a very sad case,iam so very sorry for your grandmother,may she always rest in peace..i have no comments about the scum that do these things,you are handling it with strength im not even aware one could have,my sincere prayers to you and your family...

[musicvideo16]

I just saw a documentary on the case on television and something maybe go do research on it. I'm someone who has a hard time forgiving on little problems. You are a inspiration for those who need to learn how to forgive and its very ironic that you decided to forgive on my birthday November 2. Your a great man and your grand mother is a great women. Please keep teaching people how to forgive. Thank You

[metta108]

violence does not cease through the violence of execution through the death penalty, regardless of how society tries to make it more 'humane'. justice must be served, but taking the life of one who has taken a life is not justice, it is vengeance. many societies that once found the death penalty an exercise in justice (i.e. U.K.) have since banned it.

"when we forgive....we imitate our Lord, since nothing makes us more like unto God as to be always willing to forgive.."

-St John Chrysostom

[keeza33]

did u get killed formiz that will answer your question nigger bitch be real get out of old times if u know what nigger means by u posting that comment u r being a nigger bitch right now

[fomiz]

did that nigger bitch get killed?

[Autumn82]

Two of the girls, Denise Thomas and April Beverly, have been released. Paula Cooper and Karen Corder are scheduled to be released in 2014.

[pixieclipx]

It's a good thing to have compassion, but sometimes people do need to pay for their crimes. As long as she serves LIFE without ANY possibility of parole, then she will have paid for her crime. But, if not, and she gets out someday, she will probably KILL again. I saw this too many times when I was a cop. Criminals are/ will always be, criminals. You cannot reform a killer, no how, no way. Bill is stupid, he just feels differently, he needs to get smart. Paula must pay her dues.

[SARDU1976]

@pixieclipx, not necessarily. Cooper was only 15 when she murdered Ms. Pelke, so I am confident there is SOME hope for rehibilitation.

By the way, I am a STAUNCH advocate of capital punishment. I just believe that the execution of children is no more trivial than the execution of adults. Indiana said that Cooper deserves a second chance and I agree.

[cynthiacher]

Bill Pelke is an idiot of epic proportions. Paula Cooper butchered his relative...for money. The poor helpless elderly woman was tortured before she died (she was pinned to the floor with the butcher knife that was used to kill her). And now he just wuvs her killer to death! Cooper has never expressed remorse for her crime. NEVER. Pelke is too stupid to live.

[adelaidemarie]

looks like u r filled with hate too cynthia. hate kills.

[Jakelikescake15]

@cynthiacher I don't believe money was the motive in this case.I think Paula was bored with her miserable,abusive life and wanted to take it out on Ruth Pelke.It's sad to see how many lives were wasted,let alone the Pelke family.Either way,Paula was such an evil girl and she is paying for what she did.