Ruth Pelke

All
Articles
Images
Videos
Links
Documents

BNI student take a Journey of Hope

HAMMOND | As part of their own Lenten journey, students and staff at Bishop Noll Institute heard the emotional and inspiring stories of two members from Journey of Hope during a recent visit.

March 24, 2013 12:00 am

A life and legacy

Ruth Pelke was murdered in 1985, and her family says her legacy of love lives on through today.

August 19, 2012 4:47 am

Pelke's devotion to family, faith resonates decades after murder

Ruth Pelke's family has fond memories of holidays in her Gary home, complete with crocheted gifts, colored cookies and "Nana salad," Pelke's macaroni salad mixed with watermelon pickles.

August 19, 2012 12:00 am Video

Video

A life and legacy

Photos

Paula Cooper: A Second Chance

A second chance at life

Paula Cooper was sentenced to death for the murder of an elderly Bible school teacher in the 1980s. The state Supreme Court commuted her sentence to 60 years in prison, and now she shares her story and hopes for the future with The Times as the final year of her sentence winds down.

July 15, 2012 12:00 pm

Paula Cooper: Convicted of murder at 15, a Gary woman prepares for her 2013 release

ROCKVILLE, Ind. | Paula Cooper mixed no-bake cookies, creating balls of sweet coconut and baking cocoa the size of a fist.

July 15, 2012 12:00 am Video

Video

A second chance at life

Photos

Ruth Pelke

Ruth Pelke, an elderly Bible school teacher in Gary, was stabbed to death in her home on May 14, 1985. Four teenagers were convicted, and 15-year-old Paula Cooper was sentenced to death.

July 13, 2012 11:41 pm