He Was Living with His Parents — Until Police Found Their Bodies and Allegedly Linked Him to 6 More Killings

• Cleophus Cooksey, 43, is on trial in Arizona in connection with eight murders over a three-week span in 2017
• Prosecutors plan to present physical evidence linking Cooksey to the crimes, arguing that most victims were killed while vulnerable
• Cooksey has pleaded not guilty, and his defense claims the murders were random and unconnected, arguing there is no clear motive or premeditation

The trial against an Arizona man accused of carrying out eight murders over three weeks — culminating with the killing of his own mother — kicked off this week. 

During opening statements, prosecutors said they would present evidence tying Cleophus Cooksey, 43, to each killing, the Associated Press and The Arizona Republic reported. Authorities say police found a gun used in several of the killings, a necklace belonging to one of the victims and the car keys of another victim found in an alley. 

Cooksey’s trial began Monday, more than seven years after the alleged killings due to pandemic-related delays, the outlet reported. If convicted, prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty. Cooksey has pleaded not guilty and his defense has argued that the allegations against him are false. 

Maricopa County Prosecutor Josh Maxwell opened the state’s case by projecting the names and faces of the eight people who were killed, according to The Arizona Republic. He told the jury that most of them were killed in vulnerable moments: sitting in a car, carrying groceries, at home with their families, walking alone.

Parker Smith and Andrew Remillard were the first victims, both shot while sitting inside a vehicle in a parking lot in November 2017, the AP reported. Less than a week later, Salim Richards, a security guard, was fatally shot on the way to his girlfriend’s apartment. Prosecutors argue that Cooksey and Richards got into a physical altercation and Cooksey allegedly walked away with Richards’ gun and necklace. 

Latorrie Beckford and Kristopher Cameron were killed in separate apartment shootings at complexes in Glendale, per the outlet. 

Maria Villanueva was supposed to meet her boyfriend at his apartment in Glendale, but police say her body was found in a Phoenix alley after they say she was sexually assaulted. Cooksey, whose DNA was allegedly found on her body, drove away in her vehicle, the AP reported. 

Cooksey was arrested in December 2017 after police responded to a call at his mother’s home where they found him with blood on his hands, The Arizona Republic reported. Police then discovered blood on the walls and the bodies of his mother, Rene Cooksey, and her husband Edward Nunn. 

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Cooksey’s lawyer, Robert Reinhardt, argued that the prosecution did not point to a motive, calling the killings “random and unrelated,” according to the outlet. 

“You didn’t hear anything about premeditation either. The state made statements that in incident No. 1, Mr. Cooksey just went up and shot them, but there’s no rhyme or reason to any of that,” Reinhardt said in court, per the outlets. 

Cooksey’s trial is expected to last more than eight months, according to the outlets, who cited a Maricopa County Superior Court spokesperson.