OHIO — A Marion man was convicted Thursday of murdering his girlfriend in 2023, according to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office.
After a three-day trial, a jury found 60-year-old Jerry Lee Cooper guilty of multiple charges, including murder, felonious assault, and tampering with evidence.
The crime occurred on January 12, 2023, in the City of Marion. Prosecutors said Cooper fatally shot 48-year-old Teresa Gibson in the head after an argument at their home.
The bullet left Gibson paralyzed and unable to breathe.
According to the prosecutor’s office, Cooper then placed a towel over Gibson’s face and disposed of the murder weapon by driving around the city in the middle of the night.
Cooper will be sentenced at a later date and faces a minimum of 18 years to life in prison.
