18-year-old Ash Cooper, a transgender woman formerly known as Joshua Cooper, admitted her guilt on Thursday, March 21, 2024, in the murder of 12-year-old Morgan Connors. The incident happened in a trailer park located in Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania, back in November 2022.
Cooper faced multiple charges to which she pleaded guilty, including third-degree murder, possession of an instrument of crime, and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.
Before the fatal event, court documents disclosed that Cooper and Connors had been together watching a Netflix show. During a break when Connors went to use the bathroom, she was fatally injured.
The police were alerted by a call from the mother of one of Cooper’s friends. She had seen Connors’ body during a video call on Instagram where Cooper had shown the bloody scene and sought help for cleanup and disposal.
When law enforcement arrived at the scene, they noticed a young individual quickly leaving from the rear of the trailer. This individual, later identified as Cooper, was apprehended and stated, “It was an accident,” according to the official report.
Inside the trailer, officers discovered Connors’ body in the bathroom with a gunshot wound. The victim’s pants were found lowered to her ankles.
Cooper confessed to the police that she had used her father’s gun, which she had taken from a safe, to commit the crime and attempted to hide her actions afterward.
On Thursday, the court sentenced Cooper to a prison term of 15 to 40 years, which includes mandatory psychological and psychiatric evaluations. This decision reflects a concern for her mental health condition in relation to the crime.
The exact motivation for the murder remains undisclosed by Cooper. The prosecution confirmed that a note was found in Cooper’s bedroom and submitted to the judge, although its content remains confidential.
Cooper’s attorney, Paul Lang, described Cooper’s challenging childhood to the court and noted her deep remorse for her actions. Cooper was seen crying during the court proceedings.
Judge Jeffrey Finley accepted the plea but expressed concern about Cooper’s past behavior and treatment of others. He voiced his disappointment regarding the lack of a clear explanation for the tragic event.
Judge Finley addressed the court, stating, “Undoubtedly, this is an awful tragedy.” He continued, “Your life won’t be confined to a prison cell. There lies before you a chance to amend your ways, to seek atonement. You must seize this opportunity.”
Cooper also received an additional seven-year probation sentence after pleading guilty to other charges, including possession of an instrument of crime and tampering with evidence.
Connors’ grandfather and adoptive parent, Allen Gold, paid tribute to Morgan as a “sweet, beautiful” person. He shared that the family annually remembers the potential writer’s birthday, commemorating her life cut short.
Gold delivered a statement through the prosecution in court, stating, “A parent should never have to bury a child,” thereby expressing the profound grief attached to such a heartbreaking loss.
