Pa. teen pleads guilty to killing 12-year-old girl, showing body on video chat- Ash Cooper, a teenager from Bensalem, Pennsylvania, who previously went by the name Joshua Cooper, has pleaded guilty to the third-degree murder of a 12-year-old girl named Morgan Connors. Cooper’s guilty plea was made on Thursday, March 21, 2024, and he was subsequently sentenced to 15 to 40 years in state prison, along with a consecutive sentence of seven years of probation.
This sentence was handed down by Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey L. Finley, who also ordered Cooper to follow all the rules and recommendations of adult probation and parole, and to undergo psychological and psychiatric evaluations.
The incident that led to Cooper’s arrest and conviction occurred on November 25, 2022. Cooper was communicating with a juvenile acquaintance via an Instagram video chat when he claimed to have just killed someone. During the video chat, Cooper flipped the video image to show the legs and feet of the victim, who was covered in blood. He then asked the acquaintance for assistance with cleaning up the scene and disposing of the body.
Police were alerted to the possible homicide at the Top of the Ridge Trailer Park, located at 1446 Gibson Road, Bensalem, through a 911 call. Upon arrival, officers found a juvenile running out of the back of the trailer. Inside the residence, they discovered Connors, who had been fatally shot, on the floor of the bathroom. There were indications that substantial steps had been taken to clean up the crime scene, including the use of household cleaners, bleach, and a pile of blood-soaked towels next to the victim’s body.
Cooper’s confession to the shooting was made during an interview with police. According to an affidavit of probable cause, Cooper stated that the shooting was an accident and expressed regret, stating, “I’m sorry” and that he was “going to jail for the rest of my life.” The affidavit also revealed that Cooper claimed to have been in a sexual relationship with the victim at one point.
The circumstances surrounding the crime, including Cooper’s attempt to clean up the scene and his confession to the acquaintance via video chat, have led to a significant amount of evidence being gathered by police. This evidence, combined with Cooper’s confession, has resulted in his conviction and the severe sentence handed down by the court.
In summary, Ash Cooper’s guilty plea to the murder of Morgan Connors and his subsequent sentencing to 15 to 40 years in state prison, along with a consecutive sentence of seven years of probation, highlight the seriousness of the crime and the legal consequences faced by the perpetrator. The incident underscores the importance of law enforcement’s response to potential crimes and the need for thorough investigations to ensure justice is served.
