Cops Link Son to Parents' Brutal Deaths

In late 2017, Phoenix police made a house call that cracked open one of the most unsettling murder cases in recent Arizona history. The man who answered the door was covered in blood. That man was Cleophus Cooksey Jr., and behind him were the bodies of his mother and stepfather. What followed was a shocking cascade of evidence, connecting him - at least allegedly - to a string of eight killings in just 21 days.

Cooksey’s trial is now underway, and it’s anything but straightforward.

A Man With a Past

Cleophus Cooksey, 43, was no stranger to the criminal justice system. Years earlier, he’d served time for a fatal robbery under Arizona’s felony murder statute. He had reportedly struggled during incarceration, alleging abuse and demonstrating signs of paranoia after release.

But when he moved back in with his mother, Rene Cooksey, and her husband, Edward Nunn, it seemed like a fresh start - or so it appeared.

Cooksey had aspirations of becoming a rapper and was working on his music career. But in November and December of 2017, a series of brutal killings began to unravel a very different narrative.

A Trail of Violence

The alleged spree started on Nov. 27, 2017. Two men - Parker Smith and Andrew Remillard - were gunned down in a vehicle near Indian School Road in Phoenix.

Just days later, Salim Richards, a security guard, was shot while walking to his girlfriend’s apartment. According to prosecutors, Cooksey took his gun and necklace - the latter later seen in a social media post allegedly made by Cooksey himself.

On Dec. 11, Jesus Real, a man said to have supported Cooksey’s music, was shot in his sleep. Prosecutors ultimately didn’t pursue charges in that case due to insufficient evidence, though they named him as a possible ninth victim.

The violence escalated over the following days. Latorrie Beckford and Kristopher Cameron were killed in separate apartment shootings. Cameron, 21, was reportedly lured to meet for a marijuana transaction just before his death.

On Dec. 16, Maria Villanueva’s body was found in a Phoenix alley. She had been sexually assaulted and shot. Authorities say Cooksey’s DNA was discovered on her body and that her car keys turned up in his mother’s home.

The Turning Point

The next day, police were called to Rene Cooksey’s home after reports of gunfire. When they arrived, they found her son, Cleophus, at the door with blood on his hands. He said it came from a cut. Officers, unconvinced, tasered him after he refused to comply. Inside, they found a horrific scene - blood on the walls and the bodies of Rene Cooksey and Edward Nunn.

Authorities quickly connected the dots, claiming the apartment contained Richards’ stolen gun, Villanueva’s car keys, and other damning physical evidence. Cooksey was arrested that night and later charged with eight counts of first-degree murder.

Inside the Trial

Cooksey’s long-awaited trial began on May 5, 2025 - more than seven years after the alleged crimes. Pandemic-related delays and legal wrangling postponed the start. Prosecutors opened by presenting what they described as a web of evidence, including DNA, ballistics, surveillance footage, and witness testimony linking Cooksey to all eight deaths.

Ballistic reports tied a 9 mm Glock - allegedly stolen from Richards - to several shootings. Cooksey’s DNA was reportedly found on Villanueva’s shirt. Her belongings, police say, were discovered where Beckford had died. Prosecutors pointed out that most victims were caught off guard, alone, or in vulnerable moments.

But the defense pushed back - hard.

Cooksey’s attorney, Robert Reinhardt, argued that the prosecution lacked a clear motive, describing the deaths as “random and unrelated,” according to CBS News.

He urged jurors to hold the state accountable to the burden of proof, reminding them that the opening statements were not evidence. “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 told the jury, according to CBS News.

What Happens Next

The trial is expected to stretch over several months, with 22 jurors seated to account for possible attrition. Prosecutors are reportedly seeking the death penalty, an option that has drawn scrutiny. Cooksey’s attorneys argued that Arizona’s capital punishment system is racially biased, but a judge rejected the claim, saying there was no evidence of racial intent in this specific case.

Cooksey has maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

What remains unclear is what exactly drove the alleged spree - if it was indeed a spree at all. Was there a trigger? A pattern? Or was this something darker and more chaotic, a storm of personal demons unleashed over three weeks in late 2017?

References: He Was Living with His Parents - Until Police Found Their Bodies | Murder trial begins for Cleophus Cooksey, accused of 3-week Arizona killing spree | Man charged in 8 killings 8 years ago in Phoenix area goes on trial | ‘Why did he kill his mom?’: Family friend speaks out as Cleophus Cooksey trial unfolds | Who is the man accused of killing 8 people in 3 weeks? Inside the Cleophus Cooksey case | Jurors watch graphic video of Cleophus Cooksey Jr.’s arrest in Phoenix after parents found dead