Remembering Monica Williams

 

A Happy Child

Nine-month-old Monica Williams was considered by all those who knew her to be an angel. “Monica’s smile would draw people to her everywhere we went” says Monica’s mother, “People would talk to her and they always wanted to pick her up and hold her. She attracted people. If we were at the store or walking in the park it made no difference … that brown hair & big blue eyes with the smile on her face brought people to us. Monica was a beautiful, happy baby and she carried a smile nearly all the time!”

Monica was beginning to take her first steps in August 1979. She would hold on to a coffee table in her mother’s living room to support her. Monica fell often however she always got right back up to try again. She was a fighter. Sadly she would spend the last five days of her short life fighting to live.

Horrible Abuse

On August 16, 1979 Monica’s mother had Christopher Cooper come over to watch Monica and her older brother. Cooper was the uncle of Monica’s older brother and ex-brother-in-law of Monica’s mom. Athough Monica’s mother had not been married to Cooper’s brother for several years, she was still friends with the Cooper family. Christopher Cooper was going to baby-sit for approximately 30 minutes while Monica’s mother went to have coffee with a friend. Monica’s mom laid Monica down for a nap before she left and was sure Monica would sleep until she returned home. What exactly happened next we will never know however we do know Monica suffered more in that brief time than most people suffer in a lifetime.

When Monica’s mother returned to the house Monica was still in her crib. Monica’s mother tried to pick Monica up, she was completely unresponsive. She stated, “Monica was pale, almost pasty looking, I picked her up & she was non-responsive. I held her close and she opened her eyes but barely breathing. She basically took her last breath in my arms on our way to the Findlay Hospital. Monica’s eyes closed & to my knowledge they never opened again. ” Monica’s mom then noticed bruises all over Monica’s neck. Monica’s mother rushed her to the emergency room. At the hospital they found Monica’s tiny body covered from head to toe with bruises and “hickey marks.” Monica fought for five days to live. Sadly on August 21, 1979 Monica would succumb to her horrific injuries. She was three months shy of her first birthday.

A Baby Killer Gets Life

Christopher Cooper was arrested and indicted for the murder of little Monica Williams on August 30, 1979. It was determined that Cooper had also raped Monica when his bodily fluids were found inside her. Cooper attempted to plead not guilty by reason of insanity. After being evaluated at the West Central Ohio Forensic Center in Lima, Ohio, Cooper was determined to be competent to stand trial at a subsequent hearing.

Cooper was convicted of murder in 1980 and was sentenced to life in prison. The death penalty was not an option due to the fact there was no capital punishment in Ohio in 1979. In 2005 Cooper was adjudicated a sexual predator, the most dangerous of all sex offenders. During his predator hearing Cooper did nothing to deny his crime and made no apologies for his actions.