The Region - News from Feb. 27, 1985

Jurors in San Diego Superior Court continued deliberating the fate of convicted murderer Kevin Cooper. Deliberations began Monday afternoon following closing statements from attorneys and pleas for leniency from Cooper’s mother, father, sister and godparents. Cooper, 27, was found guilty Feb. 19 of murdering Doug and Peg Ryen, both 41; their daughter, Jessica, 10, and Christopher Hughes, 11. Their bodies were found June 5, 1983, in the Ryens’ Chino Hills home. The seven women and five men must recommend either a sentence of life in prison without parole or death in the gas chamber. Superior Court Judge Richard Garner must follow a recommendation of life in prison, but may impose a lesser sentence if the jury recommends the death penalty.