JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — (The video above is from a previous report)
The man charged with killing Jordan Cooper, a Keystone Heights woman with mental deficiencies, was sentenced Friday morning to 55 years in prison.
Joe Arthur Turner, 31, was charged with second degree murder, sexual battery, and burglary with assault or battery. He pleaded guilty earlier this month.
Six people gave victim impact statements during a sentencing hearing Friday, including Cooper's immediate family.
At the end of the hearing, Turner apologized to the family.
Jeff Cooper, Jordan Cooper's father, said during a victim impact statement that Turner took the love of his life, his daughter. He spoke directly to Turner.
"Joe, I don't know what to say," he said. "I really, I really don't know what to say. You come to my house, you eat dinner, you grew up with my son and Billy, all that. I never, ever, ever would have expected this from you, never ever. But I just hope that one day something will change, something, something, something needs to happen. This never should have happened, never should have happened."
Cooper's mother showed the court pictures of her daughter growing up. Cooper's aunt wore a Harry Potter Slytherin shirt, which the judge pointed out, because she says her niece loved Harry Potter.
"A beautiful, vulnerable, and trusting light was extinguished," said Dolly Cooper. "And there is no illuminator that can bring it back."
Cooper's brother stated in his victim impact statement that he has trouble sleeping and does not engage in personal relationships because of Turner's crimes. He states he forgives Turner.
"I have clung to memories of my sister," reads the victim impact statement. "But the thoughts of her death, the court proceedings and the defendant himself distort them. I have a strong belief in my faith and to forgive as Mark 11:25 states. To the defendant, I forgive these acts committed against my sister, but forgetting will take a lifetime."
When victim impact statements were finished, Turner addressed Cooper's family.
"Miss Renee, there's nothing I can say or do that will ever bring Jordan back," Turner said in court. "That's why I want to apologize. I want to sincerely apologize, say I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Jeff, I'm sorry. From what I've heard there is forgiveness in your hearts and I'm so thankful for that. I just hope in time things will be better for each one of y'all. And I just thank y'all for y'all's time."
Cooper's family released a statement ahead of Turner’s sentencing.
"Our hearts will forever be broken and missing the piece that is Jordan. Nothing will ever take her place, but her memory will always be with us.
Jordan was a true victim. She was in the place she felt most secure, her home, when she was brutally murdered and taken from us. A senseless tragedy. The guilty plea and sentencing of the perpetrator, after a four year process, brings closure to the legal process and finally attains some type of justice for Jordan. While the negotiated sentence may not be what the defendant deserved, it will allow those who loved Jordan the opportunity to move forward and hopefully find peace.
To truly honor Jordan, we would ask that you remember her in her brightest moments, and not as a victim. Jordan was passionate about all things Harry Potter, as well as, music, books and her dog Dozer. She was also a loving daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin and friend. Our happiest memories as a family, are of our times spent together with Jordan. There is not a day that goes by that we will not remember that she is not with us, or feel her loss.
While nothing will ever bring Jordan back, to honor her memory we have formed a non-profit organization that gives scholarships to the students at Keystone Heights High School where Jordan was a graduate. It is open to all seniors, and endeavors to assist students with pursuing their goals after high school, jordancooperscholarship.org. Jordan would love knowing that she is helping other graduates fulfill their dreams, whatever they may be. In this way, every scholarship recipient takes Jordan’s memory forward into their lives. In this way Jordan will live on, not only in our hearts, but in the hope that her memory brings to those students who receive scholarships.
Jordan, we love you and we miss you. We wish you were still here with us. We know you are in heaven and that we will see you again. Love always."
Cooper was 25 when she went missing in Keystone Heights, Florida in November 2017. She was later found dead in her attic in early December.
Through DNA evidence, the Clay County Sheriff's Office was able to arrest Turner, a man who lived down the street from her at the time.
Court documents show he entered a plea of guilty on March 10, 2022. The move likely comes as a way to escape the death penalty, which the State was seeking in this case.
Officials say Cooper had the mental capacity of a 13-year-old. A few weeks after she went missing, she was found dead in the attic of her home, under layers of insulation, according to the Clay County Sheriff's Office.
DNA evidence collected from a band-aid that was left at the scene, as well as evidence gathered from a sexual assault kit, led to the arrest.