A teenager from Bensalem, Pennsylvania is facing 15 to 40 years behind bars after killing a 12-year old girl and confessing to the murder.
Ash Cooper, who used to go by Joshua, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in the shooting death of Morgan Connors.
The murder happened in the Top of the Ridge Trailer Park back in November 2022.
During a video chat on Instagram, Cooper allegedly showed a female acquaintance the body of the victim covered in blood. Cooper also asked that friend to assist with disposing the girl’s deceased body.
The girl quickly told her mother and they called to notify authorities of Cooper’s crime.
According to the police report, Cooper told officers it was an accident and he didn’t mean to kill her. He continued to say how sorry he was and that he knew he would be going to jail for the rest of his life.
The affidavit also states that during an interview with Cooper’s mother and police, Cooper claimed at one time he was in a sexual relationship with the victim.
Investigators testified in court that there was substantial evidence that someone tried to clean up the crime scene. They also stated that neighbors had heard the gunshot, but didn’t think much of it at the time.
“I was going to invite the kid over for turkey dinner because his dad was hunting that day,” neighbor Gary Seeley said. “The kid seemed harmless. I know he had problems you know. I thought he was a danger to himself if anything.”
According to Bensalem police, Cooper told investigators that he was cleaning out his dad’s safe and sorting through the guns and ammunition before the 12-year-old girl was dropped off at his home.
Cooper went on to explain, “She went to the bathroom and that’s where I killed her.”
The coroner’s office said the girl’s cause of death was a gunshot wound to the neck and upper chest.
