Overview
- The jury found Cooksey guilty on eight counts of first-degree murder and additional charges including kidnapping, sexual assault and armed robbery after a months-long trial.
- The sentencing phase begins Monday, with prosecutors pursuing a death sentence.
- Investigators tied the cases to Cooksey through DNA, cell-site records and ballistics that linked five shootings to victim Salim Richards' gun, along with victims' keys and a necklace recovered at his mother's home.
- The killings occurred over three weeks in late 2017 in Phoenix and Glendale and included his mother, Rene Cooksey, stepfather Edward Nunn, security guard Salim Richards and Maria Villanueva, who was sexually assaulted.
- Cooksey has maintained his innocence as his defense challenged the forensic evidence and noted the lack of eyewitnesses, and authorities have not identified a motive.