Kim Kardashian is back at it again. The reality star’s interest in criminal justice reform has taken her to San Quentin recently, where she spent time with death row inmate Kevin Cooper and his attorney in hopes of exoneration. But not everyone is cheering her on. Mary Ann Hughes, the mother of one of Cooper’s alleged victims, says Kim is being used and misinformed…and she’s not here for it.
Cooper’s attorney, Norman Hile, said they’re hoping Kim can use her celebrity to bring awareness to Kevin’s case, like she’s done with many other inmates who have recently gained their freedom. That celebrity status is exactly what Mary Ann Hughes believes Cooper’s attorney is using her for “because they can’t use the truth to try to help Kevin Cooper. The truth just condemns him.”
Kevin Cooper is a 61-year-old man who has been on death row since the 80’s after being convicted of committing 4 heinous murders in Chino Hills, CA. Mary Ann’s 11-year-old son, Christopher, who was sleeping over at a neighbor’s home back in 1983, was one of his alleged victims. Cooper was convicted of using a hatchet to slaughter neighbors, Doug and Peggy Ryen, their daughter Jessica and Christopher. The Ryens’ 8-year-old son was the only survivor of the attack.
Cooper has always maintained his innocence and has spent over 30 years in prison trying to find ways to prove it. Hile, told TMZ Kim spent 2 hours speaking with him and Kevin and the focus of the conversation was mostly on how they can clear Cooper’s name beyond new DNA testing.
Kim also gained support from two California Governors, Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom, to order additional DNA testing in Cooper’s case. However, Cooper and Hile want to prove his innocence beyond DNA testing and are hoping to find evidence that could fully exonerate Cooper. According to TMZ, they will review docs related to the original prosecution and old witness testimony, as well as find new witnesses.
But Hughes says if Kim did her research, she wouldn’t rethink trying to help Cooper. She said Kim “obviously has not read all of the actual evidence — she has bought into half truths perpetrated by the defense. If she actually sat down and read the transcripts of all the trials and appeals, she would be sick to her stomach to be in the same room with him.”
Mary Ann says it doesn’t make any sense on why Kim would believe the “pile of evidence” against Cooper was planted. She says he’s “100% guilty and the evidence shows it. If you want the whole truth, read the 94 page document on the website of the San Bernardino County D.A.”, which according to TMZ, was filed in response to Cooper’s last attempt to win clemency.
Hughes also referred to a woman who claims Cooper raped her in 1982 in Pennsylvania and testified against him during the murder trial. She said that is something Kim needs to know, “She portrays herself as being for women’s rights and for the women’s movement and yet she is supporting a rapist and a murderer.”
