Video – Step By Step A Journey of Hope With Bill Pelke

Clip from the documentary “Step By Step A Journey of Hope With Bill Pelke” produced by Micki Dickoff.

Bill Pelke’s 78 – year – old grandmother Ruth, taught Bible lessons to neighborhood children in Gary, Indiana. One day, May 14th, 1985, four ninth grade girls from the local high school come to her door asking about the lessons, and she invited them into her home. As she turned to get information for them, one grabbed a vase and hit her over the head. Another pulled a knife out of her purse and began to stab her. Ruth was stabbed a total of 33 times. While one of the girls held the knife inside her, the others ransacked her house. They ended up with $10.00 and her ten-year-old car.

A year later, one of the girls, Paula Cooper, was sentenced to death for the crime. She had been 15 when the murder occurred, and at 16 became the youngest female on death row in America. Originally supportive of Paula’s death sentence, Bill eventually forgave Paula, began corresponding and visiting with her, and worked to overturn her sentence. She is now serving 60 years in prison.

Bill retired after over 30 years of service and has now devoted his life to abolishing the death penalty. With ‘Journey of Hope…From Violence to Healing’, he travels worldwide and spreads his message of forgiveness and hope.