Home / Crime and Justice / Plea Deal in Strangulation Case: Murder Charge May Drop
Plea Deal in Strangulation Case: Murder Charge May Drop
27 Jun
Summary
- Malik Bunch pleaded guilty to burglary, facing up to 30 years.
- He admitted to breaking in to stop contact with his wife.
- The victim was found with a wine bottle bearing Bunch's fingerprint.
Malik Bunch, 29, has pleaded guilty to burglary, a serious Level 1 felony, as part of a plea agreement. This plea may lead to the dismissal of a murder charge related to the death of Je La Cooper. Bunch is facing a potential prison sentence of up to 30 years, with his sentencing hearing scheduled for July 30.
The case, which began in late March 2022, involved the discovery of Cooper, 25, in her Merrillville apartment. Prosecutors admitted Bunch broke into the apartment with the intent to stop Cooper from contacting his wife. He then reportedly strangled Cooper and staged the scene to look like an accidental overdose.
Evidence found at the scene included a wine bottle with Bunch's fingerprint, which Cooper was holding. Initial findings from a pathologist were inconclusive, but later analysis, influenced by details from a 2024 bond hearing, identified homicide as the cause of death, likely due to strangulation.
