2nd defendant in Vivian Martin murder to be sentenced Thursday

YOUNGSTOWN

Thursday, family members of the slain real-estate agent Vivian Martin will see the end of their four-year court ordeal as Visiting Judge Lee Sinclair sentences Grant P. Cooper at 9 a.m.

Court documents say Cooper killed Martin, 67, by strangulation on Sept. 20, 2010, in a Nelson Avenue home she was showing, which was set afire to cover up the homicide.

Prosecutors are recommending 29 years in prison for Cooper, 25, of Sulgrave Drive, Brookfield, who pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, aggravated robbery, aggravated arson and kidnapping.

Today, members of Martin’s family expressed satisfaction with the sentence of life in prison without parole, which Judge Sinclair imposed on co-defendant Robert S. Brooks, 29, of Castalia Avenue.

Brooks had earlier pleaded guilty to aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated arson and kidnapping in Martin’s death.

Brooks also pleaded guilty to the Sept, 15, 2010, aggravated robbery and kidnapping of another real-estate agent showing a Boardman apartment complex, who survived that ordeal.

“He shows no genuine remorse... He methodically called these Realtors and made appointments to go out and make this happen,” Dawn Cantalamessa. assistant county prosecutor, said of Brooks.

Seeking a sentence less than life in prison without parole, Brooks’ lawyer, Ron Yarwood said the post-traumatic stress disorder his client was suffering from after his military service was “not an excuse, but an explanation” for Brooks’ criminal behavior.

Read more reaction from the victim's family and others in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.