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Real estate agent's family: ‘Now we can get some healing’
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
The family of slain real-estate agent Vivian Martin said Thursday it hopes it can begin to heal after the second and last man who pleaded guilty to killing her in 2010 was sentenced to 29 years in prison.
Donna James, one of Martin’s daughters, said although the family is not 100 percent satisfied with the outcome of the case, it is glad it’s over. Now the family can try to move on.
“Did we all get the justice we wanted? No,” James said after 25-year-old Grant Cooper was sentenced in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for the death of the 67-year-old. “But now we can get some closure. Now we can get some healing.”
“Thank Jesus it’s over,” added another daughter of Martin’s, Davida Brown.
Cooper was sentenced on charges of involuntary manslaughter, aggravated arson, aggravated robbery and kidnapping. Police said Cooper and 29-year-old Robert Brooks lured Martin to a home on Nelson Avenue she was trying to sell on Sept. 20, 2010, robbed and strangled her and set the house on fire.
Brooks was sentenced to life in prison with no parole Wednesday by visiting Judge Lee Sinclair. Cooper, who strangled Martin, pleaded guilty to his charges July 31 and agreed to testify against Brooks if needed. Brooks pleaded guilty Sept. 19 to Martin’s death and the robbery of a real-estate agent in Boardman five days before Martin was killed. In exchange for his pleas, prosecutors agreed not to seek the death penalty against him.
Judge Sinclair was appointed by the state Supreme Court in June after former Judge James Evans recused himself from the case because of his retirement, which took effect Wednesday. Family members were upset the case had taken so long to close.
Earlier, Brown addressed Cooper, saying she understood why prosecutors had to make a deal with him, but that did not erase what he did to her mother.
“It was unreal what you did to my mom. It was unreal,” Brown said.
Brown said she understood why prosecutors agreed to a plea deal with Cooper but she feels cheated a bit because he never had to testify.
Judge Sinclair told the family he understood the frustration but added that prosecutors often must make tough choices and the things Cooper told them, once he made the plea, helped to solidify their case overall and also against Brooks.
Tom Zena, one of Cooper’s attorneys, said the case is one of the most highly charged he has worked in a long time as a defense attorney. He thanked Judge Sinclair for bringing the case to a swift end.
Lynn Maro, one of Brooks’ attorneys, asked the judge to stick to the recommended sentence. She said her client has taken responsibility for his role in the crime since he was arrested by police.
Cooper, who had his head bowed almost the entire time, apologized to Martin’s family.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Cooper said. “I hope you forgive me.”
Judge Sinclair told the family when he was first assigned the case his No. 1 goal was to bring it to an end as fast as legally possible.
“My goal was to give you all some closure,” Judge Sinclair said, while adding he understood the family will never fully get over the loss of Martin, but at least the process can be easier because the court case is no longer looming.
“We’re never going to have answers,” Judge Sinclair said. “We may have explanations, but we’ll never have answers.”
After court, Assistant Prosecutor Dawn Cantalamessa said that although Cooper strangled Martin, Brooks also had his hands and a foot on her when she died and he told Cooper to use more force to kill her. She also said it appeared that Brooks put the robberies together as a way to get a thrill.
In the Boardman robbery, Brooks’ brother Paul participated, not Cooper. He pleaded guilty to that crime and was sentenced to 13 years in prison.
James also thanked Judge Sinclair, prosecutors and the Boardman, Brookfield and Youngstown police departments for work on the case.