Husband convicted of murdering wife in spring 2020

HOUSTON – A man was sentenced this week to 50 years in prison for the murder of his wife in a Spring home in 2020, officials said.

According to the Harris County District Attorney's Office, Ralph Leroy Cooper, 42, pleaded guilty just before his trial began in January, and he was sentenced after a hearing this week.

FOX 26 Houston is now on the FOX LOCAL app available via Apple TV, Amazon FireTV, Roku, Google Android TV and Vizio!

Cooper was charged in the fatal shooting of Rhonda Rochelle Williams, 43, on the night of August 25, 2020.

According to the prosecutor's office, Cooper lived in Rosharon with his wife and their 3-year-old son, but moved to Spring to stay with relatives.

That August night, authorities say he asked his wife to come to the Spring home where he was with his son and other family members. They argued and he chased her around the house with a gun, shooting her several times once she left, the prosecutor's office said.

NO MORE NEWS: Deadly shooting breaks out at dice game in Harris County

“She was running for her life, trying to get away,” Assistant Prosecutor Kelly Marshall said. “Once they went outside and she found herself trapped between two houses, the accused approached her and shot her in the head as she begged to be left After he fell, he shot him twice and casually walked away.”

Marshall is assigned to the domestic violence division of the DA's office and prosecutes Cooper.

According to Marshall, Cooper had two previous convictions for assaulting two other women before marrying Williams.

NO MORE NEWS: Humble ISD student-athlete killed in motorcycle accident, 'everyone loved him'

“No child should lose their mother to domestic violence, and that’s why we take any case of violence against women so seriously,” said District Attorney Kim Ogg. “Violence is known to escalate, as in this case, where the defendant committed at least two other assaults before killing his intimate partner.”

According to the prosecutor's office, Cooper must serve at least half of his sentence before he is eligible for parole, and charges are pending in Brazoria County that could extend his sentence.