Ex-marine convicted of raping schoolgirl kills student, self

In the decade since he was convicted with two other U.S. Marines of raping a young Japanese girl, Kendrick Ledet tried to put Okinawa behind him by starting anew in his native Georgia.

[Dianne Trammell]

This story makes a killer, murderder sound kind, loving, etc... that is absurd , what is wrong with the media ??? The victim and her family are bearing the insult of your newspaper...poor reporting !!!

[Kathy]

Out of character, please? Ledet had served time for raping a 12 year old. I guess that was out of character for him also. Sometimes, family doesn't see the bad side of their kin, but obviously, Ledet had a dark side. Lauren Cooper was savagely beaten, raped and strangled to death. Does that sound like Ledet was a helper?

[GABABY]

Kathy wrote:

Out of character, please? Ledet had served time for raping a 12 year old. I guess that was out of character for him also. Sometimes, family doesn't see the bad side of their kin, but obviously, Ledet had a dark side. Lauren Cooper was savagely beaten, raped and strangled to death. Does that sound like Ledet was a helper?

First of all, Ledet never actually raped the 12 year old girl. If you did your research, he stated he realized how young she appeared and pretended to rape her because he was bullied into the whole situation, so he was convicted. Secondly, people do things worng, but still have a heart. You don't know if this boy was brainwashed, tortured, or beaten while he was in the hands of Japanese people. They hated Americans even moreso after that. SO you have no right to passw judgement and as for the police, they always hurry and say something was a homicide/suicide when they find a woman and male dead, especially black male/white female. Analyze that for a minute.

[GABABY]

Dianne Trammell wrote:

This story makes a killer, murderder sound kind, loving, etc... that is absurd , what is wrong with the media ??? The victim and her family are bearing the insult of your newspaper...poor reporting !!!

Ledet's mother and sister who have been through a lot as well is suffering too. They too lost a child and had no control over what happened, just as Cooper's family. SO please don't try to make it seem as if they have no feelings. We still don't know who did this. We are just taking the media's word. So if anything is poor, it is you reading things from the media and not knowing the truth yourself. Everyone suffered and his family are true sweet christians who deserve more respect than that. So watch who you speak against because you have no clue on their lives and what they are going through

[Kathy]

I actually did know that he said he didn't actually rape the girl. I'm just not sure he was telling the truth. A jury of 12 people decided that he was guilty of something, yet you are telling me that he was not. Now, who do I think I'd rather believe? As for him having a heart, most everybody has some good in them, and I'm very sorry for his family. They are innocent victims also, just like the Cooper girl and her family. Nobody could have ever bullied me into being involved in a crime. That's why God gave me a brain and a heart. As far as what he might have gone through while in Japan, does that mean that its okay for him to come back and take out his frustations on some innocent girl who befriended him? Obviously, you are a friend of the Ledet family or something, and I can understand their hurt. So you see, while we have differing opinions, I still try to understand what each side is going through.

GABABY wrote:

<quoted text> First of all, Ledet never actually raped the 12 year old girl. If you did your research, he stated he realized how young she appeared and pretended to rape her because he was bullied into the whole situation, so he was convicted. Secondly, people do things worng, but still have a heart. You don't know if this boy was brainwashed, tortured, or beaten while he was in the hands of Japanese people. They hated Americans even moreso after that. SO you have no right to passw judgement and as for the police, they always hurry and say something was a homicide/suicide when they find a woman and male dead, especially black male/white female. Analyze that for a minute.

[Kathy]

Kathy wrote:

I actually did know that he said he didn't actually rape the girl. I'm just not sure he was telling the truth. A jury of 12 people decided that he was guilty of something, yet you are telling me that he was not. Now, who do I think I'd rather believe? As for him having a heart, most everybody has some good in them, and I'm very sorry for his family. They are innocent victims also, just like the Cooper girl and her family. Nobody could have ever bullied me into being involved in a crime. That's why God gave me a brain and a heart. As far as what he might have gone through while in Japan, does that mean that its okay for him to come back and take out his frustations on some innocent girl who befriended him? Obviously, you are a friend of the Ledet family or something, and I can understand their hurt. So you see, while we have differing opinions, I still try to understand what each side is going through. <quoted text>

Just looked it up, seems it was a panel of three judges in Okinawa rather than a jury of 12 as I thought earlier. Either way, same conclusion!

[friend_of_Lauren]

GABABY wrote:

<quoted text>Ledet's mother and sister who have been through a lot as well is suffering too. They too lost a child and had no control over what happened, just as Cooper's family. SO please don't try to make it seem as if they have no feelings. We still don't know who did this. We are just taking the media's word. So if anything is poor, it is you reading things from the media and not knowing the truth yourself. Everyone suffered and his family are true sweet christians who deserve more respect than that. So watch who you speak against because you have no clue on their lives and what they are going through

Are you completely out of your mind? First of all, this was a completely gruesome rape and murder by a sick and demented thug to a friendly and innocent young woman. It absolutely disgusts me that anyone (that is, anyone sane) would feel any compassion whatsoever for this inhumane being. And the fact that he pretended to rape a 12 year old girl is purely sick and shows just what sort of person he was. He deserves to be nowhere else but in hell; he completely took away the life of one of my best friends and he has destroyed Lauren's family.

[Mom22]

I agree with you! As Lauren's friend, if you can learn anything from this, I think it should be to be very careful who you befriend and who you let into your home, because if you don't know their background, it could be disastrous to your health. If she had only known who she was working with, and I mean known about the Okinawa rape etc., but I'm sure he didn't bother to tell her about that. I am very sorry for her family and friends.

friend_of_Lauren wrote:

<quoted text>
Are you completely out of your mind? First of all, this was a completely gruesome rape and murder by a sick and demented thug to a friendly and innocent young woman. It absolutely disgusts me that anyone (that is, anyone sane) would feel any compassion whatsoever for this inhumane being. And the fact that he pretended to rape a 12 year old girl is purely sick and shows just what sort of person he was. He deserves to be nowhere else but in hell; he completely took away the life of one of my best friends and he has destroyed Lauren's family.

[serene valley]

I spent 10 years living in Okinawa and the fact is crimes by Americans there are disproportionately commited by Marines...black Marines. Sad but true.

Lauren Cooper was an idiot for befriending him in the first place. Obviously she was naive and stupid. Did she deserve what she got? No, but she sure did take a chance by allowing the thug into her apartment. Maybe she had jungle fever...and paid the ultimate price.

Ledet BEAT the Okinawan girl. That he couldn't get it up is immaterial...fact is he was a participant and the only reason given (if it is true, which I highly doubt) for him not raping the girl was that he couldn't get it up. That is what is meant by not being able to do it. Otherwise he would have done the whole dirty deed.

Cooper in a way asked for it simply but associating with she did. She should have known better.

[Mom22]

Obviously, you have not grown up in the South. Don't you think you're being harsh on Lauren. She was young and trusting. She worked with him. In the South, blacks and whites work together, go to school together, etc. She didn't know about his past. Her family stated that she left a voicemail on a friends cellphone and said she was stuck with him that day, as in - she had been trying to get rid of him, but he was a leach. He probably had played on her sympathy as being lonely. You're cruel and hard-hearted to say that she deserved what she got. How could you possibly believe that? Mom22

serene valley wrote:

I spent 10 years living in Okinawa and the fact is crimes by Americans there are disproportionately commited by Marines...black Marines. Sad but true.
Lauren Cooper was an idiot for befriending him in the first place. Obviously she was naive and stupid. Did she deserve what she got? No, but she sure did take a chance by allowing the thug into her apartment. Maybe she had jungle fever...and paid the ultimate price.
Ledet BEAT the Okinawan girl. That he couldn't get it up is immaterial...fact is he was a participant and the only reason given (if it is true, which I highly doubt) for him not raping the girl was that he couldn't get it up. That is what is meant by not being able to do it. Otherwise he would have done the whole dirty deed.
Cooper in a way asked for it simply but associating with she did. She should have known better.

[Eric]

Never take a situation like this out of context and suggest things that you are in no position to suggest. If you had ever met Lauren, you would never say anything so cruel about her. She was the friendliest girl I have ever known. She befriended everybody, because that is who she was, loving, not because she was "stupid". She loved everyone, and tended to see the good in everyone, even if other people couldn't. Although, I am not sure that it was simply a murder/suicide, and that nobody else was involved, I still cannot believe how anyone, whoever it was, could ever do what was done to Lauren, especially to Lauren. Nobody "asks" for something like that. Maybe next time, before you are so quick to disrespect, you should try thinking of her as the beautiful person that she was. And don't ever call Lauren an idiot again.

serene valley wrote:

I spent 10 years living in Okinawa and the fact is crimes by Americans there are disproportionately commited by Marines...black Marines. Sad but true.
Lauren Cooper was an idiot for befriending him in the first place. Obviously she was naive and stupid. Did she deserve what she got? No, but she sure did take a chance by allowing the thug into her apartment. Maybe she had jungle fever...and paid the ultimate price.
Ledet BEAT the Okinawan girl. That he couldn't get it up is immaterial...fact is he was a participant and the only reason given (if it is true, which I highly doubt) for him not raping the girl was that he couldn't get it up. That is what is meant by not being able to do it. Otherwise he would have done the whole dirty deed.
Cooper in a way asked for it simply but associating with she did. She should have known better.

[Greg Johnson]

The only thing this maggot did right in his life was to KILL HIMSELF. The Ledet family has SUFFERED? You have got to be kidding me. They need to suffer for raising and letting loose this monster not only in our community but onto the world itself. Also I cannot believe some moron out there actually said that " Ledet never actually raped the 12 year old girl. If you did your research, he stated he realized how young she appeared and pretended to rape her because he was bullied into the whole situation" OH MY GOD... It is people like you (bleeding heart, thug loving, and ignorant) that murderers, rapist, and child molestors are set free. You even want to blame it on the JAPANESE PEOPLE. hah hah hah hah. Another example of what is wrong with our society, no one takes RESPONSIBLITY for their actions and wants to make excuses for others. This thug murderer should have still been in prison and not out on our street. If a victim or their family could start holding the judges or parole board responsible for letting out these maggots who continue to prey on good people after their release you would see a lot less murders and rapes. Dont tell me this Ledet family is a good christian bunch. Im sure they fought tooth and nail to get this no good creep of a son back in the states and even knowing that he was guilty in Japan, Im sure they told EVERYONE what a sweet misunderstood man he was. Yeah right. Well if they are christians, they should know that he is ROTTING IN HELL at this moment.
Now, I know some of you will say im full of Hate and I must be a racist or a republican or a atheist or whatever, but let me tell you this.....NONE OF THAT MATTERS!!!!!!! Botttom line... a woman was murdered by a man who had shown his potential towards violence on a female in the past. He should have been locked away. Im tired of this and Im tired of people making excuses for people who dont deserve to live among us. Peace be with the Cooper family, my thoughts, prayers, and strenght are with you .

[DCM]

She will always be missed-

[Charles Foy Woodstock GA]

Kudos to you Greg for having the courage to speak the truth and not hide behind some alias like GABABY. Ledet was a hideous, murdering, raping, COWARDLY MONSTER who couldn't admit his heinous crimes in Japan and was now man enough to destroy the life of a beautiful young woman but not man enough to face her father. Oh yea, this guy's a real prince. I have no sympathy for HIS family whatsoever. They should all stop breeding immediately if this is the kind of garbage they produce. In my mind he did us all a favor by not propagating his DNA to the next monster. Burn in hell, Devil.

[Morgan]

To whoever wrote this ignorant, unintelligent, cowardly comment.
You obviously have no clue what it is like to know someone that was worth a shit like lauren cooper! How dare you say she was stupid and an idiot for accepting a person into her life without judgement. No she did not get a credit report or have a background check ran to see who this person was but after working with this person she thought he was a good person. I hope you never make a wrong inference on a person cause God forbid you were wrong in what you though!!! She had a HUGE heart that did not descriminate against color, religion, or gender which is more than I could say for you! I cannot believe you would have the nerve to speak about a wonderful person that you never had the pleasure or good fortune to meet. You make me sick with this comment! I loved Lauren, she was one of my very close friends and it is a shame that an opinionated idiot feels they can talk trash about such a wonderful nonjudgemental person like her! Think before you talk, she did not deserve this and neither did the families involved. He was a sick man that needed help! God bless the families and people who have suffered from this tragedy!!! My prayers are the friends and families of lauren and her attacker but mainly with HER family because I was at that funeral and saw the hurt and pain they experienced!!!

serene valley wrote:

I spent 10 years living in Okinawa and the fact is crimes by Americans there are disproportionately commited by Marines...black Marines. Sad but true.
Lauren Cooper was an idiot for befriending him in the first place. Obviously she was naive and stupid. Did she deserve what she got? No, but she sure did take a chance by allowing the thug into her apartment. Maybe she had jungle fever...and paid the ultimate price.
Ledet BEAT the Okinawan girl. That he couldn't get it up is immaterial...fact is he was a participant and the only reason given (if it is true, which I highly doubt) for him not raping the girl was that he couldn't get it up. That is what is meant by not being able to do it. Otherwise he would have done the whole dirty deed.
Cooper in a way asked for it simply but associating with she did. She should have known better.

[cousin]

Let us continue to pray for the family of Lauren as the year anniversary is approaching. She was a wonderful woman and left behind wonderful parents who are still grieving. Prayer for them must never stop.

[Aware]

TNB....TNB....TNB......

[Stef]

serene valley wrote:

I spent 10 years living in Okinawa and the fact is crimes by Americans there are disproportionately commited by Marines...black Marines. Sad but true.
Lauren Cooper was an idiot for befriending him in the first place. Obviously she was naive and stupid. Did she deserve what she got? No, but she sure did take a chance by allowing the thug into her apartment. Maybe she had jungle fever...and paid the ultimate price.
Ledet BEAT the Okinawan girl. That he couldn't get it up is immaterial...fact is he was a participant and the only reason given (if it is true, which I highly doubt) for him not raping the girl was that he couldn't get it up. That is what is meant by not being able to do it. Otherwise he would have done the whole dirty deed.
Cooper in a way asked for it simply but associating with she did. She should have known better.

"Cooper... asked for it"???? Are you freakin' out of your mind!?!?! You make me sick. Yeah, she may have been young, but I grew up with her, therefore I am the same age. Yeah, I am so sure that she woke up one morning and said "gee, I am going to have my friend come over and rape/murder me today. Then, my parents will come and find me afterwards." You, Serene, are the one that is naive and stupid. How heartless can you possibly be to write something like that. Have you no heart? I know countless people who's lives were changed due to what happened that horrible day, and you are just slapping all of them in their face. If you have children, I pray that you never have to have this happen to your family and then you read some heartless statement (like yours above) about your family member. You need to open your eyes.
And for those of you saying such horrible things about his family, SHAME ON YOU! This was not their fault, and you are being hateful. HATE is what causes people to kill and rape. No mother raises their children to grow up to be that way. You people make me sick. If you can't say something nice, when it comes to something as emotional as this situation, just shut up!
My heart is still with both families. The Coopers, I know, are wonderful people. I don't know his family, but I am sorry that you had to go through this, as well. I know what it's like to lose a family member in a tragic way, and I know, that even though it's been a long time, the pain is still there and fresh every day.

[kenn]

just like the south....so much hate on both sides. RIP Lauren Cooper. You didn't deserve this kind of nonsense.

[TCH]

Lauren was nice, I grew up with her and it's a tradgedy what I learned about her after leaving after highschool. I am completely shocked and wish this didn't happen, she didn't deserve this. RIP and prayers to family and friends.