DeKalb County Man Sentenced to Life Plus 50 Years in Serial Sexual Assault Cold Cases
DECATUR, Georgia – Following a non-negotiated guilty plea, 64-year-old Wesley Cooley was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole plus 50 consecutive years for a series of violent offenses in DeKalb County. The sentence, handed down by Superior Court Judge Gregory A. Adams, concludes a case involving four victims attacked between 2012 and 2017.
Timeline of Criminal Activity and Victim Profiles
The prosecution outlined a consistent method of operation where Cooley targeted young women who were alone, often offering them transportation or employment before diverting to a secluded location.
- October 16, 2012: An 18-year-old woman was at a bus stop at Panola and Redan Roads. Cooley offered her a ride in a green sedan but drove her to a different location where he physically assaulted and raped her.
- February 18, 2013: A 16-year-old girl was sitting on bleachers at Miller Grove High School. Cooley offered her a ride and a job at a grocery store. After she eventually accepted, he drove to a residence under the guise of “picking something up” and raped her.
- April 25, 2017: A 28-year-old woman walking to a gas station with luggage was forced into Cooley’s white pickup truck after he insisted on giving her a ride. He drove to the Northlake Inn parking lot, where the assault occurred, before dropping her off at Northlake Mall.
- October 16, 2017: A 19-year-old woman panhandling on Memorial Drive accepted a ride from Cooley. He took her to a home, threatened her with a brick, and attempted to strangle her. The victim escaped unclothed to a neighbor’s house. Cooley fled in a grey Dodge SUV but was apprehended during a traffic stop shortly after.
The Role of Forensic DNA and GASAKI
While Cooley was initially arrested for the October 2017 attempted rape, he was not immediately linked to the prior cold cases. His identification as a serial offender was the result of the Georgia Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (GASAKI).
| Investigation Milestone | Detail |
| Initial Link | DNA from an unknown perpetrator was found in cases across DeKalb, Fulton, and Rockdale counties dating back to 1999. |
| The Breakthrough | A DeKalb detective matched DNA from the April 2017 case to the “unknown perpetrator” profile in the system. |
| DNA Confirmation | In January 2020, GASAKI secured a warrant for Cooley’s DNA, confirming a positive match to all linked cases. |
| Final Arrest | Cooley was arrested near his Conyers home in February 2020 and indicted by a Grand Jury in April 2022. |
Judicial Outcome
The “non-negotiated” nature of the plea means there was no prior agreement between the prosecution and the defense regarding the sentence. Judge Adams opted for the maximum severity, ensuring Cooley will remain in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for the remainder of his life.
The prosecution team included Senior Assistant District Attorney Agatha Romanowski and Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Tabitha Pazmino, who worked alongside victim advocates to support the survivors through the multi-year legal process.
