NEWSFriends throw posthumous birthday party for Paula CooperMelissa Marble, left, and Lucina Yzaguirre, right, hug and cry together after releasing balloons with messages to their friend Paula Cooper, during a posthumous birthday party for the former death row inmate at Holliday Park, Saturday August 29th, 2015. Cooper's death sentence for infamous murder of 78 year old Ruth Pelke, at the age of 15, was commuted to life after an international campaign. After 27 years, Cooper was paroled, and later committed suicide.Michelle Pemberton / The StarMelissa Marble wipes away tears after releasing balloons with messages to Paula Cooper.Michelle Pemberton / The StarLucina Yzaguirre, center, her daughter Ai'yanna, left, and Destiny Roddy, right, set up for a posthumous birthday party for former death row inmate Paula Cooper.Michelle Pemberton / The StarDestiny Roddy helps fill balloons.Michelle Pemberton / The StarBirthday balloons float, as friends of Paula Cooper hold a posthumous birthday party for the former death row inmate.Michelle Pemberton / The StarJaclyn Edgar, left, Melissa Marble, center, and Lucina Yzaguirre, right, poses for photos during a posthumous birthday party for the former death row inmate Paula Cooper.Michelle Pemberton / The StarMelissa Marble, left, and Jaclyn Edgar, right, set up for a game of prison birthday bingo, like they played during their incarceration.Michelle Pemberton / The StarDestiny Roddy calls bingo numbers during a prison style birthday bingo game.Michelle Pemberton / The StarMelissa Marble and other friends of Paula Cooper play a game of prison style bingo, while holding a posthumous birthday party for the former death row inmate, Paula Cooper.Michelle Pemberton / The StarMessages to Paula Cooper are written on balloons to be released by her friends during a posthumous birthday party for the former death row inmate at Holliday Park.Michelle Pemberton / The StarLucina Yzaguirre writes a message to her friend Paula Cooper, during a posthumous birthday party for the former death row inmate Paula Cooper.Michelle Pemberton / The StarJaclyn Edgar writes a message to her friend Paula Cooper, during a posthumous birthday party for the former death row inmate Paula Cooper at Holliday Park.Michelle Pemberton / The StarFriends of Paula Cooper take a moment to pray before releasing balloons, during a posthumous birthday party for the former death row inmate Paula Cooper.Michelle Pemberton / The StarLucina Yzaguirre wipes away tears after releasing balloons with messages to Paula Cooper, during a posthumous birthday party for the former death row inmate.Michelle Pemberton / The Star