Brad Cooper Charged With Nancy Cooper’s Murder
July 15, 2008 by Morbid
Update 10/28/08 – 3 months after Nancy Cooper’s body was found, her husband, Brad Cooper, has been charged with her murder. More info at bottom of article.
Cary, NC – According to her husband, Brad, Nancy Cooper, 34, left for a jog at around 7 a.m. SaturdaySaturday reviews
morning and was supposed to return by 9. She did not take a phone, ID or keys with her when she left. She never returned. Search crews were formed and searched in and around Regency Park, Lochmere Lake, Lake Wheeler and Lake Johnson. They were looking for a woman described as 5 feet 9 inches tall, 120 pounds, hazel eyes and brown hair. She was wearing a T-shirt, running shorts and light blue running shoes. She was not located over the weekend. Around 7:30 pm Monday evening, a man walking his dog in an undeveloped area, discovered a body floating in a pond in The Oaks at Meadowridge off Holly Springs Road. This area is still under construction and no one lives in the few houses in that area. It is only a mile from where Nancy lives, so chances are Nancy may have been found.
Aside from Brad seeing Nancy leave that Saturday morning, no one else has seen Nancy since a cocktail party held at the home of Diana Duncan. The gathering ended late FridayFriday reviews
night and Nancy was described as looking tired. A friend, Jessica Adam, reported Cooper missing at 2:15 p.m after she failed to show up for a visit. She was supposed to help Jessica Adam paint her dining room on Saturday morning. When she failed to show up, she called Brad Cooper. Brad told her that Nancy had went running with a friend, and wasn’t sure who the friend was. Jessica got an uneasy feeling and felt that something was wrong. At 2:15 pm Saturday, Jessica called police to report Nancy as missing.
Questions as to why Brad Cooper, Nancy’s husband, did not report her missing are being asked, but police have stated that he is not a suspect and that he has cooperated fully, giving police full access to the home and vehicles. But did let investigators know that him and Nancy were experiencing marital difficulties.
The body has being taken to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for a positive identification and autopsy.
Here is one of the initial reports detailing the search efforts:
Update 9/30/2008 - AutopsyAutopsy reviews report points to strangulation as cause of death. “Based on the history and autopsy findings, it is in my opinion that she
died as a result of external causes, homicidal violence, most likely
asphyxia by strangulation,” Dr. John D. Butts wrote. No arrests have been made in this case. Also. a custody battle is in progress in regards to Nancy and Brad’s two children.
Update 10/28/08 - Not really a big shocker to anyone following this case, but Brad Cooper was arrested on Monday, charged in his wife’s murder.
“It has been a case of domestic violence of the very worst kind,” Chief Pat Bazemore said in a brief news conference Monday night.
The Coper’s two girls will remain in Canada with their mother’s twin, Krista, and her husband, Jim Lister. More information over at The Charlotte Observer
10:59 am on July 15th, 2008
I hate to jump to hasty conclusions, but….the husband is looking good for this to me! Marital probs. She didn’t seem right at the party Fri night. Something about the hub’s response to the friend Sat caused the friend to call the cops. It’s not looking so good for Brad boy….
11:04 am on July 15th, 2008
While anything is possible, I am curious if anyone but Brad saw her on Saturday morning. The fact that the police were with him all day Saturday (after the 911 call) doesn’t account for what may have happened Friday night or early Saturday morning.
It would be real easy to dress someone up in jogging attire after killing them, and then dumping them in a nearby pond. But I am still waiting for a bit more information before I come to any conclusions, but the cynical side of me has me agreeing with you, Ruby. Not looking real good for Brad at all.
11:11 am on July 15th, 2008
“Thirding”, what Ruby and Morbid said.
11:17 am on July 15th, 2008
“Fourthing.” For sure.
I mean, there are random strangers that murder folks, but it would be awfully convenient timing, considering that they were having “marital difficulties,” wouldn’t it?
Nahhhhh. People get killed by their loved ones, more often than not.
It also seems fishy that he would say she was jogging with someone, but he didn’t know who. Sounds like he’s trying to point the finger in the “random” direction. I’m not exactly buying it.
11:56 am on July 15th, 2008
Agree with you guys…..sounds awfully fucking suspicious.
2:32 pm on July 15th, 2008
I would have to agree, hubby had a reason and it’s just weird he didn’t know who she was out with and he didn’t call the police himself…suspicious, very!
1:00 pm on July 16th, 2008
here’s an update on this story
http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=5386269&page=1
1:11 pm on July 16th, 2008
Not an “isolated incident”? Meaning previous murders or previous violence?
2:52 pm on July 16th, 2008
Watched the Police Chief’s press conference last night on Headline News, and it appeared to me that the chief did everything but call the husband a suspect directly. He did cooperate, and allowed the police to search the house, but didn’t help with the search until some time had passed (she didn’t specify how long). The person who reported Nancy missing was her jogging partner (They were training for a half-marathon), which leads me to believe the his jogging story may be bogus.
Warning bells are going off in my head, i.e. here’s another immature jerk saying “if I can’t have her nobody can”.
7:27 pm on July 16th, 2008
Detectives on Wednesday searched the house and vehicles belonging to a slain North Carolina mother and her husband.
****Six bags of evidence were taken from the home on Wednesday afternoon.****
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,383502,00.html
R
3:12 am on July 17th, 2008
either they edit these videos to choose the shot that makes one look guilty … first off friend Mike smiles as he states “frustrating and keeping positive” and the husband Brad hmmm at the door says he was at the lake did he say JUST? on top of it they say he wasn’t (video) invited to the press conference… I think they have their man and maybe Mike knows more then what he is telling. This means it is ok and safe for others to walk the jog in the area ?
*** so much of this story reminds me of stacy peterson… I think someone watched drew peterson get away with this and planned, wife difn’t show up to help friend paint dining room on Sat.
Those poor babies without a mommy – and the pain that Nancy’s family will have to endure.
Which is which in the pond or in a cul-de-sac ?
The plan was he stay with the kids while she jogs 7 – 9 am ? She is to help her jogging partner paint her dining room at 10 and doesn’t show up. Her friend surely called the house several times and after trying to locate her calls the police at 2:15 pm…
Brad is out buying bleach ?
3:27 am on July 17th, 2008
Family Photo : page 2 … thanks Holy Crap http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/Story?id=5386269&page=2 is stating he purchased the bleach the day before she disappeared … not the day she was found … which is it Friday or Wed ?
11:14 am on July 17th, 2008
Nancy’s family now has custody of her children
http://news14.com/content/top_stories/597435/cooper-s-husband-releases-statement/Default.aspx
1:41 pm on July 17th, 2008
Nancy’s family is pursuing custody claiming that Brad has been emotionally unstable and ABUSIVE to Nancy and the kids in recent months:
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/3220350/
Slain mom’s family seeks custody of young daughters
Posted: Today at 6:21 a.m.
Updated: 23 minutes ago
Cary, N.C. — The family of a missing Cary woman whose body was found Monday in an undeveloped subdivision has been granted temporary custody of her two young daughters from the husband.
In a petition for permanent custody filed in Wake County Wednesday afternoon, Nancy Cooper’s parents, Garry and Donna Rentz, and sister, Krista Lister, claim Cooper’s husband, Brad Cooper, has a history of emotional instability and that in the months prior to her death, he engaged “in a pattern of emotional abuse” at Cooper and the children.
They also claim he attempted suicide as a teenager, and threatened to commit suicide in the “winter of 2008.”
“Because of the intense scrutiny he is currently facing in the ongoing criminal investigation, there is a substantial risk of bodily injury to the children while in the defendant’s custody,” they said in the claim.
A hearing on the matter is scheduled for July 25.
Cary police Chief Pat Bazemore said at a news conference Thursday morning that investigators still have no suspects or persons of interest in the 34-year-old stay-at-home mom’s death and that Brad Cooper is cooperating with investigators.
She would not comment on the custody case, saying it is a private civil matter but did say that any information that comes from it ” will be considered by our investigators as we move forward in this case.”
Brad Cooper told police his wife went out for a jog on the morning of July 12 but never returned. A concerned friend called 911 when she failed to show up for a meeting later that afternoon.
Rentz and Lister say in the filing that Brad Cooper never reported his wife missing and never contacted them to inform them of her disappearance. They say they do not believe based on the information they have received, that Cooper ever went jogging.
Brad Cooper told WRAL News the day after his wife disappeared that the couple had been having marital problems. Cary police also confirmed that during a news conference on Monday.
Wednesday’s court filing claims Brad Cooper was having a sexual relationship with another woman prior to Cooper’s death and that Nancy Cooper retained counsel in March to “resolve all pending issues, including child custody related to her impending separation form the defendant.”
Rentz and Lister also claim Brad Cooper withheld funds and refused to provide adequate financial support to his wife and the children.
She was in “such desperate financial situation that she was forced to borrow funds from Plaintiffs to purchase groceries and necessaries for herself and the minor children,” the petition reads.
11:58 pm on July 17th, 2008
that family pix there, shows brad with cap and gown that had to be resently – why would someone with so very much have so many issues
His lawyers telling him not to talk to the press makes him look sooooo guilty… what an asshole… you can’t hide all the dirt on you.. emotional abuse and what a cheapo to keep your wife without money
I wanna know who the bitch is that was having an affair with brad… come here and defend him !!! Tell all … how you didn’t know he was married ? tell us how you pretend to be Nancy’s friend … come on I dare ya … spill it!
12:59 pm on July 21st, 2008
The husbands web site. http://www.adventuresofbrad.com/joomla/
R
11:13 am on July 28th, 2008
[...] Click to read more… [...]
4:16 am on August 9th, 2008
broken
They haven’t released how she died, nor made an arrest … how can they say, almost guarantee “Community is safe, police say” when the killer is free. I was hoping some proof to link Brad her husband to foul play and murder by now… there hasn’t been no news
RIP Nancy
I wonder how the girls and the family are doing ?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25723445/page/2/
8:13 am on September 30th, 2008
Notice in the autopsy report, the clothes she was wearing. Granted, someone may have taken the time to dump her body and take some of her clothes for some reason, but still. A big part of this hinges on whether she actually went out jogging as the husband stated, or not.
9:14 am on September 30th, 2008
Wow, i’m glad she has been found. That at least should help the family a little. Now lets go get the husband as I have feeling an arrest of him won’t be far behind.
So stupid and such a waste……
9:21 am on September 30th, 2008
The husband didit we have seen enough of these cases to know that! OK after reading the autopsy maybe she was attacked while jogging. and most likely raped but where are the rest of her clothes?
9:24 am on September 30th, 2008
Pepper she was found a while back, I think they are saying the autopsy results are a little different than what they originally thought.
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/3638830/
The sad thing is that while this whole thing was going on her husband never said anything he just let her family talk. I would be crying my ass off begging for someone to find my husband, etc. He’ll get his soon!!
9:26 am on September 30th, 2008
Yeah, the custody battle is interesting as well. You know why they are keeping the kids from him, but legally, if he is not charged…they have to go back to him.
9:27 am on September 30th, 2008
I agree and he lawyered up right away, why would you want to do that if you have nothing to hide…..Plus the Grandparents got custody of the kids I think a day or two after she was found dead. That just doesn’t make sense unless there is more to this story that we don’t know and the police have been very tight lipped.
9:31 am on September 30th, 2008
I think he’ll be charged soon. Recently they came out with survelliance tape of him at a store real early in the morning on the day she disappeared buying Tide Detergent, really?
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/3555616/
9:35 am on September 30th, 2008
That’s why I think they have information they are keeping to themselves. I did read where they have asked for all of their computer and bank records going back to January, and he will not comply. His lawyer stated that it would be an embarrassment…or something like that. It’s obvious that the family feels he has something to do with it, and if he did or not, his actions have not made him look any less guilty.
Still interesting that she was nude aside from the sports bra. Could work both ways. She is nude aside from sports bra, but no sexual assault noted in autopsy report. Could have been attacked while jogging and fended off an attack, the killer taking the clothes.
Or, she was dumped and half-assed dressed by someone at an earlier time than reported.
9:38 am on September 30th, 2008
Thanks for the link. I get so wrapped up in new cases, I forget to follow up on others, Interesting read. Looks as if he hired himself a decent lawyer as well.
9:46 am on September 30th, 2008
Well it’s just hard to tell about the way she was found. Brad (her husband) is very smart (so he thinks) so he could of done that to throw the case off or she really could of been attacked. A side note, Cary, NC is very richy rich (especially where she was found/lived) and claims to be very safe. I do think they have a very low crime rate, but then again anything can happen anywhere so I guess time will tell.
9:48 am on September 30th, 2008
No problem
12:17 pm on October 28th, 2008
Well, the kids are safe and the killer is in jail. Assuming he gets convicted, this is about as happy an ending as we could have expected.
12:20 pm on October 28th, 2008
I am not surprised either Morbid, just happy they had enough to charge him.
What a shame for those children to lose both parents like that. Wonder how many times, growing up, they will be asked whatever happened to their parents and wonder how many times they will feel forced to live a lie.
I am sure they will be very ashamed of their father and his action, and just come up with an alternate “they died of a car accident when we were too young to remember”.
Thank God for good grandparents.
Thanx for the update.
1:25 pm on October 28th, 2008
living in canada we have been following this closely,her kids and the rest of her family live not to far from my brother out west,its not a shock hes been arrested everyone pretty much knew it from the beginning im just glad the family has had custody of the kids since it began
7:12 pm on October 28th, 2008
Its about time!! Why do these husbands keep thinking they can get away with this shit? Didn’t they learn anything from the Scott Peterson case…Poor kids are always the ones who suffer in the end..
4:58 pm on October 29th, 2008
I’m tickled that is very good news, finally indicted ! woohoo asshole
He was out buying bleach God damn him… it might of took some teeth pulling but what matters is they finally got him where he belongs LOOSER!
R I P Nancy and God Bless the Family in Canada and her friend who called the police and the man walking his dog … kudo’s
3:49 pm on October 30th, 2008
May he ROT in Hell!
Thank God the children are with her family and safe. May God help them through this.
3:32 pm on May 15th, 2009
Just an update on this story if anyone is interested. thanks
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/5152828/
Slain mom’s family gets permanent custody of her children
Raleigh, N.C. — The parents and sister of slain Cary mom Nancy Cooper reached an agreement with her husband Friday that places the couple’s two young children in their custody permanently.
The agreement ends a nearly 10-month court battle that played out in the public eye, in part, while investigators sought clues and a suspect in Nancy Cooper’s July 2008 slaying.
She was found July 14 in an undeveloped subdivision about 3 miles from her home. An autopsy found the 34-year-old was likely strangled. Brad Cooper, her husband, is charged with first-degree murder in the case.
Last fall, Wake County District Judge Debra Sasser awarded temporary custody to Nancy Cooper’s parents, Garry and Donna Rentz, and sister, Krista Lister.
The children – Bella, 5, and Katie, 2 – are living in Canada with their grandparents and aunt, and Brad Cooper asked the court last month to keep in place the temporary order until after his criminal trial, saying it would be in the best interest of the children
A hearing on that motion had been scheduled for Friday, but the two sides agreed to the terms of a consent order.
The Rentzes said Friday they were pleased with the case’s outcome and that the agreement is the best resolution for the children.
Deborah Sandlin, who represents Brad Cooper, said her client felt like it was the right thing to do at the time for “the consistency of the girls’ care.”
“I think we’re all happy that these parties could work together to have some stability for the girls,” Sandlin said. “Certainly, while Brad’s awaiting trial, he’s not able to care for the girls, and he did not want another disruption in their lives.”
The order, which can only be appealed “upon a substantial change in circumstances,” allows Brad Cooper, 35, to have two 15-minute phone conversations with his daughters each week and to be consulted on all major decisions involving the girls. He also will receive new photos of the girls every nine weeks.
If he is found not guilty, Sandlin said he can revisit the custody issue, because under law, it would be a substantial change in circumstances.
Brad Cooper, who is in the Wake County jail under a $2 million bond, has denied any role in his wife’s death. He has said in court filings and a videotaped deposition that he last saw her on July 12 before she went jogging. When she did not return, he has said, he went looking for her.
Nancy Cooper’s family testified during the temporary custody hearing in October that he was involved in her slaying. In custody filings, they claimed he was an unfit parent who was mentally unstable and was emotionally abusive to his wife in the months prior to her death.
No date has been set for Brad Cooper’s criminal trial. If convicted, he could face life in prison. Prosecutors have said they do not plan to seek the death penalty.
Nearly a year after Nancy Cooper’s death, friends and family have created a memorial fund in her name to help victims of abusive relationships leave them.
The inaugural event to raise money for Nancy’s Butterfly Fund will be June 13 at Life Time Fitness in Cary, where she was a member.
A 1.8-mile memorial fun run is also planned for July 11 – the day prior to the anniversary of Nancy Cooper’s death – at Koka Booth Amphitheatre’s Symphony Lake in Cary.
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