Trial for Tama woman accused of fatally shooting husband remains on track for July

The trial for a Traer woman who is accused of killing her husband in 2021 remains on track for July 9, but could be delayed if the defense can’t complete depositions before trial.

A lawyer for Karina Sue Cooper, 46, charged with fatally shooting her husband, Ryan Cooper, 42, on June 18, 2021, told a judge Thursday, during a pretrial hearing, that she was waiting on discovery from the prosecution, which included evidence of Snapchat records.

Nichole Watt, Cooper’s lawyer, also told 6th Judicial District Chief Judge Lars Anderson that they are still attempting to schedule depositions. They may need to continue the trial, depending on when those will be taken, but she wasn’t asking for a new date at this time.

Assistant Iowa Attorney General Mike Ringle said there has been additional “substantial” evidence since Huston W. Danker, 26, of Shellsburg, had been charged in Ryan Cooper’s killing. There are five cellphones being examined in this case and at least one phones still is being examined.

Ringle said he is releasing the evidence as it comes in.

Anderson said he would set another pretrial about two weeks before the trial on July 9.

Previously Anderson moved the trial to Linn County after the defense asked for the change of venue and the prosecution didn’t resist.

A previous complaint for Karina Cooper said Tama County sheriff’s deputies found her sitting on top of her husband, who was in a recliner in their home, after they received a 911 call about 4:35 a.m. on June 18, 2021. He appeared to have been shot in his face.

The 911 call reported someone had been shot at the Coopers’ residence, 1846 K. Ave. in Traer. The complaint didn’t state who made the call.

Karina Cooper and her three children, also in the home when deputies arrived, were taken outside. Medical personnel responded, but the medical examiner pronounced Ryan Cooper dead at the scene.

Further investigation — including an autopsy — showed that Ryan Cooper died from two gunshot injuries to his face. A .22 caliber shell casing was found in the home and collected by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s crime scene team. No gun was found in the immediate area of the body, the complaint stated.

During the investigation, which included multiple search warrants and interviews, investigators learned Karina Cooper told two witnesses she wanted her husband dead and “could shoot him in the face.”

Cooper remains in jail pending a $1 million bail.

Danker, also under a $1 million bail, also has asked to move his trial out of Tama County because of pretrial publicity but Anderson hasn’t ruled on it at this time.

According to court documents, Danker told investigators he planned and assisted Karina Cooper in shooting her husband. The criminal complaint doesn’t provide further details about when Danker’s confession was made to authorities, or what his connection is to Karina Cooper.

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