116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Traer woman charged with killing husband in 2021
He died from 2 gunshot wounds to his face
Feb. 19, 2024 4:21 pm, Updated: Feb. 19, 2024 4:43 pm
A Traer woman who shot her husband in the face two times in 2021 was charged Monday with first-degree murder in Tama County District Court.
Tama County Sheriff’s deputies found Karina Sue Cooper, 46, sitting on top of her husband, Ryan Roy Cooper, who was lying in a recliner in their home, after they received a 911 call about 4:35 a.m. on June 18, 2021, according to a criminal complaint. He appeared to have a gunshot wound to his face.
The 911 call reported someone had been shot at the Coopers’ residence, 1846 K. Ave. in Traer. The complaint doesn’t state who made the call.
Karina Cooper and her three children, also in the residence 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 was found in the residence 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.”
Karina Cooper was arrested on a warrant last Friday and charged with first-degree murder during an initial appearance on Monday, according to court documents.
During the hearing, a judge set bail at $1 million pending her trial.
Last year, the Tama-Toledo News Chronicle published a story about the anniversary of Ryan Cooper’s death and the continued investigation. Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers was offering a $17,000 reward for information in the case.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact the Tama County Sheriff’s Office at (641) 484-4111, the DCI at (515) 725-6010, or email dciinfo@dps.state.ia.us.
Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com
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