Cooper

TOLEDO – During a bond review hearing held by videoconference in Tama County District Court on Wednesday, a judge left the conditions as previously set — $1 million cash or surety — for Karina Sue Cooper, the rural Traer woman accused of murdering her husband Ryan Cooper at their home on June 18, 2021.

As part of the proceedings, both the state and defense counsel shined more light on the case, which came back into the spotlight on Feb. 19 when Cooper, 46, was arrested and charged with first degree murder, a Class A felony. Ryan Cooper was discovered dead at the home west of Traer by a Tama County Sheriff’s deputy in the early morning hours of June 18, 2021, following a 911 call from the residence.

According to the criminal complaint, the deputy found Ryan Cooper lying in a recliner with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the front of his face, while Karina Cooper was allegedly observed to be sitting on top of him.

During the bond review hearing, which Karina Cooper attended by video call from the Tama County Jail, the state – represented by Assistant Attorney General Michael Ringle, Tama County Attorney Brent Heeren and Assistant Tama County Attorney Geneva Williams – asked Judge Lars G. Anderson to increase the bond to either $1 million cash only or $5 million cash or surety, while Cooper’s defense attorney, Nichole Watt with the Waterloo Public Defender’s Office, asked the bond be reduced to $250,000 cash or surety with pretrial supervision.

The state called one witness, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) agent Trent Vileta.

Vileta said that as part of his investigation, agents reached out to the Iowa Insurance Fraud Bureau and discovered that at the time of Cooper’s death there were two policies in force for him – a $500,000 term life policy and a $20,000 whole life policy. Both policies listed Karina Cooper as the sole beneficiary.

Approximately three to four days after Ryan Cooper’s death, claim packets were sent to the insurance agent’s office, Vileta said, and were subsequently paid. In addition to the insurance payouts, Vileta said Karina Cooper allegedly sold other assets for cash following her husband’s death, including a new pickup he used as part of his work on the family farm.

Vileta was also asked about community safety issues, which the county attorney cited in his resistance to Karina Cooper’s motion to amend her release conditions.

“When we conducted the arrest and the search warrant of the residence that she was staying in, there was a safe that there were guns located in. In addition, we are still missing a firearm that was used in the homicide that is well known by friends and family to have existed,” Vileta said.

In his final arguments to the judge, Ringle laid out the state’s reasoning for requesting an increase in Karina Cooper’s bond.

“The state’s concern is, at this point, she has been charged with first degree murder – that is something that’s obviously substantially different from when she first received the money in this case [in 2021]. It is the state’s belief that she is in possession of approximately $600,000 in cash. Or was in possession of that money starting in late June or early July of 2021,” Ringle said. “The state does believe that there is a concern. Because of her lack of candor, this amount of money was not reported in her application for court appointed counsel, indicating that she is not being truthful. It’s the state’s belief … (that) this lack of candor does indicate a likelihood that she is not going to follow through with court orders, including appearing for court dates.”

Watt questioned what evidence Vileta had that Karina Cooper was still in possession of the alleged money.

“Do you know how much money she actually has right now?” Watt asked Vileta.

“No, we have not subpoenaed the actual amount at this point,” he responded.

Watt then addressed the state’s concerns that her client might flee the area if released.

“Looking at the flight risk – my position is that there is none. She has lived in this community under a cloud of suspicion for nearly three years at this point and has never made an attempt to move away,” she said. “She owned a business in town. She has a place to stay in Traer if she’s able to post the bond. She has family in the area … She was cooperative with the police in the investigation.”

Watt went on to say that if it is true that Karina Cooper received a “large amount of money in 2021,” then “that was the time to go.”

“And she stayed,” Watt said bluntly. “As far as danger to the community, in my view there is none. She has no criminal history at all aside from this charge. The state mentions that she might have access to guns? Take them. I mean, I believe she would agree to forfeit and turn over any guns that she has at her residence if she was allowed to post bond.”

Watt then discussed the state’s evidence in the case.

“The evidence I see is thin. There were a lot of guns at this residence, but none of the ones recovered by the state match the shell casing or the bullets. There’s a bloody shoe print nearby, and from what I’ve been able to gather, there’s no shoes in that house that match the bloody shoe print either.”

Watt characterized the murder charge against Karina Cooper as ‘not typical’ due to how long it took to bring charges against her following the murder of her husband.

“The million dollars is excessive and unnecessary,” she said.

Watt concluded her arguments by addressing the money Karina Cooper is alleged to have access to at this time.

“I don’t know the answers about the banks. My understanding was that it would be money coming out of 401Ks and stuff if she’s looking to hire an attorney or post the bond,” Watt said. Late on Wednesday, Judge Anderson ordered Karina Cooper’s bond conditions remain as previously set — $1 million cash or surety. Her arraignment — which is anticipated to be filed in written form — is scheduled for March 14. A conviction for first degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence without the possibility for parole or probation.

The investigation into Ryan Cooper’s death is currently ongoing. Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact the Tama County Sheriff’s Office at 641-484-4111 or the Iowa Dept. of Criminal Investigation at 515-725-6010, or email dciinfo@dps.state.ia.us.