Karina Cooper: Iowa woman arrested nearly 3 years after she fatally shot her husband in the face

TRAER, IOWA: An Iowa woman, who fatally shot her husband in the face while she was sitting in a recliner chair at their home, has been arrested nearly three years after being accused of being the one who pulled the trigger, as per KCCI. 

On Monday, February 19, Karina S Cooper was taken into custody and charged with one count of first-degree premeditated murder in the 2021 slaying of Ryan Cooper, authorities announced.

When were the authorities informed about the incident?

According to court documents released by the Tama County Sheriff’s Office, on June 18, 2021, deputies responded to a call reporting someone being shot at a home in the 1800 block of K Avenue in Traer, Iowa at about 4.35 am. The home was identified as the residence of Ryan and Karina Cooper.

Authorities, who responded to the address, walked into a grisly scene, according to the probable cause affidavit filed in the case. 

“The first deputy arrived on scene at approximately 4.42 am, almost seven minutes after the 911 call. This deputy walked inside the residence and found a male laying in a recliner chair with what appeared to be a gun shot to the head in the front face area,” the document stated, adding “Karina Cooper was sitting on top of the male later identified as Ryan Cooper.”

Karina Cooper and her three children were at home when police arrived

Besides the victim, Karina Cooper and her three children were the only other people found in the home, police said. They were promptly removed from the home as deputies contacted emergency medical personnel. The Tama County Medical Examiner responded to the scene, where Ryan Cooper was pronounced dead.

Karina Cooper shot her husband Ryan twice in the face

Investigators looking into Ryan Cooper’s death said it appeared he had suffered two gunshot wounds to the face that ultimately proved fatal.

“A .22-caliber shell casing was found at the homicide scene and collected by the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation Crime Scene team,” the affidavit stated. However, authorities said they were not able to locate a firearm “in the immediate vicinity of Ryan Cooper.”

All of the forensic evidence collected from inside of the residence was sent to a crime lab in Ankeny, Iowa, for testing.

What did Ryan Cooper's autopsy report reveal?

A subsequent autopsy performed by the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner determined that Ryan Cooper’s manner of death was a homicide and the cause of death was the dual gunshot wounds. Authorities said the investigation continued for years as detectives served multiple search warrants and interviewed many individuals in connection with the shooting. 

What led to the arrest of Karina Cooper?

Karina Cooper was arrested after two witnesses spoke to detectives, saying she told them “she wanted Ryan Cooper dead and could shoot him in the face,” the affidavit stated. She is currently being held in the Tama County Jail on $1 million bond. The defendant is scheduled to appear in court for her preliminary hearing on February 27. 

Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing and asked anyone with information to contact the office at (641) 484-4111, DCI at (515) 725-6010, or email dciinfo@dps.state.ia.us.