CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — A first-degree murder trial started Wednesday for the Traer woman accused of killing her husband. She allegedly planned the murder alongside the man she was allegedly having an affair with, and she was found sitting on her husband’s body after he was shot.
Ryan Cooper was shot in the face and found dead in his recliner in June 2021. His wife Karina was arrested and charged in early 2024.
Karina’s trial started with opening statements and initial witness testimony in Linn County court after being moved out of Tama County. Jury selection took the entirety of Tuesday.
Huston Danker is also charged with first-degree murder in Ryan’s death. Prosecutors say Karina was having an affair with Danker, and they had been messaging on Snapchat to plot her husband’s murder.
During opening arguments, the state claimed that messages between Karina and Danker said they wanted to get married and have children together, and she said she wished her husband would die in an accident.
Assistant Attorney General Israel Kodiaga said while Karina claims she was asleep when Ryan was shot, Snapchat messages were sent shortly before she called 911.
He also said Danker’s cell phone data showed his location driving back and forth from his home to Ryan’s home, and Danker had sent Karina a message saying not to forget to clean up the bullet casings.
“The evidence, you will see it, will show that Karina Cooper was not just an unfaithful wife. The evidence will show you that she was not just dishonest, but that she is a co-conspirator,” Kodiaga told the jury. “You’ll see that she is a planner. The evidence will show that she is a murderer.”
However, Karina’s defense argues that Danker had made her believe in a “dream world” and it became real and too deep. Attorney Nichole Watt said Karina did not want to kill her husband and did not want his insurance money, and that funding is currently in a trust for her children.
“Houston Danker killed Ryan Cooper. Houston Danker shot Ryan Cooper in the face,” Watt said. “Houston Danker solicited Karina. Houston Danker manipulated Karina.”
Ryan’s brother Aaron Cooper was one of the first people on scene after he said Karina called him screaming and crying. He arrived at the home and saw Karina sitting on Ryan’s body. He felt Ryan’s leg and it was cold, and he said there was some dried blood on his face and ears.
One Poweshiek County Sheriff’s deputy said while everyone responds to traumatic situations differently, he’s never seen anyone react the way Karina did. He said it was difficult to figure out what had happened.
“I’ve never seen someone’s emotional state almost completely inhibit them from providing pertinent information to law enforcement,” Deputy Travis Foster said.
Karina and Ryan Cooper’s son, identified as C.C., testified without being on video or audio recording since he is a minor. The teen testified that he normally would sleep in the living room on the couch next to his dad’s recliner, but his mom had asked him to stop sleeping downstairs days before the murder.
The boy said he knew Huston Danker since he would come over to talk with his mom on the patio, and he would see texts from Danker to his mom. One time, the teen said, his parents got into an argument, possibly about Danker, and he was worried they would get a divorce.
The day his dad was killed, C.C. said he heard his mom screaming and came downstairs, where he saw Karina running back and forth from the living room to the bedroom. At some point during her 911 call, the teen said his mom handed him the phone.
Testimony continues Thursday morning in Linn County court. The trial will be streamed live on the Iowa’s News Now YouTube page.
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