Police Search Murdered NC Mom’s House, Cars and Husband
Police have executed a search warrant on a murdered mother’s Cary, NC home.
Investigators spent most of the day at the residence of Brad and Nancy Cooper. They filled at least half a dozen evidence bags with items apparently collected inside the house before examining the couple’s vehicles.
Cary Police Chief Pat Bazemore said the search warrant also allows investigators to collect DNA samples from the victim’s husband, who continues to cooperate with authorities.
Brad Cooper, was the last known person to see his wife Nancy. A friend reported her missing Saturday after she failed to return from a jog in the neighborhood.
A two day search involving 200 volunteers was called off Monday after a man walking his dog discovered the missing woman’s body near a storm drain less than three miles from the Coopers’ home.
Crime scene tape went up around the couple’s house late yesterday, when police ruled Nancy Cooper’s death a homicide.
Brad Cooper is not at the home. Police said he is staying with friends along with the couple’s two daughters, ages 2 and 4. Chief Bazemore said Cooper is allowing his in-laws to visit the girls.
In a press release, Cooper’s attorneys Howard Kurtz and Seth Blum write, “Brad is devastated by the news of Nancy’s death. He has and will continue to assist in law enforcement efforts to bring his wife’s killer or killers to justice.”
Authorities said police cars are stationed outside Brad Cooper’s current location, as well as his house and the location where his in-laws are staying. Police described this action as a “service” to the family.
Jonathan Serrie is an Atlanta-based correspondent for FNC. He was
stationed in Macedonia during Operation Allied Force and in Uzbekistan
during Operation Enduring Freedom. 
Has Brad Cooper obtained a lawyer who has counseled him not to appear at any of these announcements?
This is very tragic story indeed. I just hope the police and authories find whoever did this horrific crime before its too late.
I bet you five bucks the husband did it.
what a sad story!! I really hope that the husband is not involved but I do believe he did havesomething to do with it. I feel sorry for the two little children now that they don’t have a mom.
I don’t understand why they are just focusing on the husband. It seems they already feel he has done this. I understand most times the spouse is to blame, but he seems to be cooperative. What he has allowed may come back to bite him. I hope he has obtained legal counsel.
Just curious,
but in the Fox News leading story it mentions,
“A friend of Nancy Cooper reported her missing at 2:15 p.m. Saturday when she didn’t show up for a get-together”
was that a male friend?
If so, that may help answers some questions!
Just curious,
but in the Fox News leading story it mentions “A friend of Nancy Cooper reported her missing at 2:15 p.m. Saturday when she didn’t show up for a get-together” was that a male friend? If so that may help answers some questions!
I just don’t get why the husband never thought it strange that she didn’t come back. That is really sad.
I dont think Brad Cooper is a suspect at this time, according to reports.
I think after investigation the police will determine the husband did it. She probably never went jogging . I think he killed her after they returned from the party the night before . We will see.
Dear P. Cook,
Hadn’t read the angle you presented yet, but it’s a good point. Would make this crime same as Scott Peterson/Lacy deal. Scott had already killed her and loaded the body it into his vehicle. He then claimed to have been “fishing” while she supposedly went for a walk..yet no one ever came forward who was able to confirm she had been seen that morning. It was Christmas Eve Day!!! My Lord people are over friendly and Merry Christmas this and that…no way did she walk as far as he says without being seen by someone doing last minute shopping, visiting family and friends, etc. Only way an entire neighborhood miss seeing a 9 month pregnant woman walk is because she never did!
You are correct in that if the woman in this current case WAS jogging that morning, she was seen by someone. Fact hubby is cooperating at this point means ziltch as many criminals prefer to stay close to the investigation to know what’s going on and try and move suspicion away from themselves.
Another case right now is that monster of an uncle who killed that 12 yr old girl (Brooke Bennett). He killed her himself, yet was helping “search for her”. Once he came forward after “finding her clothing while doing his own search” I instantly knew that he killed her.
No need to say “what’s this world coming to” anymore….. it is already THERE! Question is, what are WE going to do about it????
It’s obvious to me the police know exactly who is responsible for this poor woman’s demise. They have said she was murdered, have the house taped off, the husband has obtained an attorney, the husband didn’t mention her missing even though he said she normally runs about 1 to 1 and 1/2 hours, and they were having marital problems. I’m certain they already know what kind of life insurance she had, and who is the beneficiary. Especially if she had not been sexually assaulted, ask yourself then who else had the Mean, Motive, and Opportunity? and Now all they have to do is put the pieces together and he will be arrested. That’s my take.
Joe Public : The friend was Jessica Adams. Nice try, though, at smearing the victim.
Exactly, P. Cook – she probably never went jogging. Mr. Serrie, please use attribution for that in the future – we only have the husband’s word on it.
Why are police focusing on the husband? Because they have to eliminate him first and they haven’t been able to do it. Meanwhile, incredibly, the husband has hired celebrity attorney Howard Kurtz, a million dollar man.
Par for the course, Mr. Cooper probably killed his wife late the night before the body was found or in the early morning hours and then got busy cleaning up. Poor report from the local media on Fox News (Greta) – ‘we don’t know this, we don’t know that, it’s difficult to know what happened’. Sure it’s difficult, but that’s what journalists are for, to find things out. Get going, get the facts on this and let’s wrap things up.
First of all good for the parents of the murder victim. Un-like other stories, at least action was taken to protect the children. If the husband is the murderer, if he got desperate, you never know what he would or could do to these children. Drop them off a bridge, drive into a lake, or find all their bodies in the home one night. Good for the judge and the parents.
Quite suspicous that he did not report her missing. Un-caring is a possibility.
No, it was not a male friend. It was one of her best friends, female.
The husband is the only one with a motive..It’s pretty easy to figure out,HUBBY did it
If you think it’s good that the husband is being so cooperative, remember this…….Scott Peterson was cooperative from day one–and we all know how that turned out. Bobby Cutts, Jr was cooperative too……..so let’s hope this husband did not murder his wife (therefore leaving those children with no mother)…but from what we’ve seen time and time again—-he probably did!
In laws got temporary custody of the children. They know the husband is guilty. 95% of the time its the spouse. It must really cost alot for a divorce these days.
Divorce attorneys UNITE! Warn your clients who seek your counsel about these spouses who would have you murdered rather than pay child support-separate maintenance etc. The spouses usually are the beneficiaries of large insurance policies. Change the motive factor, cut their opportunity, GET OUT there are Women Havens if you do not have family or friends to help. Please help these women. Am sure, by the time they seek legal advice, they are too wigged out to think these things through.
Its always like that, the husband isnt man enough to get a divorce, so he kills the wif in a jealous fit or rage. Its happened many times before, with Scott Peterson, and many others.
Many of you here should be ashamed. You’ve convicted this poor guy without a shred of evidence. Maybe you should wait until the police produce some evidence to charge him.
I’m not surprised the judge took his kids away considering the man hate mentality of our judicial system regarding custody issues.
He totally did it. There are just too many things against him- the verbal abuse, the affair, his behavior to his wife over the past few months, his demeanor, the fact that he only attended the first press conference and not any of the others, him taking his daughter’s passports away, the history with the suicidal attempt & threat, the fact that he never even reported her missing or seemed concerned, the fact that the judge gave custody of the children to Nancy’s family, etc. I know a rocky marriage & verbal abuse alone do not necessarily indicate he murdered her, but considering that information with everything else, it just seems obvious. The murder was not random and who else would have had a motive? With all this information on him surfacing, it is highly unlikely anyone else could have done it. Also, I might add that not only do the little girls not have their mother any more, pretty soon, they most likely will not have their father. Everyone loses and it’s just so unfortunate. I can’t fathom how anyone could resort to something like this, no matter what was going on in the marriage. Does the word divorce not mean anything anymore? I feel really bad for Nancy’s family and friends.
Local sources report that the wife had obtained an affidavit from hubbies’ lover admitting to the affair the Friday before she went “jogging”. With such affidavit in hand, the husband would have been looking at losing any joint custody of children and heft alimony and child support payments….
In criminal justice, you need to demonstrate three things to convict a murderer: Means, motive, and opportunity.
The husband is a tri-athelete and therefore had the means. They shared a home, so he had ample opportunity, and now we have a clear motive. The only question left now is if it is 1st or 2nd degree murder. Without this piece of evidence concerning the affidavit from the lover, I would have guessed it was a fight gone terribly wrong. But now, I am leaning towards pre-meditation.
The pieces are falling into place and an arrest warrant will be issued in the near future.
I am coming for you Brad
-Dog
Can you image those babies looking at her twin Krista (their aunt) and seeing their mother in her..day in and day out? Well maybe it would be a small comfort for them I don’t know.
I’m an identical twin and I can’t image how I’d live without my twin! Bless her!
I had a nephew to die at age 23 in a wreck. When he died I felt like I’d never be happy again..because he wasn’t here anymore. Slowly, over time, I began to think of his life……not his death. I would tell the family that only time heals.. and a belief in God knowing that you will see her again.
Local sources report that the wife had obtained an affidavit from hubbies’ lover admitting to the affair the Friday before she went “jogging”. With such affidavit in hand, the husband would have been looking at losing any joint custody of children and heft alimony and child support payments….
In criminal justice, you need to demonstrate three things to convict a murderer: Means, motive, and opportunity.
The husband is a tri-athelete and therefore had the means. They shared a home, so he had ample opportunity, and now we have a clear motive. The only question left now is if it is 1st or 2nd degree murder. Without this piece of evidence concerning the affidavit from the lover, I would have guessed it was a fight gone terribly wrong. But now, I am leaning towards pre-meditation.
The pieces are falling into place and an arrest warrant will be issued in the near future.
-Dog
He did it. What is there to blog/talk about? Fry him!
Clearly this guy did it and I predict will be arrested sometime today(Friday). The fact the police tell the public not to worry is all we need to know. That means they know who did it and its the husband. Why else would the police say that when typically they are so careful to show their cards. He probably killed her friday night or early sat am and then the cover up began. I am sure the cops have eyes on him 24/7 now so they can grab him the second they decide to arrest him. Another example of a ruined life taken by a selfish person. What a shame.
Same story, different names.
Could be the mistress…..remember Joey Buttafuco? The thing that’s confusing is his first statement that he didn’t think the marriage was bad enough that she would leave yet at the same time he had taken the kids’ passports so she couldn’t leave….lies always come back to bite.
Dog,
Get it straight, you do not have to prove motive. Sheez, that’s why we have stupid verdicts. People watch way too much CSI.
He did it, of course he did. He was having an affair, withholding money from her, stealing their daughter’s passports. The police don’t even think it was random, so who else would go to the extent of wanting her dead. The husband is the only logical choice in this case.
Dog,
You do not have to prove motive. Sheez, this is why we have so many stupid verdicts. People watch too much CSI.
Just think a few minutes:
He has admitted to marital problems. He also says she went jogging.
Now I know that when I have had serious marital problems, it was not unusual for me to “leave” for a while without telling my husband. I felt my son was safe. I understand that the in-laws don’t think they are, but we don’t know for sure. I have driven for 3-4 hours with no place in mind to go when I wanted to be alone and think.
She is a jogger. She was working on a half marathon. If she did have her life in mind, maybe she just walked or jogged a little more and was grabbed by one of the many stalkers here in the Triangle are (Raleigh, Cary, Durham). I can see where he could have assumed that she was out thinking about what to do with her marriage. It is a tough decision to make and requires a lot of thinking w/o children running around and so forth.
He very well could have been giving her time. He has stated that when she hadn’t returned around lunch he became very concerned. Granted he didn’t call her in missing, but I don’t think my husband would have either. He would have waited knowing my longing to be alone for a while.
All I am asking is…don’t be too quick to judge. He could very well be “innocent”.
I recently meet an identical twin who lost her sister in a car accident caused by a drunk driver.. She was severely devastated.Much more than non-twin sibling would be,as one may imagine.
I understand Nancy had an identical twin.I wonder how she is doing. Her pain may be even worse than her husband(who I presume innocent),parents and children.
One thing that I think is interesting that in the “missing person fliers” they had discription of what she was wearing. I do not know about yours, but my husband would still be sleeping on Saturday morning at 7 am and even if he would see me before leaving there is no way he would remeber to the tee what kind of pants, color, shirt ect.
Wasn’t the friend that reported her missing her jogging partner? and secondly, they stated that where she was found was not on her normal jogging route. It seems if someone is practicing for the marathon, they have to have a set route so they know that they are going the proper distance etc. Lastly, if he was with the kids, he would wonder when she was going to be back because it sounded like she did most of their care. Even if they had issues he would probably have had things he needed to do once she returned and it would have been strange that he never reported her missing at all. someone else did.