Ryan Roy Cooper

Ryan Roy Cooper was a 42-year-old farmer, truck driver, and cattle producer devoted to his family’s farm and business in Traer, Iowa. A White / Caucasian male, Ryan was a father of four children and was known as a man who was always the first to lend a hand. He was a graduate of North Tama High School and was remembered by loved ones as a dedicated husband, father, brother, and son.

In the early morning hours of June 18, 2021, the Tama County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call at 4:35 a.m. reporting a shooting at a rural residence seven miles southwest of Traer. When deputies arrived at the home, they found Ryan Cooper deceased in a recliner. His wife, Karina Sue Cooper, was sitting on top of him. An autopsy conducted by the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner later confirmed that Ryan’s death was a homicide caused by two gunshot wounds to his face.

For nearly three years, the investigation into Ryan’s death continued, led by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Tama County Sheriff’s Office. As his family searched for answers, they established the Ryan Cooper Family Foundation in 2022 to honor his legacy by helping others facing hardships. His sister, Michelle Wilson, spoke of the family's pain and their determination to keep fighting for justice. Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers offered a reward of up to $17,000 for information that could bring closure to the case.

A major breakthrough came in February 2024, when authorities arrested Karina Sue Cooper, then 46, and charged her with first-degree murder. According to court documents, investigators learned that Karina had told two witnesses she wanted her husband dead and had mentioned she "could shoot him in the face." The investigation led to a second arrest on April 29, 2024, when Huston William Danker, a 27-year-old from Shellsburg, Iowa, was taken into custody in Cedar Rapids. Danker was also charged with first-degree murder for his role in Ryan Cooper’s shooting death. As of April 2024, both suspects had been charged and were awaiting further court proceedings.