Danker

TOLEDO — A second suspect has been charged with first degree murder in connection with the shooting death of a rural Traer man on June 18, 2021, according to a press release from the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

On Monday, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s (DCI) Major Crime Unit and the Tama County Sheriff’s Office arrested Huston Danker, 27, in Cedar Rapids, for his alleged role in Cooper’s death. Cooper’s wife Karina is also facing first degree murder charges, and she has been held in the Tama County Jail since her arrest in February.

Danker, a resident of Shellsburg, was transported to the Tama County Sheriff’s Office and charged with first degree murder, a Class A Felony. According to a criminal complaint, Danker told investigators he “planned and assisted” Karina Cooper in carrying out the crime. He is being held at the Tama County Jail with bond yet to be determined.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information related to this investigation can contact the Tama County Sheriff’s Office at (641) 484-4111, the DCI at (515) 725-6010, or by email at dciinfo@dps.state.ia.us.

Karina Cooper’s trial moved to Linn County

After a previous request to move her first degree murder trial out of Tama County was denied, Karina Cooper is now set to face a jury in Linn County beginning in July.

On Feb. 19, Cooper, 47, was arrested and charged with first degree murder in connection with the death of her husband Ryan Cooper, who was found deceased at the couple’s shared rural Traer residence in the early morning hours of June 18, 2021, after suffering a gunshot wound to the face. Since her arrest, she has been held in the Tama County Jail on a $1 million bond, and she entered a plea of not guilty to the single Class A felony charge on March 14.

During a hearing held by videoconference on April 9, Cooper requested a change of venue in her trial, which had been set to begin May 20 in Tama County District Court – a motion that was subsequently denied without prejudice (meaning, she could make the request again) by Chief District Court Judge Lars G. Anderson.

On April 25, Cooper waived her right to a speedy trial. On the following day, Cooper – through her defense attorney Nichole Watt with the Waterloo Public Defender’s Office – withdrew the waiver and redemanded a speedy trial. That same day, during a case management conference held by Zoom, both the State of Iowa and Cooper agreed to a change of venue within the Sixth Judicial District from Tama County to Linn County – and it was ultimately approved by the court.

“Essentially, in exchange for the waiver of speedy trial by the defendant; the plaintiff agreed to the change of venue,” Tama County Attorney Brent Heeren said when reached by email regarding the somewhat abrupt change of venue reversal.

Following the case management conference last week, the trial was reset to July 9, 2024, and it is estimated to last 10 days.

According to the latest court filings in the case, additional discovery by the State is still pending and is believed to involve outstanding ATF records. No plea offer has been made as of publication.

An upcoming case management conference is scheduled to take place on June 7, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. in Tama County District Court by videoconference unless otherwise requested.