Nancy Cooper, 34, of Cary, N.C. #25

[SleuthyGal]

Don't know. Plus allegedly she was not feeling well (and had Crohn's disease).

 

[raisincharlie]

Don't know. Plus allegedly she was not feeling well (and had Crohn's disease).

Caffine is a no no for those with Crohn's - smooth muscle stimulant - Crohn's affects the smooth muscles of the intestines.

 

[raisincharlie]

The updated WRAL story about the autopsy - some interesting comments can be read in this report:

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/3638830/


In a statement Monday afternoon, Cary Police Chief Pat Bazemore said investigators are making progress in the case, but declined further comment.

"Outside her family, no group is more committed to resolving Nancy's murder than the Cary Police Department, and as it's been since the day she disappeared, not one day goes by that we aren't working hard, making progress and coordinating closely with the FBI, SBI and the Wake County district attorney's office," Bazemore said.

Also in a statement, Nancy Cooper's father, Garry Rentz, said the release of the autopsy is "particularly poignant and painful but necessary" to help convict the person or persons responsible for his daughter's death
"The journey to truth and justice can be long and arduous," he said.

 

[raisincharlie]

Interesting day/interesting hearing.

I agree with the judge's decisions; I thinks she's being as fair as she can be.

Why would possible 'embarrassment' be a reason to limit discovery/disclosure of financial and other documentation from Jan 2008 to present? What is 'reasonable' embarrassment vs. 'unreasonable embarrassment?' Since when did feelings ever come into play when one is talking about legal actions and discovery? (BTW, what do you think is so egregious that his lawyer seeks to hide? Are we talking *advertiser censored* addiction? Escort services?) Why are Brad's feelings of embarrassment to be considered in this legal action when those of the various affiants are not (and whatever he's hiding may be very much related to a determination of fitness for custody?) I'm actually wondering if what they seek to hide could be used in the murder investigation and if that's the (underlying real) reason they want it excluded?

As for the psych evaluations I think the judge made a fair call there too. If the plaintiffs are willing to pay (and I'm sure they are) then it isn't going to hurt to have 2 separate opinions. The welfare of the children has to come first, even though part of me cringes that the kids were taken away from their father immediately. Again, WHAT was offered as proof to the court that made the original judge feel this action HAD to occur on an emergency basis?

So Oct 13th....anyone think there will be further delays/continuances and no decision will be forthcoming? The timing is getting dicey; if the DA is not ready to proceed forward (and I suspect he still won't be even in Oct), and there is no other cause for why the kids should remain with the maternal family, then those kids will be returned, perhaps only to be wrenched away later when/if the DA decides he is ready to move forward. Very dicey indeed, although the state really can't concern itself so much with the custody issue as that is wholly a civil matter.

JMO - those children will remain with the Rentz's until the mental evaluation is completed - and based on the findings and opinion of his cooperation for the evaluation and the judge has ruled.

Secondly - as the judge said - the murder is the elephant in the room - I can see the children remaining with the Rentz's until such time as Brad is cleared of this murder - and quite frankly - he is going to be implicated rather than cleared. All my opinion of course.

In other words - the judge will not return them until she is sure Brad is not a murderer. Not gonna happen.

 

[SleuthyGal]

Secondly - as the judge said - the murder is the elephant in the room - I can see the children remaining with the Rentz's until such time as Brad is cleared of this murder - and quite frankly - he is going to be implicated rather than cleared. All my opinion of course.

In other words - the judge will not return them until she is sure Brad is not a murderer. Not gonna happen.

I support that action, it just makes me wonder how quickly the DA will bring charges and what will happen if this case drags along like the Young case, even partially.

 

[raisincharlie]

I support that action, it just makes me wonder how quickly the DA will bring charges and what will happen if this case drags along like the Young case, even partially.

As much as I hate saying this, I'm hearing the same comments out of Chief Bazemore that I heard out of Sheriff Harrison - that is bothersome to me - very bothersome. The good news is what she said today - the consulting and communication with the FBI, SBI, and the DA. The mention of the FBI indicates there is some deep study going on but she was not afraid to call in their assistance unlike Sheriff Harrison who waited until he was stumped and then brought in the FBI and SBI. So from that perpspective, perhaps it will be shorter, but I am not going to hold my breath.

 

[SleuthyGal]

I'm hearing the same comments out of Chief Bazemore that I heard out of Sheriff Harrison

What comments were those?

 

[raisincharlie]

What comments were those?

We're making progress, we work on this case everyday blah blah blah - no substance. One additional good indicator however - no further warrants - as of now they seem to think they have something if they aren't getting more warrants.

 

[SleuthyGal]

We're making progress, we work on this case everyday blah blah blah - no substance. One additional good indicator however - no further warrants - as of now they seem to think they have something if they aren't getting more warrants.

Ahhh yes. Well it's probably in the FBI/SBI's hands at the moment and then of course it will be eventually in the DA's hands. I think they're going to go for Murder 1 and take it as slow as they have to (despite what the public thinks).

 

[CyberPro]

I just finished reading the Autopsy report and the news item on NCWanted.

Most of the observations that I had have already been discussed here, but I did find it interesting that the Feds were named as being involved now. I take this to mean examination of physical evidence, but there could be some profiling and/or data examination going on too.

I think we are going to see some movement on this case pretty quickly now. I have to think that Judge Sasser is going to meet with the DA and tell him it is time to fish or cut bait. She does not likely want to be in the position of having to decide if he might be charged with murder before deciding the custody case.

From other cases that I have read about, it seems that the Hyoid bone is most commonly broken during manual strangulation. I take this to mean that strangulation using a garrote would be less likely to break this bone, but I could be mistaken about that. There was nothing for sure about it in the report, but the faint line could have been a ligature mark. I fear that since there were noted insect damage points near the mark that someone might suggest these were indications of cavities created by insect activity, not a mark of any kind of strangulation. However, there was also a note of some faint petrachaie, which also indicates strangulation.

The decomposition really seems to have set in quickly! I would have expected to find some petrechia on the eyelids and indication of blood in the lungs, but apparently the decomposition had eliminated this evidence, if it existed.

CyberPro

 

[momto3kids]

I am impressed with the judge....
She knows she is in a tough position if NO charges are brought before the custody hearing. Does this mean she will decide based on what she feels BC's involvement is?

The custody dispute is forcing questions and answers often explored in criminal trials.

Sasser acknowledged the key question hanging over the custody dispute.

"I am not going to avoid the elephant in the room: Did Brad Cooper kill his wife?" Sasser asked. "That's what I have to determine in this custody case if no one is charged and convicted in Nancy Cooer's death before the custody hearing."

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1236536.html

 

[raisincharlie]

I just finished reading the Autopsy report and the news item on NCWanted.

Most of the observations that I had have already been discussed here, but I did find it interesting that the Feds were named as being involved now. I take this to mean examination of physical evidence, but there could be some profiling and/or data examination going on too.

I think we are going to see some movement on this case pretty quickly now. I have to think that Judge Sasser is going to meet with the DA and tell him it is time to fish or cut bait. She does not likely want to be in the position of having to decide if he might be charged with murder before deciding the custody case.

From other cases that I have read about, it seems that the Hyoid bone is most commonly broken during manual strangulation. I take this to mean that strangulation using a garrote would be less likely to break this bone, but I could be mistaken about that. There was nothing for sure about it in the report, but the faint line could have been a ligature mark. I fear that since there were noted insect damage points near the mark that someone might suggest these were indications of cavities created by insect activity, not a mark of any kind of strangulation. However, there was also a note of some faint petrachaie, which also indicates strangulation.

The decomposition really seems to have set in quickly! I would have expected to find some petrechia on the eyelids and indication of blood in the lungs, but apparently the decomposition had eliminated this evidence, if it existed.

CyberPro

Don't be fooled by the autopsy report - it is the ME's notes that contain the significant details such as you are looking for.

As you can see, not much can be gleaned from the report in terms of real evidence.

ETA - Judge Sasser can only express her wish to the DA - but it will have no effect. I suspect she will consult with Willoughby but she will be listening rather than talking.

 

[SleuthyGal]

The decomposition really seems to have set in quickly!

It sure did, as did the bloating and drying of some skin...that makes it seem she was dead 'longer' in that time range.

regarding "petrechia on the eyelids or on the eyes," the autopsy report states that her eyes were 'decomposed' soooo....not much left to determine.

 

[jumpstreet]

The mention of the FBI indicates there is some deep study going on but she was not afraid to call in their assistance unlike Sheriff Harrison who waited until he was stumped and then brought in the FBI and SBI.

Wonder what type of circumstances might warrant getting the FBI involved in NC's case? [ Not sure what you mean by "deep study" RC... ]. When is the FBI engaged, vs keeping things with the SBI? [ Some kind of special forensic analysis? Or - something else? ]

Side bar here: As for Sheriff Harrison pulling in the FBI, I presume you mean in the MY case? [ For that one though, we were talking last week that it is primarily in the hands of the DA (even though LE may be continuing to work it). Does that mean that the FBI doesn't have any major outstanding item the DA is waiting on (in the MY case... or... not necessarily?).

 

[raisincharlie]

Wonder what type of circumstances might warrant getting the FBI involved in NC's case? [ Not sure what you mean by "deep study" RC... ]. When is the FBI engaged, vs keeping things with the SBI? [ Some kind of special forensic analysis? Or - something else? ]

Side bar here: As for Sheriff Harrison pulling in the FBI, I presume you mean in the MY case? [ For that one though, we were talking last week that it is primarily in the hands of the DA (even though LE may be continuing to work it). Does that mean that the FBI doesn't have any major outstanding item the DA is waiting on (in the MY case... or... not necessarily?).

Forensically, the FBI has some superior testing capabilities as well as databases to draw from - such as fibers, shoeprints, and detailed fingerprint matching capabilities that most likely far exceed what SBI has. Computer forensics is always a possibility. What the FBI may be doing in this case, I have no idea, but apparently they have some capability desired by Chief Bazemore.

As to Sheriff Harrison - yes, the MY case. I don't know if either the FBI or the SBI have anything outstanding or anything new with repsect to the MY case. Just never know if something new has come up.

 

[SleuthyGal]

Not to mention they might be making use of the FBI lab for DNA analysis, depending on what kind of analysis they need to do. Also the FBI has more experience analyzing hair samples too.

 

[raisincharlie]

Not to mention they might be making use of the FBI lab for DNA analysis, depending on what kind of analysis they need to do. Also the FBI has more experience analyzing hair samples too.

SBI is very well equipped and certified for DNA analysis. No need for FBI input unless they need to check the profiles against the FBI databases. Tire track analysis as well.

 

[jumpstreet]

What the FBI may be doing in this case, I have no idea, but apparently they have some capability desired by Chief Bazemore.

Are there scenarios where the location of the investigation results in FBI automatically getting involved? (e.g. Let's say a crime occurred in State A, but the perp is believed to live in State B - do the respective local LE's just work together on the matter, or does the FBI automatically get engaged at that point since a 'state boundary' is involved?).

Not trying to read anything into the FBI's involvement (and agree the computer forensics seems a reasonable thought, given the number of PC's to be searched (at least 4 I think...). Still though, just trying to speculate as to what FBI involvement could possibly imply.

Another (somewhat related) question - regarding SWs: If an investigation leads LE to need to search premises/persons in another county or state, do they file the SW where the crime occurred (in this case, Wake County courthouse), or where the warrant is to be served, or both?

 

[raisincharlie]

Are there scenarios where the location of the investigation results in FBI automatically getting involved? (e.g. Let's say a crime occurred in State A, but the perp is believed to live in State B - do the respective local LE's just work together on the matter, or does the FBI automatically get engaged at that point since a 'state boundary' is involved?).

Not trying to read anything into the FBI's involvement (and agree the computer forensics seems a reasonable thought, given the number of PC's to be searched (at least 4 I think...). Still though, just trying to speculate as to what FBI involvement could possibly imply.

Another (somewhat related) question - regarding SWs: If an investigation leads LE to need to search premises/persons in another county or state, do they file the SW where the crime occurred (in this case, Wake County courthouse), or where the warrant is to be served, or both?

Certain crimes require FBI notification, simple murder is not one of them. Most liekly their assistance has been requested.

Search warrants - in state, the filings will made through Wake County. Out of state they must obtain the warrant through the county and the county DA in the state involved, although there will be some note made in the Wake County file that this was done.

 

[jumpstreet]

Certain crimes require FBI notification, simple murder is not one of them. Most liekly their assistance has been requested.

Search warrants - in state, the filings will made through Wake County. Out of state they must obtain the warrant through the county and the county DA in the state involved, although there will be some note made in the Wake County file that this was done.

Makes sense - thanks RC.