(Response to carolinalady and MoonFlwr)
Actually there have been things he could have done that would make him look at least a little better than he has... so off the top of my head and with very little thought (something a bit scary coming from a blonde, I know)...
1. He could have called LE/911 when Nancy was gone past her 2 hours max. running time. Yes, he said he didn't know you could call before 24 hours, but JA didn't know either and went ahead and called. Worst case is they would have told him he had to wait, given him some suggestions and advised him to call back later. Best - it would have made him look like a half-way caring and concered human being.
2. He could have attended at least ONE of the impromptu or organized services/vigils for Nancy. Even going to the one last night would have worked. OR since he SAID he was planning on having his own service, it might have been a good idea to have done so -- and NOT this far after the fact.
3. No problem that he doesn't like to "grieve" or show his emotions in public, but he still should have gone -- at the very least -- to the press conference where it was confirmed that Nancy had indeed been found.
4. He could have had his attorney release the documents AFTER the day of the memorial service for Nancy. One day surely wouldn't have made much of a difference re his case, but it sure would have made him look less like a self-serving jerk.
5. Yes custody and divorce cases are messy, but due to the fact his wife was just murdered he could have avoided the trap of putting down his now dead wife / the mother of his children. I'm sure he could have been more brutal (verbally), but it's also true that he could have left out or at the very least re-worded many of the things he wrote so they weren't so harsh. Sticking to things directly involving the case would have accomplished what he needed to accomplish -- as others have pointed out.
6. Somewhere in his glowing description of himself he could have given Nancy credit for some of the things she did. I'm sure if he thought hard enough he could have remembered SOMETHING positive, and by including it he would have come off as a more compassionate figure. Plus since Nancy is gone and couldn't present her own counter-attack, er rebuttal, it wouldn't have hurt his case in any way that I can see.
7. Probably didn't help his "image" with me when he complained about Nancy's family talking to a mental health professional about how to best talk to the children. Especially since he claimed he'd spoken to one for the exact same reason. No reason to come off as publicly slamming your dead wife's traumatized family. He could have gotten his point across so it didn't come off as slamming. He voiced other legitimate complaints that were obviously addressed / decided on in the judge's chambers: this could have been handled the same way.
8. Whether it was his decision or his attorneys' having Scott H make a Rebuttal Affidavit came across as stupid and selfish. IF SH had only focused on things that concerned him, fine; but he was in no position to address anything that anyone else stated (that wasn't about him or his ex-wife), and yet he did. Made him and BC both look bad.
9. Whether it was his decision or his attorneys' putting up the webpage directing anyone with information about Nancy's death to call the attorney doesn't make BC come off very well.
10. And WTH does this mean ?? Are we to assume these attorneys are really "assisting" in the investigation rather than being a shield between BC and the rest of the world and getting ready to defend him should he be implicated in NC's murder?? Is this supposed to make BC look innocent?? That sure isn't the impression it gives me!
"Brad Cooper July 16 statement on wife's death
PRESS RELEASE
From Counsel Assisting Brad Cooper in Investigating the death of Nancy Cooper" (snip)
http://www.wral.com/news/local/page/3218421/
I know I could come up with much, much more - just as others here have time and time again. It really shouldn't be that hard for BC to at least pretend to be a somewhat normal human being and less of a self-centered behind.