Suvechha Sarkar
The life of Ryan Roy Cooper came to an abrupt halt on June 18, 2021, when he was shot dead in his own home in Traer, Iowa. The 42-year-old was a beloved brother and a dutiful father. His untimely demise sent shockwaves through the community and left his family members completely heartbroken. NBC’s ‘Dateline: The Farmer’s Wife’ delves deeper into the investigation of the case, which stretched for almost three years before a murder plot was uncovered. It further features detailed interviews with his loved ones and officials who worked tirelessly on the case.
Ryan Cooper Was Found Dead From Gunshot Wounds in His Recliner
Ryan Roy Cooper arrived as a bundle of joy in the lives of his parents, Jan and Connie Cooper, on June 1, 1979. He grew up in a loving household alongside his brother, Aaron, and his sister, Michelle. Sadly, just a year before his birth, Ryan’s family suffered a great tragedy when his brother Jason passed away on January 4, 1978, at just the age of 5. However, Ryan never let it define him; instead, he became a kind and adventurous person. After graduating from North Tama High School in 1998, he decided to pursue his passion for farming. It eventually paved the way for him to join his family farm business, named Cooper Farms. There, Ryan continued his family’s legacy while working as a cattle producer, farmer, and truck driver. Sometime in adulthood, he fell in love, and the relationship grew into a marriage.
Shortly after, Ryan and his wife welcomed their son, Cole Roy, into the world. Unfortunately, their marriage didn’t work out, and they parted ways. Ryan thought he got a second chance at love when he met Karina Sue Alpers. It wasn’t long before they tied the knot in a beautiful church. Over the years, they gave birth to their three children, Cable, Cortlyn, and Cayd. Beyond that, Ryan was an avid sports enthusiast, especially of football, and often cheered for his favorite team, the Iowa State Cyclones. Besides having a knack for accessorizing and customizing various items, he enjoyed activities such as jet-skiing, boating, and exploring snowmobile trails. Ryan and his family faced another major heartbreak when he lost his mother on May 3, 2020. Yet, he continued moving forward, surrounded by the support of his family.
Around 4:35 am on June 18, 2021, authorities received a call from Karina, who claimed that someone was in their house at 1846 K. Avenue in Traer, Iowa. During the call, she also reported that someone was shot. When detectives rushed to the scene, they found Ryan dead from two gunshot wounds to the face in his recliner. They discovered that Karina was sitting on top of his remains, and their three children were found unharmed in the home. Additionally, there were no signs of forced entry. Upon searching the house, they didn’t find any firearm close to Ryan’s remains but uncovered a .22 caliber shell casing nearby. According to reports, the experts believed that he was shot at close range. The autopsy reportedly confirmed that he was shot twice in the face, and the manner of his death was determined to be homicide.
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Snapchat Messages and Mobile Data Exposed a Secret Affair and Murder Plot
Investigators first questioned Karina at the scene, who informed them that on June 17, 2021, she had returned home in the evening after meeting her family. In her statements, she claimed that she later put her children to bed before going to sleep. According to court records, she also claimed that she woke up from a loud sound in the early hours of June 18 and had heard Ryan snore once. She continued that when she allegedly didn’t get any response from Ryan upon calling, she turned the lights on to discover a bloody scene. Reports state that Karina had claimed not to have had any affair. Despite questioning several family members and friends, there wasn’t enough evidence to identify a suspect. Things changed when the digital forensic experts discovered some Snapchat messages on Karina’s phone.
According to investigative reports, several messages were exchanged between Karina and a man named Huston Danker. The messages reportedly revealed an ongoing affair between them, where on the day of the murder, they professed their love for one another. Additionally, the reports indicate that the texts contained evidence of Karina stating that she hated her husband. Investigators later stated that the messages indicated discussions about harming Ryan and efforts to conceal evidence. According to court records, around 3:30 am on June 18, Huston sent Karina a message stating, “Remember those casings,” to which she responded, “Absolutely. 100 percent.”
The experts reportedly noted that Karina deleted several messages, and most of them were between her and Huston. Moreover, the digital device data and message timestamps placed Karina at the scene during the time of the murder. Detectives also discovered that after Ryan’s death, Karina collected his life insurance payout, amounting to $514,882.21, which later became part of the broader investigation. According to police reports, some of Ryan’s relatives claimed that Karina had once allegedly told Ryan she would shoot him in the face. Based on the overwhelming amount of evidence, Karina was finally arrested on February 19, 2024, and charged with first-degree murder.
Huston was also arrested on April 29, 2024, and indicted on the charge of first-degree murder (acting in concert). Official reports state that when he was questioned, Huston admitted to planning and helping Karina to kill Ryan. The jury trial of Karina began in July 2025, and she was convicted of first-degree murder on July 11, 2025. She was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole on September 19, 2025. Huston pleaded guilty to his charges on August 12, 2025, and received the same sentence as Karina on October 3, 2025.
