Police, volunteers expand search for missing Cary mom

CARY, N.C. — Police and dozens of volunteers resumed the search Monday for a Cary mother of two whose husband says she went out for a jog Saturday morning but never returned.

"The police have asked us to look a little bit further off the trail," search organizer Mike Morwick said Monday. "Yesterday, we covered every trail in the Lochmere Regency area. We're just going further, we're looking further into the brush to see if there's anything that might raise suspicion."

Meanwhile, investigators said they were also interviewing Nancy Cooper's family members and acquaintances to learn more about her life.

Police say no one has reported seeing Cooper, 34, after a dinner party in the neighborhood that ended late Friday night. They said they do not believe she had any identification on her Saturday when she apparently left the house.

Brad Cooper told police his wife went out about 7 a.m. Saturday but did not return by 9 a.m. or meet friends later that morning, as planned. A friend called 911 and reported her missing.

Police described Cooper as being 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing about 120 pounds with hazel eyes and brown hair that goes just past her shoulders. She was last seen wearing a T-shirt, running shorts and light blue running shoes.

Anyone with information about Cooper’s whereabouts is asked to call the Cary Police Department at 919-469-4016 or Crime Stoppers at 919-226-CRIM(E).

"We consider her to be alive and a missing person, at this time," Cary police Chief Pat Bazemore said at a news conference Monday afternoon. "And our goal is tor bring her home."

About 200 people were out searching Monday. That included Cooper's husband, said Bazemore, adding that they have been in direct contact with him.

Brad Cooper told WRAL News on Sunday that he and his wife were having "marital issues" but would not elaborate, nor would he comment further about his wife's disappearance.

Cooper's father, mother and identical twin sister traveled from Canada to assist in the search.

"We have been here today to help find Nancy," Cooper's father, Garry Rentz said. "We believe she will be brought home soon. And we thank the community for the support that they've given and ask they continue in their effort to find our daughter."

At a news conference Monday evening, Brad Cooper, thanked the hundreds of people searching for his wife for their support.

About 150 people joined police in the search Sunday in the areas of Lochmere Lake and Regency Park, which were believed to be routes Cooper regularly jogs.

Crews have searched in and around Lochmere Lake for Cooper, and Bazemore said they are also searching near Lake Wheeler and Lake Johnson.

Volunteers have also posted more than 2,000 fliers asking for the public's help in locating her.

Friends said Monday that the search is personal.