Hearing on Cooper warrants set for Thursday

Raleigh, N.C. — A hearing is planned in Wake County Thursday to consider whether search warrants in the case of a murdered Cary mother should be released to the public.

Lawyers representing Capitol Broadcasting Co., the parent of WRAL News, and The News & Observer delivered a letter of intent to Judge Donald W. Stephens Monday requesting the hearing.

In a July 16 court order, Stephens sealed the warrants for 30 days, ruling that the release of the documents could compromise the ongoing murder investigation or jeopardize a defendant's right to a fair trial.

Authorities have released little information about the slaying of Nancy Cooper, 34, a mother of two who lived in Cary's Lochmere subdivision.

A friend reported Nancy Cooper missing July 12 after she failed to show up for a planned meeting. Her husband, Brad Cooper, told authorities his wife went jogging and never returned.

Her body was found two days later in an undeveloped subdivision just outside Cary’s town limit.

Police have said they do not believe Cooper's death was random. They have not named a suspect or a person of interest in her death.

By law, affidavits to obtain a search warrant must contain a detailed explanation of probable cause, and they usually have specifics about what police believe happened to the victim.

In the motion filed Monday, WRAL's lawyers asked for the warrant application and the list of items seized under conditions of the warrant to be made public.