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7:42 a.m. • 2-12-12

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Cooper search warrants could be unsealed Tuesday


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Nancy Cooper
Nancy Cooper

A judge is scheduled to release three sealed warrants in the Nancy Cooper case Tuesday.

Cooper, 34, was found dead in an undeveloped subdivision just outside Cary’s town limit on July 14, two days after a friend reported her missing.

These warrants have been sealed twice for a total of 60 days. The Wake County district attorney argued that releasing the warrants could compromise the investigation.

So far, the district attorney has not asked that the warrants be sealed again. If they are released Tuesday, as planned, the public could get its first real glimpse into the direction the investigation is going.

One of the documents allowed police to search the home and vehicles of Nancy Cooper and her husband, Brad Cooper, as well as to obtain DNA samples from Brad Cooper.

Another warrant was for Brad Cooper's office at Cisco Systems in Research Triangle Park. The third was for an undisclosed location.

Authorities have said they do not believe Nancy Cooper's slaying was a random crime, but they have not named a suspect or person of interest in the case. They've said little else about the case since then.

Brad Cooper has been keeping a low profile since his wife death. He has declined to talk about the case.

White ribbons seen Monday in Cary's Lochmere subdivision are a constant reminder of Nancy Cooper's slaying. The beauty and tranquility of the neighborhood is a sharp contrast to her violent death. Neighbors say they would like to know about the investigation.

“The police are saying that it's an isolated incident. They're not naming any person of interest. So it brings the question of who is the person they are thinking of, and it would help if we know,” neighbor Andrea Kozma said.

“It's just a question of time. The public needs to have patience,” retired investigator Chris Morgan said.

Morgan said that even when it may look like a case is dragging on, investigators are working hard behind the scenes.

“They say, 'I'm still going to solve this case. I'm going to find that one little missing, tiny, minute piece of information, that one witness, that one piece of physical evidence that's been overlooked, that's been set aside, that's been missed for so long, and today I'm going to clear that case,'” he added.

The warrants are of interest because they include affidavits in which investigators explain to the court why they believe the warrant is justified, possibly including their theories of a case or explaining why a named person is being targeted for the search.


Tune in to WRAL News and stay logged on to WRAL.com for more on this developing story.

RELATED TOPICS: Wake County, Cary, Research Triangle

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30 Comments


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How long is this news story going to drag on? Would there be as much "newsworthyness" if Nancy Cooper wasn't from an affluent neighborhood in Cary? Same with the Eve Carson case. Why are certain people more important than others? All families suffer the same no matter who they are. Let what ever needs to be done to solve this case be done and let us know when it's solved. Releasing any information to the public can affect the case and trial. I'm sorry the family has to go through this and I hope they get closure soon.

Yeh, you can bluff 'um and tell them to leave town or not. But if they call your bluff, you can't back it up, annemarek.

"Does anyone know if the husband can leave the Raleigh area and disappear? Can the police tell him not to leave? After all he has not been accused of this crime."

The police can't tell him not to leave. If he is named a suspect and a arrest warrant is issued, he will be arrested. Until then, I believe he can go where he wants to.

Brad's attorneys should take a restraining order out on the news media not to step on the property.

I agree with WillowsWalk. The media says that the public has a right to know. No they don't. Her family needs to be informed of everything being done to make an arrest not the general public. The warrants should remained sealed if they will jeopardize the case.

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