Detectives seize more evidence from Cooper home

RALEIGH, N.C. — More evidence, including cameras and cell phones, were seized last month from the home of Brad Cooper, who is charged with first-degree murder in the July slaying of his wife, according to warrants released Thursday.

Investigators requested to search the Cary couple's home, at 104 Wallsburg Court to look for evidence of martial discord, financial transactions and instructions associated with ways to commit murder and dispose of a human body, according to the search warrant affidavit. Officials were also looking for all documents and photographs pertaining to the sale, ownership or repair of jewelry believe to the be the property of Nancy Cooper.

Nancy Cooper's body was found July 14 in an undeveloped subdivision about three miles from the couple's home. An autopsy found the 34-year-old mother of two she was likely strangled.

The search warrant affidavit filed on April 16 showed Cary detectives were searching for evidence that might be in two e-mails that Brad Cooper received on his cell phone.

On April 17, detectives seized his Samsung Blackjack cell phone, a Motorola V511 cell phone, a Sony MP3 IC recorder, two thumb-drives and a DVD from Brad Cooper’s 2001 BMW, court records showed. Investigators also seized two digital video cameras and an eMachines CPU.

The application for the search warrant stated that Nancy Cooper wanted a divorce after her husband admitted to having an extramarital affair. The couple was also dealing with financial problems, according to court records.

Cooper, 35, meanwhile, is in the Wake County jail where he is being held under a $2 million bond. Prosecutors have said they will not seek the death penalty in the case.

Cooper's two daughters are in the temporary custody of their mother's family in Canada. Earlier this week, Brad Cooper’s attorney filed a motion to postpone a permanent custody hearing scheduled for June until after his murder trial.