Huston William Danker booking photo.

TOLEDO – A second suspect has been arrested in connection with the 2021 shooting death of rural Traer resident Ryan Cooper.

On Monday, April 29, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s (DCI) Major Crime Unit and the Tama County Sheriff’s Office arrested Shellsburg resident Huston William Danker, 27, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He was later transported to Tama County and charged with first degree murder, a Class A felony.

Back on Feb. 19 of this year, Ryan Cooper’s wife Karina Sue Cooper, 47, was arrested and charged with first degree murder in connection with the death of her husband who was found deceased at the couple’s shared rural Traer residence in the early morning hours of June 18, 2021, due to two gunshot wounds to the face. Since Karina Cooper’s arrest, she has been held in the Tama County Jail on a $1 million bond. She entered a plea of not guilty to the single Class A felony charge on March 14.

According to the criminal complaint in Danker’s case, on the morning of June 18, 2021, a Tama County deputy responded to Karina and Ryan Cooper’s residence southwest of Traer seven minutes after a 911 call was placed stating someone had been shot. Once inside, the deputy found Ryan Cooper deceased in a recliner and Karina Cooper allegedly sitting on top of him. A .22 shell casing was found at the scene, however, no firearm was found in the immediate vicinity of Ryan Cooper. Persons found inside the residence included Karina Cooper along with her and Ryan Cooper’s three minor children.

Danker’s criminal complaint also alleges that Karina Cooper told two witnesses she “wanted Ryan Cooper dead and could shoot him in the face.”

The criminal complaint further states Danker “acted in concert with Karina Cooper to kill Ryan Cooper” and allegedly told investigators “he planned and assisted Karina Cooper with the shooting death of Ryan Cooper.”

Danker made an initial appearance in custody in Tama County District Court on April 30. His bail was set at $1 million cash or surety bond. He is currently being represented by the Nevada Public Defender’s Office after the Marshalltown Public Defender’s Office withdrew due to an overload of cases.

A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for May 7 at 9 a.m. unless trial information is filed prior to that date.

A copy of the criminal complaint in Danker’s case can be viewed here: https://dps.iowa.gov/media/1745/download.