By NC WANTED Staff

Posted: Jul 28, 2008
Updated: Oct 3, 2008

WAKE COUNTY — WAKE COUNTY: Before an arrest has been made in a murder investigation, it is unusual for intimate details of the victim's life and possible clues of the circumstances surrounding her death to be released to the public.

Perhaps that is what has made the Nancy Cooper murder investigation such a media firestorm. Dozens of documents filed in the custody battle for Nancy's two daughters between Brad Cooper, the girls'  father, and Nancy's parents and sister have provided a rare glimpse into Nancy's lifestyle, friendships and troubled marriage.

Although no suspects have been named in her death, at least two of her friends wrote in affidavits related to the custody hearing that they believe Brad Cooper murdered Nancy. Brad Cooper has denied any involvement in Nancy's death, has been cooperative with investigators and has aggressively countered any claim that he was a controlling, abusive husband and disinterested father.

Search warrants released last month contain statements from investigators that Brad Cooper made inconsistent statements to police and that he had "unexplained" scratch marks on his neck the day Nancy disappeared.

Brad Cooper and his attorneys, on the other hand, have been very vocal in the media, releasing photos and surveillance videos in an attempt to disprove the speculation that Brad was involved in Nancy's death.

Nancy's autopsy showed that the most likely cause of her death was strangulation.

Brad Cooper told police that his wife went missing July 12 after a 7 a.m. jog, but it was her friend Jessica Adam who reported her missing after she failed to show up for a meeting.

Brad wrote in affidavits that it was not unusual for Nancy to jog with friends or to spend several hours outside of the house without letting him know.

If you have any information on the murder of Nancy Cooper, call NC WANTED toll free at 1.866.43.WANTED (1.866.439.2683) or click on "Report a Tip" Your identity can be kept confidential.

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From Recent WRAL Reports...

A man who was supposed to play tennis with Brad Cooper the day his wife disappeared says in a new court filing that police tried to "coerce" him into saying he helped establish an alibi for Cooper, now at the center of a custody battle for his two young daughters.

In an interview with police four weeks ago, Michael Hiller states in a Sept. 29 affidavit, investigators used "good-cop bad-cop" tactics to force him to admit he made calls on Nancy Cooper's cell phone on July 12, the day a friend reported her missing.

He also says police told him the Town of Cary was calling her homicide isolated "so people like you would be more comfortable."

Police have said the crime was not random violence.

"The police told me they had to investigate Brad because he was the husband," Hiller states in the document. "They also told me that if they were to arrest someone else without thoroughly investigating Brad, the lawyer for that arrested person would accuse them of doing poor police work."

Cary police had no comment on Hiller's affidavit, a town spokeswoman said.

In a phone interview with WRAL News Thursday morning, Hiller said he backs his statements, but also said he does believe Cary police are doing a good job with the case.

"We are just looking for justice for Nancy and the girls and for Brad, wherever the cards may fall," he said.

A man walking his dog found Nancy Cooper's body on July 14 in an undeveloped subdivision three miles from the Coopers' Lochmere home. An autopsy determined she had been strangled.

Her parents, Garry and Donna Rentz, filed for custody of the couple's children two days later, claiming Brad Cooper is mentally unstable and poses a threat to the children.

Cooper, who declined to comment Thursday, gave a deposition for more than seven hours to the Rentzes' attorneys. They were able to ask him anything that relates to his fitness as a parent, including whether he played a role in his wife's death.

Police have not named a suspect in the case. There has been widespread speculation that Brad Cooper was involved, but his attorneys have repeatedly denied that he killed his wife.

Cooper had to answer the deposition questions or be held in contempt of court. He did have an option, however, to invoke his Fifth Amendment right on any question that might have incriminated him.

"We think we're making progress toward a conclusion," Garry Rentz said. "We can't say anything more than that."

Brad Cooper's attorneys will depose the Rentzes and Nancy Cooper's twin sister, Krista Lister, next week. The temporary custody hearing is scheduled for the week of Oct. 13.

"It has been a long day," the Rentzes' attorney, Alice Stubbs, said Thursday evening. "We're thankful we got through it, and everybody worked hard. We'll be back to work tomorrow."