On Friday, December 12, 2025, Dateline NBC aired an intense episode titled The Farmer’s Wife, reported by Andrea Canning. The broadcast delves into the chilling murder of Ryan Cooper, a beloved father and farmer from Traer, Iowa, whose death shattered a close-knit rural community. As authorities uncovered the layers of deception behind the facade of a wholesome family life, suspicion turned to his wife, Karina Cooper, and her lover, Huston Danker. Their plot would unravel over the course of years, exposing betrayal, manipulation, and a calculated plan to murder for money and a future fantasy.
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- Who Is Karina Cooper & Where Is She Now? 2025 Profile & Update
- Who Is Huston Danker & Where Is He Now? 2025 Profile & Update
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Contents
- Discovery at the Farmhouse: The Morning Everything Changed
- Behind the Marriage: A Hidden Affair and a Secret Plot
- Trial and Verdict: Years of Doubt Give Way to Justice
- A Family Forever Broken: Victim Impact Statements
- Law Enforcement Reflects: Closure After a Years-Long Investigation
- More “The Farmer’s Wife”
- More Feature Articles
Discovery at the Farmhouse: The Morning Everything Changed
On June 18, 2021, Tama County authorities responded to a distressing 911 call. They arrived at the Cooper home to find a gruesome scene. Ryan Cooper, 42, lay lifeless in his recliner, having been shot twice in the face. His wife, Karina, was found sitting on top of him, blood covering her clothing. The couple’s three children were inside the home at the time.
Initial reports suggested a tragic domestic incident, but the lack of forced entry and the positioning of Ryan’s body began to raise suspicions. Authorities noted the absence of a weapon and found a .22-caliber shell casing nearby. The case quickly transitioned from a domestic tragedy to a homicide investigation.
Behind the Marriage: A Hidden Affair and a Secret Plot
Over the course of the investigation, detectives discovered a secret relationship between Karina Cooper and Huston Danker, one of her salon clients. The two had been exchanging explicit Snapchat messages and were discussing plans for a future together, including undergoing IVF treatments. Prosecutors would later argue that their motive for murder was to collect $500,000 in life insurance benefits.
Karina denied any involvement, initially painting herself as a grieving widow. But digital evidence told a different story. Investigators found messages that indicated premeditation. One message from Danker read, “I’m gonna get this s–t done,” followed by Karina’s simple but damning response: “Go.” This exchange occurred just before Ryan’s murder. Forensic experts also testified that Karina was likely kneeling when she shot Ryan and later smeared his blood on her face to mimic grief and deflect suspicion.
Trial and Verdict: Years of Doubt Give Way to Justice
The case went unsolved for nearly three years. In February 2024, Karina Cooper was finally arrested. Her trial, held in Linn County, concluded on July 11, 2025, with a guilty verdict for first-degree murder. She was sentenced to life in prison without parole on September 19.
Co-defendant Huston Danker was arrested two months after Karina. On the first day of his scheduled trial in August 2025, Danker pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, admitting he and Karina planned Ryan’s killing over several months. He too received a sentence of life without parole.
Judge Lars Anderson, who presided over both trials, rejected Karina’s motion for a new trial, citing the overwhelming weight of the evidence, including her relationship with Danker and incriminating messages before and after the killing.
A Family Forever Broken: Victim Impact Statements
During sentencing, Ryan Cooper’s family gave emotional victim impact statements. His sister-in-law Heather Cooper described the trauma endured by Ryan’s children, who witnessed the aftermath of the murder, and the devastating impact on their family and farming business. She spoke about Ryan’s character—his kindness, dedication to his children, and the joy he found in farming with his brother.
Michelle Wilson, Ryan’s sister, also gave powerful testimony. She described how the family was forced to maintain a facade for years to stay close to Ryan’s children while knowing the truth. Wilson spoke directly to Karina, calling her a “narcissistic psychopath” and concluded with a final, unfiltered message: “Go to hell.”
Law Enforcement Reflects: Closure After a Years-Long Investigation
Tama County Sheriff Casey Schmidt and lead investigator Trevor Killian reflected on the long and emotionally taxing investigation. Schmidt acknowledged public frustration during the years Karina remained free, but emphasized that the deliberate pace allowed them to build a strong, irrefutable case.
Killian’s dedication to the case was widely praised. As Sheriff Schmidt stated, “There wasn’t anybody that knew the case better than Trevor.” Prosecutors from the Iowa Attorney General’s Office and Tama County worked closely with law enforcement to bring about the conviction.
In the end, Sheriff Schmidt said the sentencing represented more than justice—it was a reminder that Ryan Cooper’s life mattered. The case stands as a grim example of how deception and obsession can unravel lives, but also as a testament to persistence, truth, and the strength of a grieving family determined not to let their loved one be forgotten.