Dateline: The Farmer’s Wife — Who was Ryan Cooper and what happened to him? Disturbing details of the 2021 homicide, revealed

Dateline NBC's latest episode is one you won't forget, aka "The Farmer's Wife," which aired December 12th. It looks into the 2021 murder of Iowa farmer Ryan Cooper, in what seemed like a peaceful little farmhouse.

Ryan Cooper was 42 when he died. According to his obituary, he was a farmer, truck driver, and cattle guy who kept his family’s farming tradition alive. But here’s the thing nobody knew except his wife: there was already an affair going on, and some more plans in the works.

So, what’s the real story behind this Dateline episode? Read on.

Who was Ryan Cooper, and why/how was he murdered as seen on Dateline?

Ryan Cooper was a regular farmer from Traer, Iowa. He put in long hours, raised cattle, and never forgot where he came from, per his family and friends.

In June 2021, Ryan took two bullets to the face while dozing off in his chair at home. When Cops showed up, they saw his wife, Karina Cooper, just sitting there with his body in their farmhouse. At first, nobody could make sense of it. And of course, the small town went wild with rumors.

Behind the scenes, cops pieced together a digital trail that flipped the case. Karina Cooper and a man named Huston Danker's Snapchat messages showed they were having an affair. These conversations, as court testimony revealed, were about marriage, wanting Ryan gone, and mapping out how they'd use his life insurance money to elope together.

On June 18, 2021 (the day Ryan died), Karina and Danker were texting back and forth, saying how much they loved each other. About an hour before Karina called 911 to report the shooting, Danker messaged her:

“Remember those casings. No ifs, ands or buts.”

She replied,

“Absolutely. 100 percent.”

What happened after the murder on Dateline's “The Farmer’s Wife”?

Karina Cooper and Huston Danker got first-degree murder charges. Nobody is sure who shot Ryan, but prosecutors said both of them were in on it from start to finish. Assistant Iowa AG Mike Ringle announced they planned and they did it together, so it only made sense that they'd both be on the hook.

Initially, the two of them swore they weren't having an affair, but that didn't hold up for long. Danker pleaded guilty, while Karina Cooper decided on a trial, and the jury nailed her. By 2025, they both received life sentences.

The impact on Ryan Cooper's family came through in their statements. His sister-in-law, Heather Cooper, talked about how scared and confused they all were, as they had no idea why Ryan was killed or who did it. She was chasing down leads and heard rumors that didn't add up. It hurt that whoever did this never even gave them an explanation, as can be seen on Dateline.

As of now, the subject of Dateline's “The Farmer’s Wife,” aka Ryan Cooper's family, is trying to stop a $515,000 life insurance payout.

Trending

Dateline's “The Farmer’s Wife” aired on Friday, December 12 at 8 p.m. CT on NBC. Andrea Canning reports, and Lester Holt hosts.

NEXT UP: Did Dateline make the Golden Globes nomination cut in the Best Podcast category?

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback