Dateline NBC – "The Farmer's Wife"

Date: December 16, 2025
Host: Lester Holt
Reporter: Andrea Canning

Overview

This gripping episode of Dateline NBC investigates the shocking murder of Iowa farmer Ryan Cooper in 2020, and the subsequent unraveling of a murder plot involving his wife, Karina Cooper, and much younger farmhand Houston Danker. Through interviews with investigators, family, friends, and courtroom testimony, the episode unpacks small-town secrets, digital evidence, and the ripple effect on a close-knit rural community.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Tragic Morning

• The crime:
  In the early hours of June 18, 2020, Ryan Cooper, a well-respected fourth-generation farmer, is found dead in his recliner by his wife, Karina.
  • Karina first frantically calls her brother-in-law Aaron instead of 911, then emergency services.
  • Aaron, a volunteer firefighter, arrives quickly—finding a chaotic scene: Karina screaming over Ryan’s bloody body, their children exposed to the horror.
• Initial confusion:
  Early speculation includes accidental death or medical emergency, with friends and relatives struggling to fathom what happened.
  • "Did he have a heart attack? ... Maybe it was a health-related deal." — Jamie Earhart, Ryan’s friend (09:17)

2. The Investigation Unfolds

• Murder, not accident:
  The medical examiner finds Ryan was shot twice in the face—not a suicide or accident.
  • "I crouched down and I'm just taking a look at him. And then I observe what appeared to be a second bullet hole... he's been shot twice." — Det. Trevor Killian (13:59)
• Suspect theories:
  • No sign of forced entry, yet a bloody shoe print and Karina’s purse thrown outside hint at possible staging.
  • Investigators consider robbery, a past business partner (Nolan De Waal), and a bar altercation, but alibis and ballistics clear them (30:01).
• Attention turns to community:
  Detectives note nervousness in the once safe farming community.
  • "I mean, it was terrifying to go home thinking that somebody murdered our friend a mile from our house." — Ashton Wilson (24:39)

3. Spotlight on Karina Cooper

• Rising suspicions:
  Karina’s behavior at the scene and in the following months draws scrutiny.
  • Odd actions: sitting on Ryan’s body, not rendering aid; inconsistent timeline; her dog doesn’t react to the shooting.
  • "It seemed very unusual for her to be sitting on his body, not trying to render any kind of aid, not allowing others to come and render any aid." — Asst. County Attorney Geneva Williams (41:37)
  • "She would not contact us... she never contacted us." — Det. Killian on Karina’s lack of follow-up (43:27)
• Domestic issues revealed:
  Friends discuss Karina’s sometimes volatile drinking personality ("Bad Karen"), public outbursts, and marital tension.
  • "It could be just the smallest thing that would set her off, like... 'Why'd you wear those boots?'" — Jamie Earhart (40:43)
  • Karina’s own threat: "She yelled at him and said that she hated him and would shoot him in the face." — Friend Theresa McBride, jury testimony (70:46)
• Key behaviors:
  Karina insists there are no affairs, no motive, but gossip circulates.

4. The Houston Danker Connection

• "Cougar hunter":
  Houston Danker, 23 at the time, worked on the farm and was rumored to prefer older women. He and Karina messaged frequently via Snapchat.
  • "He liked the older ladies... He even had an affair with his best friend's mom." — Ashton Wilson and Lester Holt (31:25, 31:54)
• First interviews:
  Early talks with Houston yield little—he plays off the Snapchat interactions as platonic or like a "gay best friend" (32:27).
• Cold case period:
  With no hard evidence, the investigation stalls, but detectives remain suspicious of Karina and Houston.

5. Digital Evidence Breakthrough

• Geofencing data:
  Cell phone data indicate no one entered or left the property except household members during the murder window—supporting an "inside job" theory (47:16).
• Recovered messages:
  Months after the murder, a digital forensics specialist recovers deleted Snapchat exchanges: - Explicit messages between Karina and Houston, indicating an affair and discussions of future plans (59:41). - Incriminating chats about shell casings and orchestrating the murder:
  - "Ok babe, seriously. Putting the phone down. Have to get this expletive done. I love you.” (71:55) - Karina responds: "Go." — identified as a "coast is clear" sign (72:06) - "Remember those casings?" — Houston, and "Absolutely. 100%." — Karina (72:19)
  • Friends admit they saw the affair playing out on Snapchat months earlier but held back to protect Karina (58:06).

6. The Arrests and Confessions

• Karina’s arrest (53:50):
  Prosecutors charge Karina Cooper with first-degree murder based on the digital and circumstantial evidence.
• Houston’s second interview and confession:
  Confronted with the recovered evidence, Houston admits in part to the plot (62:58):
  • "Karina wanted me to go over there and do it... I lent her my gun." — Houston Danker (63:02–63:51)
  • He claims Karina did the shooting, he retrieved the weapon, and tried to leave no digital trace.
  • A bloody sneaker print at the scene matches Houston's shoes.

7. The Trials: Clashing Narratives

The Prosecution's Case

• Motive:
  Karina and Houston planned to be together, split insurance money ($500,000 policy), and Karina’s digital messages show malice ("wishing for a rogue semi accident…").
• Method:
  Karina orchestrates the murder, ensures her son isn’t in the room, signals Houston to act, and attempts to stage the scene.
• Physical evidence:
  Movement tracking on Karina’s phone indicates she was up before calling for help—contradicting her timeline (69:13).
• Witnesses:
  Friends describe marital tension and Karina’s temper; eldest son testifies mother made unusual request night of murder (69:35).

The Defense's Story

• Karina as victim of Houston:
  She claims to have been manipulated and coerced by Houston, who was obsessed with her.
  • "[Houston] acted like he was my husband and Ryan was my boyfriend." (76:34)
  • She admits the affair but says she never believed he’d act; she lied out of fear and panic (77:22, 78:21).
• Digital evidence defense:
  Argues some messages ("go") were out of context, blamed on incomplete data recovery ("go to sleep," not "go") (79:44).

Cross-Examination & Verdict

• State’s cross:
  Prosecutors highlight Karina’s own words, suggestive photos, and inconsistency—undermining her defense (81:47–83:12).
• Jury verdict:
  After only 3.5 hours, the jury convicts Karina Cooper of first-degree murder (84:11).
  • "It wasn't relief. It wasn't happiness. I want to say it was sad... we lost another family member." — Aaron Cooper (84:36)

8. Houston Danker’s Guilty Plea

• On the eve of his trial, Houston pleads guilty after prosecutors find web searches for "best gun to kill someone," poisons, and "how do people get caught" (85:47–86:05).
• Both are sentenced to life in prison.

9. Aftermath for the Family

• Ryan’s children go to live with their uncle and his wife; gradual healing on the family farm amid changed relationships and shattered trust.
  • "Life on the family farm churns on... There's usually something going on at all times with somewhat out of control chaos. It's a ride." — Aaron Cooper (87:14)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

(Speaker attribution and timestamps)

• "Somebody came into my house and killed my husband."
  — Karina Cooper, under police pressure (01:26; also 49:39)
• "It was just screaming and frantic... couldn't make out too much besides somebody was in her house."
  — Aaron Cooper on Karina's call (03:06)
• "It just made no sense that somebody would come to a farmhouse and walk in the door and shoot someone in the face for no reason."
  — Det. Killian (26:26)
• "She jumps on Ryan, she puts her face... into the blood... because she's concealing evidence."
  — Prosecutor Michael Ringle (68:02)
• "It was almost laughable... The rumor mill is just flying now."
  — Ashton Wilson on town gossip (35:39)
• "A tough pill to swallow."
  — Ashton Wilson, realizing the murder was a joint plot (65:57)
• "We all called people we love names at times."
  — Karina (82:13)
• "Nobody in their wildest dreams would ever think that you would have a friend that could do this..."
  — Ashton Wilson (84:46)

Key Timestamps

• 01:17–04:21 — Discovery of the body and frantic early moments
• 09:52–13:54 — Medical examiner rules out accidental death
• 13:45–14:14 — Discovery of second gunshot wound; case declared homicide
• 22:47–23:40 — Crime scene evidence points to possible staging
• 36:50–43:18 — Investigators home in on Karina; odd behaviors and inconsistencies
• 47:01–47:20 — Geofencing evidence suggests no outside intruder
• 59:41–72:19 — Digital forensics uncover affair and murder plot; explicit message discussion
• 63:02–64:05 — Houston confesses to lending gun and implicates Karina
• 66:26–73:13 — The prosecution case and reconstructed timeline at trial
• 77:08–78:14 — Karina’s testimony: shock at discovering the murder
• 84:11 — Jury pronounces Karina guilty
• 85:47–86:05 — Houston’s incriminating web searches; guilty plea

Conclusion / Impact

In the end, "The Farmer's Wife" tells a chilling story of small-town betrayal and murder, made all the more devastating by the intimacy of the relationships exposed. The case underscores the crucial role of digital forensics—even with deleted messages—and how modern technology can shatter secrets that might otherwise stay buried. The loss of Ryan Cooper is deeply felt, reverberating through both his family and the entire community, with trust and innocence irretrievably altered.

For those seeking more background or wishing to dig even deeper, the episode concludes with a preview of additional Dateline content and behind-the-scenes commentary available in their podcast feed.