The Linn County Courthouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Karina Cooper's first degree murder trial was recently moved from Tama County to Linn County. It is set to begin on July 9, 2024.

TOLEDO – After being previously denied by the judge a request to move her first degree murder trial to another venue, rural Traer resident Karina Cooper now faces a jury trial in Linn County beginning in July.

Back on Feb. 19 of this year, Cooper – who turned 47 on April 25 – was arrested and charged with first degree murder in connection with the death of her husband Ryan Cooper who was found deceased at the couple’s shared rural Traer residence in the early morning hours of June 18, 2021, after suffering a gunshot wound to the face. Since her 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.

During a hearing held by videoconference on April 9, Cooper requested a change of venue in her trial which had been set to begin May 20 in Tama County District Court – a motion that was subsequently denied without prejudice (meaning, she could make the request again) by Chief District Court Judge Lars G. Anderson.

On April 25, Cooper waived her right to a speedy trial. The very next day on April 26, Cooper – through her defense attorney Nichole Watt with the Waterloo Public Defender’s Office – withdrew the waiver and redemanded a speedy trial. That same day, during a case management conference held by Zoom, both the State of Iowa and Cooper agreed to a change of venue within the Sixth Judicial District from Tama County to Linn County – an agreement that was ultimately approved by the court.

“Essentially, in exchange for the waiver of speedy trial by the defendant; the plaintiff agreed to the change of venue,” Tama County Attorney Brent Heeren told Tama-Grundy Publishing when reached by email regarding the somewhat abrupt change of venue reversal.

Following the case management conference last week, the trial was reset to July 9, 2024. The trial is estimated to last 10 days.

According to the latest court filings in the case, additional discovery by the State is still pending and is believed to be outstanding ATF records.

No plea offer has been made as of publication.

An upcoming case management conference is scheduled to take place on June 7, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. in Tama County District Court by videoconference unless otherwise requested.