Dateline NBC The Farmer's Wife
Dec 16, 2025
A shocking murder in a small Iowa town unfolds as investigators piece together the truth behind Ryan Cooper's death. His wife, Karina, and an acquaintance, Houston, become central figures in a tangled web of deception. Rumors swirl in the community while detectives navigate troubling clues, including incriminating Snapchat messages. As the case unravels, Karina insists she was manipulated, but the evidence paints a different picture. The dramatic twists culminate in life sentences for both, leaving the community to process the betrayal.
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Discovery On The Farm
- On June 18, 2021, Karina found her husband Ryan shot in their living room and screamed for help.
- Aaron arrived, checked for a pulse, and confirmed Ryan was dead, starting the homicide response.
Business Partner Ruled Out
- Nolan DeWall, a former business partner, was investigated and cleared after his .22 did not match the shell casing.
- Investigators moved on after confirming his alibi and firearm did not match the crime scene.
Geofencing Pointed Inside The House
- Geofencing showed no devices entering or leaving the property around the murder time, suggesting the killer was inside.
- That digital absence turned investigators' focus inward toward someone at the house.