DEFENDANT: David Lynn Cooper
DATE OF BIRTH: June 1, 1963
AGENCY: Wheat Ridge Police Department
CASE NUMBER: 96-16088
DATE OF ARREST: July 20, 1996
CHARGES: First Degree Murder, Section 18-3-102 (F-1); Child
Abuse Resulting in Death, Section 18-6-401 (F-2); First Degree Sexua:
Assault, Section 18-3-402 (F-2); Aggravated Incest, Section 18-6-302
(F-3)
ABFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF WARRANTLESS ARREST
Detective Jack J. Jones, being duly sworn upon oath says that there i:
probable cause for the warrantless arrest of the above-named defendant
for the charges stated above, and that the following facts are true and
correct to the best of his knowledge, information, and belief, and
support the arrest of the defendar
Your affiant states that the following facts are true based upon his
personal knowledge, as a result of his conversations with the persons
named herein and reviewing their written reports
On July 19, 1996 at 2030 hours, Officer Gregory Harrison of the Wheat
Ridge Police Department responded to 4035 Kendall Street apartment #1
City of Wheat Ridge, County of Jefferson, State of Colorado. Based
upon a 911 call of an unknown nature, Officer Harrison was dispatched
Officer Gregory Harrison arrived at 4035 Kendall Street apartment #1 at
2030 hours. Upon arrival Officer Gregory Harrison observed a male
party (later identified as David Lynn Cooper, DOB/06-01-63) standing on
the sidewalk leaning up against the fence. As Officer Gregory Harrison
approached the residence, David Lynn Cooper said "Officer" to Officer
Gregory Harrison to get his attention. David Lynn Cooper then held his
arms up in front of himself and said “arrest me, then go look in the
kitchen." Officer Gregory Harrison said that David Lynn Cooper had a
blank look on his face and showed no emotion. Officer Gregory Harrison
asked him what happened and David Lynn Cooper said "just take me to
jail” and he put his arms out in front of himself again. Officer
Gregory Harrison asked David Lynn Cooper why he would take him to j
but received no response from David Lynn Cooper
Officer Clark asked David Lynn Cooper who the girl was inside, and
David Lynn Cooper said "That's my daughter Renee Cooper.”
Officer Natalie Kirkland arrived on scene and stood by with David Lynn
Cooper as Officer Gregory Harrison went inside the house. Officer
Gregory Harrison found a female party approximately 10 years old lying
on the kitchen floor. The female was covered with a blanket from just
below the knees up over the face. Officer Gregory Harrison described
the party as being on her back with her legs spread apart, heels down
Officer Gregory Harrison observed what appeared to be blood, a 6" to 7”
smear, which was dried on the victims right inner thigh, in the middle
of her leg. Officer Harrison also could observe the victims vaginalopening, which was in a noticeably open position. Officer Gregory
Harrison lifted the blanket and the female party appeared to be
completely unclothed and deceased. Officer Gregory Harrison observed a
visible wound to the chest of the victim to be approximately 5" in
length, and could see what he described as some kind of organ in the
wound. Officer Gregory Harrison said there was an absence of blood
around wound, but did see blood on the inside right thigh of the
victim.
Officer David Piermattei of the Wheat Ridge Police Department advised
that Daniel Cooper, the brother of David Lynn Cooper, said David Lynn
Cooper is currently prescribed an anti depressant and an anti psychotic
drug. Douglas Cooper, another brother of David Lynn Cooper, said David
Lynn Cooper spent time in the Colorado State hospital for assaulting
their father with a knife. Daniel Cooper was also injured during the
assault. This was confirmed by criminal history and Westminster Police
Department report #92- 67665
Officer Natalie Kirkland took custody of David Lynn Cooper. Officer
Kirkland observed what appeared to be blood on David Lynn Cooper's
pants leg. David Lynn Coopers shirt and hands appear to be clean.
Parked in the driveway of 4035 Kendall Street is a 1984 Datsun truck,
Colorado license plate #4939-SB. Colorado Department of Motor Vehicle
records show this vehicle listing to Charles L. Cooper and Marilyn A.
Cooper, the parents of David Lynn Cooper. Douglas Cooper said David
Lynn Cooper was borrowing the truck from his parents.
Your affiant spoke to Detective Lila Taylor about her interview with
Daniel Cooper, the brother of David Lynn Cooper who lives in Las
Cruces, New Mexico. Douglas Cooper drove to +035 Kendall Street #1 and
arrived at approximately 2300 hours on July 18, 1996. Douglas Cooper
stayed at the residence with David Lynn Cooper and Renee Cooper during
the night of July 18, 1996 and morning of July 19, 1996. At’
approximately 0730 hours on July 19, 1996, Douglas Cooper and David
Lynn Cooper woke up. Renee Cooper awoke at approximately 0830 hours.
Douglas Cooper and David Cooper reviewed David Lynn Cooper's financial
records, including his bills. Douglas Cooper and David Cooper and
Renee Cooper rode bicycles together around the neighborhood for
approximately 1/2 hour. At about 0945 hours, Douglas Cooper, David
Cooper and Renee Cooper drove to Perkins Restaurant for breakfast.
After breakfast, they shopped at a bicycle shop. They then had
freshments at a Mexican restaurant at approximately 1230 or 1300
hours.
Detective Lila Anderson also interviewed Daniel Cooper, another brother
of David Cooper. Daniel Cooper stated that he had made contact via
telephone with his brother, David, prior to 1800 hours on July 19,
1996. Subsequent attempts to contact David Cooper by phone were
unsuccessful, so Daniel Cooper, Douglas Cooper and other family members
went to 4035 Kendall, #1, at approximately 1820-1830 hours. At that
time, attempts to contact David Cooper or Renee Cooper at the residence
were unsuccessful. The 1984 Datsun pickup truck which David Cooper had
borrowed from his father and mother was parked at the residence. No
one answered the knocks at the doors. Window coverings were down.The Cooper family members had plans to go to Elitch Amusement Park on
Friday, July 19th in the evening hours. Daniel Cooper stated that the
family did go to Elitch’s, but David Cooper and Renee Cooper never
arrived at the park. At approximately 2200 hours, Daniel Cooper and
other family members went to 4035 Kendall, #1, and were met by the
officers from the police department who were on the scene.
Your affiant also spoke to District Attorney Investigator Donna Clausen
who conducted neighborhood interviews. Investigator Clausen
interviewed Phyllis Romero, a neighbor whose children played with Renee
Cooper. Ms. Romero and both of her children stated that Renee came to
their house at approximately 1530 hours on July 19, 1996. Ms. Romero
indicated that Renee asked her daughter, Chelsea, to accompany Renee. to
Renee's home. At one point, Renee was almost begging Chelsea to come
to Renee's house. Chelsea had other plans, and after approximately 15-
20 minutes of observing the other children at play, Renee stated "I
guess I'll go now". Renee Cooper left their house, and they did not
see her after that time.
David Lynn Cooper was identified by his Colorado driver's license #95
006-2143, David Lynn Cooper's license shows his address as 4035
Kendall Street
Subsd Y “and sworn to before me this. de® day of. Aeezurr— ,1986
mmission expires_/2- 22-6
PROBABLE CAUSE YES. NO.
DATE