Danker's murder trial postponed to end of January 2025 | News, sports, jobs

Huston William Danker booking photo.

TOLEDO – Huston William Danker's first-degree murder trial, originally scheduled to begin Nov. 4, 2024, has been pushed back again.

On September 6, defense attorney Leon F. Spies of Iowa City, Assistant Attorneys General Michael H. Ringle and Israel J. Kodiaga, and Tama County Prosecutor Brent D. Heeren filed a joint motion in Tama County District Court, in which they requested Danker's 10-day reprieve The trial, previously postponed to Dec. 17 in Johnson County, will continue and reset a second time to Jan. 21, 2025.

“In support of this application, the parties submit that the current trial schedule is likely to require an adjournment of proceedings through the Christmas holidays and will, in addition, create travel and scheduling difficulties for both prosecution and defense witnesses.” says the joint application. “In order to avoid these logistical complications, the parties are jointly requesting that the process be realigned.”

On September 9, Chief Judge Lars G. Anderson granted the request and postponed the hearing to January 21, 2025, beginning at 9 a.m. in Johnson County District Court.

A case management conference on this case is scheduled for November 8th at 1 p.m. via Zoom.

On April 29 of this year, Danker, who turned 27 on September 11, was arrested in Cedar Rapids by the Tama County Sheriff's Office and charged with first-degree murder that same day “Together with Karina Cooper to kill Ryan Cooper.” Danker pleaded not guilty to the single Class A felony charge on May 16, while also waiving his right to a speedy trial.

Ryan Cooper was murdered in July 2021 at his rural home in Traer as a result of two gunshot wounds to the face. Ryan Cooper's wife, Karina Sue Cooper, now 47, was arrested in February of this year and charged with first-degree murder. She also pleaded not guilty and is currently awaiting a 10-day jury trial scheduled to begin on February 25, 2025 in Linn County.

Danker and Karina Cooper both remain behind bars at the Tama County Jail in Toledo on $1 million bonds.