Timeline: Shanti Cooper murder case
A successful businesswoman is found dead in the bathtub. Her home had been under construction for years. Did the renovation lead to her death?
Shanti Cooper and Dave Tronnes met on Match.com in March 2013.
Dave moves to Florida
Months later, Dave moved from Minnesota to Orlando to be with Shanti and her young son.
Their Dream Home
In April 2015, Dave Tronnes bought a home in the Delaney Park neighborhood.
Renovations Begin
The couple began renovating the home, with Shanti Cooper footing the bill and Dave Tronnes overseeing the construction.
Wedding Bliss?
Shanti Cooper and Dave Tronnes married in February 2017.
Construction Stalls
The renovation dragged on as costs spiraled to nearly a quarter of a million dollars.
Relocation Required
When the main house became unlivable, the family moved into a small apartment above the garage. Shanti Cooper ran her business out of the apartment as well.
In the dog house?
Dave Tronnes began sleeping on the couch downstairs in the garage, with the dogs.
A "Zombie" House?
Desperate, Dave Tronnes reached out to local contractor Keith Ori for help. Ori appears on the reality renovation show "Zombie House Flipping. "
Shanti is Dead
Late in the afternoon on April 24, 2018, Dave Tronnes called 911 to report he'd found Shanti Cooper floating in the bathtub.
Serious Injuries
Investigators found severe injuries to Shanti Cooper's head and face, which they said were inconsistent with a slip in the tub.
The Interrogation Begins
Dave Tronnes voluntarily went to Orlando Police headquarters to meet with detectives, where he was fully examined.
The Interrogation Intensifies
Detectives accused Dave Tronnes of strangling Shanti Cooper, but for nearly 8 hours, he insisted he had nothing to do with her death.
Alternative Suspect
Dave Tronnes suggested someone broke into the apartment and attacked Shanti Cooper while he was out. Shanti's expensive engagement ring was missing.
Evidence at the Scene
Investigators found blood on Shanti Cooper's bed and suspected that's where she was killed.
A Double Life
Investigators later learned Dave Tronnes was a member of Club Orlando, a same-sex bathhouse. It's unknown whether Shanti Cooper was aware of it.
An Arrest
Dave Tronnes was arrested four months after Shanti Cooper's death.
Damning Evidence
Shanti Cooper's engagement ring was found in Dave' Tronnes' possessions when he was arrested.
Surprising New Evidence
Nearly a year after Shanti Cooper's death, Dave Tronnes' original attorney revealed the existence of a set of bloody sheets. The defense team had recovered them from the apartment where Shanti Cooper was found dead.
Possible Murder Weapon
The attorney also told investigators about a green cord their private investigator recovered from the main house. Authorities believed it could have been the murder weapon, but no DNA was found on it.
A Conviction
In October 2023, David Tronnes was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison for the death of his wife, Shanti Cooper-Tronnes.