Who Was James K. Cooper?
James was deeply loved by his large family, including 19 siblings. As the youngest, he was cherished, especially by his mother and sisters, whom he lived with. He had strong relationships with his father and extended family as well. Those who knew James described him as kind, respectful, and devoted to the people in his life.
Several years ago, he entered a relationship that became increasingly concerning to those around him. Friends and family observed troubling behavior from his girlfriend, including fabricating illnesses, faking pregnancies and miscarriages, and manipulating those close to her. Despite their concerns, James remained dedicated to her and especially to her children, whom he adored.
Events Leading Up to His Death
- •On April 13th 2023, James' girlfriend claimed doctors told her she had holes in her heart, a condition supposedly undiagnosed since birth, and that she had only one month to live.
- •She also claimed she was pregnant, and the baby would need to be removed. James was devastated.
- •On April 15, he drove her and her children to Mississippi before immediately returning to Wisconsin.
- •During this time, the girlfriend told different people conflicting stories—some were told she had up to three months to live.
- •Most alarmingly, she claimed James had physically abused her, and she was dying because of injuries he inflicted.
- •On April 28, James took a bus back to Mississippi to be with her. He stayed with her and her mother at the Mace Apartments in Metcalfe.
The Disappearance and Discovery
According to the girlfriend and her mother, on May 8, James walked out the back door around 1 p.m. after an argument about filling a kiddie pool and never returned.
However, the mother's story changes here. She claims her daughter left for Memphis immediately after James disappeared and refused to provide James' mother's contact information. Concerned for James' safety, the mother says she reported him missing the next day.
On May 10, James was found less than 600 feet from the apartment complex, sitting on the ground in a cross-legged position with a cable cord wrapped around his neck hanging from a pole. Witnesses who regularly passed the area believe he was not there in the hours leading up to his discovery.
Misleading Statements
A witness has come forward saying that when they went to this girlfriend and expressed their concern that James was missing, the girlfriend assured them that she had spoken to James' mother and that she had said that James had supposedly called his mother, claiming to be in the woods by water, planning to end his own life.
However, this was later revealed to be a falsehood, as there was no communication between this girlfriend and James's mother until after James body was found.
James's Demeanor
It is crucial to note that James exhibited no signs of being suicidal. He had plans for that very day, including obtaining his ID, and had secured a new job, a haircut appointment for the next day, and plans to move into his own apartment later that week.