Door County Murders of Pregnant Girl and Baby

A Plainfield, Ill., man was sentenced in Door County Circuit Court Th to two consecutive life sentences without parole for the murder of his pregnant friend and her unborn baby.

Brian One thousand. Cooper, 37, was constitute guilty in May of ii counts of commencement-degree intentional homicide for the Aug. 19, 2012, strangulation expiry of Alisha Bromfield, 21, also of Plainfield, and her unborn infant, Ava. He was non the baby's father. Cooper killed Bromfield at a Nasewaupee resort later he spent the night drinking heavily. The ii were in town to attend his sis Kellie Stryker'due south wedding.

Thursday's sentencing encompasses both the guilty verdict for third-degree sexual assail from Cooper'south first trial and the two guilty verdicts for beginning-degree intentional homicide. The sexual assault charge was filed because Cooper had sex with the torso.

Earlier handing down the judgement, Approximate D. Todd Ehlers spoke of several things Cooper said and did that he did not think spoke well of Cooper's "graphic symbol."

This included the spy cameras Cooper used to record Bromfield in Door Canton and his Plainfield home, irresolute the password on his telephone to Bromfield's birthday later on they came to Door Canton, and Cooper'southward argument to the judge Th.

"The final graphic symbol event, which I didn't know how this was all going to come downwardly this afternoon, Mr. Cooper. Just I just heard your statement, I listened to you read your poems," Ehlers said. "I didn't hear an apology to the family of Alisha and Ava … and that is troubling for me. Information technology doesn't speak well, sir, of your character."

He also played a video that had been used in the trial of Cooper hiding a spy photographic camera in the bathroom garbage can of the hotel room that he and Bromfield were sharing.

"What I realized as I watched that during the first trial and I watched during the 2nd trial, is that that's the last view that Alisha Bromfield had every bit you were straddled over her body, as you were strangling the life out of her," Ehlers said. "She looked upwards into your eyes simply like you were looking into that garbage tin can. And that just sends chills to me to the bespeak that that is the terminal thing she saw."

The estimate said several of the letters he received from Bromfield's friends and family referenced this very observation.

Ehlers also spoke most how the forensic pathologist's clarification of Bromfield's body after the attack impacted him. The doctor'southward description included details of broken bones, contusions and hematomas, amongst other injuries.

"That testimony from the doctor about the brutality of this assault and the ultimate murder of Alisha and her child is extremely troubling to me," he said. "I consider, Mr. Cooper, the severity of the whole offense non just the strangulation simply the assault you imposed on the torso of Alisha Bromfield to exist an extremely troubling gene."

Besides the two life sentences, Cooper too received a sentence of two years for the sexual set on followed by ii years of extended supervision. Cooper volition besides accept to pay restitution of more than than $viii,000. District Attorney Raymond Pelrine said the funds would be used for funeral expenses.

Pelrine told the press he felted "vindicated" after the sentencing.

"It's not the sort of thing that yous can express happiness, joy or excitement about, considering it'due south always been a tragedy every step of the way. And it continues to exist and it ever will be for the families," he said.

Pelrine said he could not think of just one moment from the case that he would deem the most difficult.

"I can't really think of one matter. It'due south been a slog. I don't mean to put myself in whatsoever way in the position of the folks in the family. I tin can't pretend to do that," he said. "But all cases have a fleck out of you. A case that goes on for two years – ii weeklong trials involving the deaths of a immature woman and her unborn child and including the stakes of a person spending the rest of their natural life behind bars – so I tin't think of anything that is more than taxing, more than draining than that."

'Forgiven'

Before Ehlers imposed the sentence, he heard statements from several witnesses and Cooper himself. Connie Cooper spoke on behalf of her son.

"I don't know what God'southward programme was for my son that 24-hour interval, but I know God has forgiven him," she said. She read comments from Cooper's friends and his cousin Reid Paxson Jr., who had testified on Cooper's behalf during the trial.

At i point she told Cooper she loved him and turned to the audience and said the same to Stryker, who was sitting with her married man and Bromfield's family unit and friends.

Cooper used his time to speak to read a written argument and 2 poems he wrote.

Co-ordinate to Cooper, he and Bromfield enjoyed eating together, taking work trips and going on everyday outings, watching the bear witness "24" and spending time with his canis familiaris.

"Nosotros both cherished all those days non only considering of our dedication to our job just because we enjoyed each other's company," he read.

Cooper said they as well talked a lot of about Bromfield's pregnancy.

"She thanked me for all the back up I had given her," he said. He praised her force.

Cooper said "information technology is extremely difficult" for him to comprehend how such a "horrific event" had occurred.

"Along with all the remorse, regret and shame that streams downward through my veins each and every day, I have come to the assumption that in that location are really no words I can truly say to express how sorry I am that such tragedy did happen and the fact that I did crusade the death of Alisha and Ava Bromfield," he said, his voice breaking. "At that place was never even for a second any intention or programme of this. I will show with my actions that I will eternally testify with my love both of these cute women."

Victim bear on

Bromfield'south parents and one of her friends spoke to the estimate nigh the impact of her death.

"The emotional pain is difficult to describe ... unless you've lost a child," her mother, Sherry Anicich, said.

During their statements Cooper looked scarlet-faced and repeatedly dabbed at his nose and eyes. He stared at the people every bit they delivered their statements. He did not appear to expect at his mother much during her argument.

The family unit likewise showed a video featuring movies and photos of Bromfield at different stages of her life.

One of the final scenes in the video was of Bromfield waving goodbye.

Contact Samantha Hernandez at svhernande@doorcountyadvocate.com or (920) 743-3321, Ext. 112.

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Source: https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/local/door-county/news/2014/07/24/brian-m-cooper-sentenced-two-consecutive-life-terms/13126023/

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