From: jcs
In October 2023, the trial for David Tronis began, culminating in his conviction for first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Shanti Cooper [00:30:12], [00:33:09].
Background
David Tronis, 50, a stay-at-home husband, reportedly wanted to appear on reality television, specifically the show Zombie House Flipping, where he would be featured renovating a newly bought house with his then-wife, 39-year-old financial consultant Shanti Cooper [00:00:01]. Shanti, however, was not interested and refused to sign off on the program [00:00:23]. This refusal led to David beating and strangling her to death in late April 2018 [00:00:28]. He called 911 approximately 12 hours later [00:00:33].
Initial Police Contact and Interrogation
Upon police arrival, Tronis was found performing CPR on Shanti in the living room [00:00:52]. He claimed he found her unconscious in a partially filled bathtub, bleeding from the nose and mouth [00:01:00]. He was taken to the police station as a witness [00:01:05]. Detectives noted his suspicious behavior, such as being overly polite and apologetic when asking to use the bathroom after being left alone for over four hours [00:01:37].
During the interrogation, David was observed to have 11 “fake cries” which diminished as the detective made it obvious she knew he was lying [00:03:57], [00:04:09]. He denied any physical altercations with Shanti [00:20:45]. Detectives informed him that Shanti’s injuries were significant and inconsistent with a fall, stating their belief she was deceased before he left the house [00:21:10]. David maintained he told them “everything” and denied harming her [00:22:42]. He also had no injuries aside from plant scratches [00:29:00]. The detective challenged him directly, accusing him of fake crying and showing no remorse [00:29:00].
Indictment and Pre-Trial
Four months after the murder, a grand jury indicted David Tronis [00:29:50]. He was arrested at his mother’s house and, upon learning he faced life imprisonment and overwhelming evidence, he attempted an insanity defense [00:29:52]. He spent five years in a maximum-security psychiatric unit before a judge ruled him competent to stand trial [00:30:04].
The Trial
David’s trial began on October 12, 2023, and lasted six days [00:30:12]. He maintained a plea of not guilty [00:30:17].
Defense Arguments
The defense’s official stance was that David was walking the dogs when an unknown intruder broke into the house and murdered Shanti [00:30:19]. They emphasized Shanti’s role as the sole income provider and David’s stay-at-home status [00:31:41]. The defense claimed the prosecution’s case was based on circumstantial evidence, pure supposition, and a “hunch” by Detective Sprag [00:31:53], who allegedly prejudged the case based on a phone call about David’s “crocodile tears” [00:32:01]. They accused the detectives of a “rush to judgment” and “confirmational bias,” and argued that David had “bared his soul” for 16 hours during the interrogation [00:32:26].
Prosecution Arguments
The prosecution argued that it was an intentional killing [00:30:40]. They highlighted the unusual living arrangement, where David slept in the garage with dogs while Shanti stayed in a separate apartment [00:30:25]. They contended that a random stranger would not take the time to strangle someone, move the body to a tub, take nothing, and leave no signs or DNA [00:30:44]. The prosecution presented evidence of Shanti’s severe injuries, including a fractured skull, swollen eyes, and intense bruising and bleeding around her mouth, indicating a brutal beating [00:31:00]. They asserted that David intended to cause death with premeditation and asked the jury to convict him of first-degree murder [00:31:21].
Verdict and Sentencing
The jury found David Tronis guilty of first-degree murder [00:33:09].
During sentencing, Shanti’s son, Jackson, delivered a powerful victim impact statement, expressing his profound loss and the five-year wait for justice [00:33:25]. David Tronis declined to speak [00:34:12]. The court adjudicated him guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment [00:34:25]. He is currently housed at the Graceville Correctional Facility in Maximum Security [00:34:36].