STURGEON BAY (WFRV) An Illinois man is now charged with murder in the death of a female acquaintance, and her unborn daugther last month near Sturgeon Bay.
Brian Cooper, 35, of Plainfield, Illinois made an initial appearance in Door County Circuit Court this morning.
Cooper faces two counts of first degree intentional homicide in the August 19 strangulation death of Alisha Bromfield, 21, also of Plainfield Illinois, which also caused the death of her unborn child, which she named Ava Lucille. Cooper is also charged with sexually assaulting Bromfield after she was strangled.
Cooper was not the father of the unborn child.
Bromfield had accompanied Cooper to a wedding on Cooper's side of the family and had returned to a motel where they were staying. According to a criminal complaint, Bromfield indicated she wanted to break off with Cooper. The complaint also said after Bromfield went to sleep, Cooper stayed awake smoking and drinking beer. After Bromfield awoke, Cooper told investigators he climbed on top of Bromfield, put his hands around her throat and started choking her. According to the complaint, Bromfield cried out "Don't do this to me, think of the baby."
After realizing that Bromfield was dead and assaulting her, Cooper told investigators he tried to commit suicide by cutting himself with a butter knife and a cork screw. He then drove to Ellison Bay and tried to drown himself, but gave up and eventually dialed Door County Central Dispatch and confessed to the killing. He was arrested by Door County Sheriff's Deputies without incident.
Cooper is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Sepmeber 11. He remains on the Door County Jail on a $1-million cash bond.
Bromfield's mother spoke out on the case after the initial appearance.
Local 5's Terry Kovarik will have the details on Local 5 News at 5 P.M.
