Evaluation sought in Cooper case

Attorneys for Nancy Cooper's family are asking a judge to order her husband to submit to a mental probe from a psychiatrist.

Bradley Cooper lost his wife a month ago, her body abandoned in an unfinished subdivision near the couple's Cary home. Cooper said he last saw his wife July 12 when she went out for a jog.

Her killer is still at large. On Tuesday, Cary police assured the community that they will find whoever it is.

"I want to express my absolute confidence that we will solve this terrible crime and bring the person or persons responsible to justice," Cary Police Chief Pat Bazemore said in a statement.

Bazemore wouldn't say much more but said that her officers have made good progress.

Over the past month, Bradley Cooper has faced much scrutiny, mostly in a battle to rear his daughters. Last month, attorneys for Nancy Cooper's family had asked a judge to demand a psychological evaluation of her husband but withdrew the request as they negotiated a temporary agreement over custody of the couple's daughters. They are now asking that a judge hear a new request for a psychological evaluation on Sept. 22.

Nancy Cooper's family has argued that Bradley Cooper is emotionally unstable and unfit to rear his daughters. Bradley Cooper has denied this.

Last month, Bradley Cooper and his wife's family struck a deal to keep the children with Nancy Cooper's family at least through mid-October.

"Nancy's family continues to grieve for her. Katie and Bella are healthy and doing well," Alice Stubbs, the attorney for Nancy Cooper's family, said Tuesday. "They are adjusting to life with their family in Canada."

The investigation into Nancy Cooper's death has seeped into the civil proceedings, which will determine who gets to rear her daughters. Some of the details of her death are likely to come out in the October hearing as each side makes claims for permanent custody of the Cooper girls.

Bradley Cooper's attorneys requested surveillance video from the grocery store Bradley Cooper said he visited the morning his wife disappeared. They also have asked to question the medical examiner about how Nancy Cooper died; the autopsy is not yet completed.

Meanwhile, Cary police say they continue to work hard to solve the case. All along, they have said that Cooper's killing wasn't random.

On Tuesday, they assured the community that just because her killer is still at large doesn't mean the town is in danger.

"Cary remains one of the safest communities in the nation," Bazemore said.