Nancy Cooper's father Garry Rentz and her twin sister Krista Lister filed an emergency custody order just before 5 p.m. Wednesday. They said Bradley Cooper was not fit to care for the girls in the wake of Nancy's death.

The custody complaint sheds new light on suggestions that the Coopers' marriage was in turmoil.

In the complaint, Rentz and Lister allege that Bradley Cooper had been having an affair and that in the months leading up to Nancy's death, he'd been yelling at Nancy and belittling her in front of the children. The filing also alleges that Nancy Cooper never went out jogging the morning of July 12.

They also say in the petition that Bradley Cooper was emotionally unstable and "poses a danger to the physical safety of the minor children."

In the complaint, Rentz, the former executive director of Alberta Social Services, and Lister say that a few months ago Bradley Cooper had removed the children's passports from Nancy Cooper's vehicle, essentially prohibiting her from moving to Canada with the children.

They also claim Bradley Cooper was withholding money from his wife, and Nancy Cooper had to borrow money from her family to buy groceries for her and the girls.

"The decision was not made with malice," said Nancy Cooper's mother, Donna Rentz, at a press conference this morning.

Garry Rentz said at the press conference that he would create a "comfort cocoon" around the two girls.

"What children need is stability and love," he said.

Police took the children from Bradley Cooper last night. The children are now with Rentz and Lister.

Such emergency custody orders are only granted to people other than parents when they believe the child's welfare is at risk.

The judge also ordered Bradley Cooper to turn over the passports of Isabella, 4, and Gabriella, almost 2, so they might attend their mother's funeral in Canada. Later this month, a judge will consider a request for Rentz and Lister to care for the children more permanently.

Cooper's husband, Bradley Cooper, had been caring for the children since his wife was murdered over the weekend. His attorneys were not immediately available to comment about the custody matter.

Rentz and Lister paint a picture of Nancy Cooper's distress in her final months living with her husband in their Lochmere home.

Rentz and Lister said in the custody complaint that Bradley Cooper had been having an affair with another woman. They also say that Bradley Cooper threatened suicide earlier this year and had tried to kill himself as a teenager.

At a press conference this morning, police offered no new information in the murder investigation. Cary Police Chief Pat Bazemore would not take questions.

Instead, Nancy's parents and siblings talked about Nancy Cooper as a mother, sister and daughter.

Nancy Cooper vanished Saturday; her husband told police she'd gone out for a jog. A walker found Cooper's body dumped in an unfinished subdivision near Cooper's home. Police say she was murdered.

Police spent Wednesday searching the Lochmere subdivision home the Coopers shared with their two young daughters. A judge also ordered Bradley Cooper to provide blood or saliva which would help them capture a DNA profile.

Bradley Cooper retained attorneys Wednesday. Raleigh criminal defense attorneys Howard Kurtz and Seth Blum said in a statement that "Brad is devastated by the news of Nancy's death," the statement read. "He has and will continue to assist in law enforcement efforts to bring his wife's killer or killers to justice."

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