The parents of a North Carolina mother found slain near her home tearfully asked Friday for the culprit to show "a shred of decency" by confessing, while her husband's attorney said he's an innocent man who wants to grieve in private.
Nancy Cooper's body was found Monday at a construction site about three miles from her home in Cary, a Raleigh suburb.
Her husband, Bradley Cooper, told police that she went jogging on Saturday and he had not seen her since.
No suspects have been named, but a custody move for the couple's two young daughters has revealed deep tension between the wife's family and her husband.
Bradley Cooper's attorney, Seth Blum, said Friday that he has repeatedly answered questions from police and allowed them to search his home and vehicles. Authorities have said he has been cooperative.
The wife's parents won temporary custody of the children, claiming in court filings that the husband was having an affair, was emotionally unstable and posed a danger to the girls.
They claimed he recently threatened to commit suicide, was verbally abusive and prevented his wife and daughters from going to Canada by taking away the children's passports.
The wife's family didn't discuss those claims in emotional news conferences this week.
They focused on memories and praise for the mother and daughters.
The wife's father, Garry Rentz, said the girls have not even asked for their father.
He said his family's pain would only subside if her killer came forward and confessed.
"I think this is an act of extreme cowardice - whoever the person was who did this," Rentz said. "And I think if they had a shred of decency in their body, they would come forward and acknowledge their guilt."
The husband's attorney, meanwhile, took an apparent swipe at her family:
"Attending press briefings does nothing to catch a killer."
"Brad Cooper is a man in mourning," Blum said.
"Different people grieve in different ways. Mr. Cooper wishes to mourn privately."
Blum declined to answer questions about the custody battle, asking that those decisions be kept private.
Family members planned to take the girls to Canada this weekend and meet with a psychologist who was a friend of Nancy Cooper to get advice on how to explain the situation to the girls: One is 4 years old and the other turns 2 next week.
"We have not told them, and they have not mentioned to us that they know," Rentz said.
"So, we are going to walk very gingerly into this area."
After a private memorial service Friday night, the family will host a public memorial service Saturday afternoon in Raleigh.
They'll have a second service in Edmonton.
Family members planned to return next week before a Friday court hearing to decide a more long-term custody arrangement for the girls.
Police declined to discuss the case Friday.
Chief Pat Bazemore said they planned no other public updates on the case until they name a suspect or make an arrest.
"Would I like it to be over tomorrow morning? Yes, I would," Rentz said.
"Am I uncomfortable that it's not? No, and we'll allow people to take their time."
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