On a quiet Thanksgiving morning in Boones Mill, Virginia, a tragedy unfolded that would forever alter the lives of a local family. Angela Booth Cooper, a 39-year-old woman, died on November 28, 2013, in her home on Cascade Lane. The devastating event left a lasting scar on the community, particularly as the details of her final moments came to light.
The Franklin County Sheriff's Office received a distressing 911 call from a woman at the Cooper residence in the early hours of that
Thanksgiving Day. The call was abruptly cut short. When dispatchers called back, they spoke with a man who identified himself as Christopher Cooper, Angela's 43-year-old husband. In a chilling confession, he informed the dispatcher that he had killed his wife and intended to take his own life.
Deputies were immediately dispatched to the home. Upon their arrival, they discovered a grim scene. Both Angela and Christopher Cooper were found deceased inside the residence, having suffered from apparent gunshot wounds. The evidence at the scene led investigators to conclude that Christopher Cooper had shot and killed his wife before turning the weapon on himself in a murder-suicide.
The sudden and violent loss of Angela Cooper, a graduate of Radford University and a longtime employee of a Roanoke law firm, sent shockwaves through the community. She was remembered as a dedicated and loving mother to her two sons, who were 13 and 8 years old at the time. Those who knew her described her as an inspiration with an infectious smile, a tireless advocate for the Boy Scouts of America who loved the outdoors. As the perpetrator was also deceased, there were no arrests made in connection with Angela's death, and the case was closed.
