Crime & Safety
Guilty: Brian Cooper Convicted in Death of Alisha Bromfield
Cooper, 37, found guilty on two counts of intentional homicide in the death of the pregnant Plainfield woman and her unborn daughter.
After deliberating for two-and-a-half hours on Friday, a jury came to a verdict in the retrial of a former Plainfield man accused of strangling 21-year-old Alisha Bromfield at a Wisconsin resort.
Brian Cooper, 37, was found guilty on two counts of intentional homicide in the Aug. 19, 2012 death of Bromfield, also of Plainfield, and her unborn daughter, Ava Lucille.
A year ago, a jury found Cooper guilty of third-degree sexual assault, but could not come to a decision on the homicide charges. Cooper had cited a "voluntary intoxication" statute in his defense, saying he was too drunk to form intent when he killed Bromfield.
The statute has since been struck down, thanks to the efforts of Bromfield's family and friends, including her mother, Sherry Anicich.
Bromfield, a Joliet Catholic Academy graduate, was killed after attending the wedding of Cooper's sister in Door County, Wisconsin. Prosecutors allege that Cooper flew into a rage after Bromfield refused to rekindle a romantic relationship with him, strangling her as she slept and then sexually assaulting her.
Anicich and Jim Heisner, Bromfield's father, appeared emotional after the verdict was read, according to the Door County Advocate.
“Oh God, that we can finally grieve our daughter,” Anicich said, referring to Door County District Attorney Ray Pelrine as she said, "We are so happy Ray never gave up."
Cooper is scheduled to be sentenced on July 24.
Read coverage of the trial on the Door County Advocate website.
Read:
- Justice for Alisha: Bill to Strike Down Drunk Defense Law Advances
- Slain Woman's Family Continues Fight to End Drunk Defense Law
- Murder Charges Filed in Door County Slaying of Pregnant Woman
- Plainfield Man on Door County Murder: 'There's No Good Reason'
- Gas Station Owner: Cooper Was Calm, Polite While Reporting Murder
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