Judge OKs custody plan for girls of slain NC woman

RALEIGH — The two young daughters of a slain North Carolina woman will remain with their grandparents and aunt under a temporary custody agreement approved by a judge Friday.

The parents of Nancy Cooper requested custody of the girls, ages 2 and 4, after she was found slain at a construction site July 14, less than three miles from her home. Cooper's relatives have claimed that her husband, Bradley Cooper, was having an affair and posed a risk to the children.

Bradley Cooper has denied those allegations in court documents, saying he is an attentive, involved father. His attorneys did not speak to reporters after the hearing.

Bradley Cooper told police his wife went jogging on the morning of July 12 and never came home. Police have not named any suspects in the homicide investigation.

Under the temporary custody agreement, Nancy Cooper's parents and sister, who are from Canada, will retain custody through Oct. 13. The agreement allows the children to go to Canada with the relatives.

The arrangement requires the children to have two supervised weekend visits for four hours each day with their father in North Carolina.

Bradley Cooper also will be allowed to speak to his daughters over the phone or Internet at least four times a week for a minimum of 15 minutes. Both households are required to install Web cams.

"The result today is what's best for the children for now, and we're satisfied," said Alice Stubbs, an attorney for Nancy Cooper's family.

The agreement also calls on Nancy Cooper's relatives to take the children to counseling and not to expose them to the news media.

Under the agreement approved by Wake District Judge Debra Sasser, both sides are not to "disparage" each other or discuss the custody arrangement.

The family was granted temporary custody of the daughters last week after filing an emergency petition.

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