Cary police said Tuesday that a body found Monday night is that of a missing Cary jogger. There are no suspects at this time, but Cary Police Chief Pat Bazemore said the crime is being treated as an isolated incident.

Bazemore said there are no suspects or persons of interest nor any search warrants at this time.

However, police said this is not a random act of violence.

Bazemore said that Cooper's husband, Brad Cooper, had planned to attend the press conference but was not there. Other family members were present. Click above to see Brad Cooper speak at an earlier press conference.

A man called 911 at about 7:30 Monday night when he saw a body on the banks of a storm water pond in the Oaks at Meadowridge neighborhood off of Holly Springs Road. The location where the body was found is about five miles from Cooper’s home.  The body was transferred to the State Medical Examiner in Chapel Hill to be identified.

At a press conference Tuesday morning, Cooper’s mother Donna Rentz again thanked volunteers for their search efforts. Bazemore also spoke. 

Bazemore also said the family and Cooper’s husband Brad are being cooperative.  Cooper allowed authorities to search their home and vehicles.  He also handed over Cooper’s purse to police.

Authorities continue to assure the public that this is an isolated incident and that the community is not in any danger.

"We'll work this around the clock," Bazemore said. "...We will not stop until we find them."

Another press conference will be held at the Cary Police Department at 9 a.m. Wednesday morning.


Watch the first part of the morning press conference by clicking on the second video above.

Friends, family and police have spent the entire weekend scouring Cary for Cooper, checking nearby lakes while dozens of volunteers covered miles of pathways. Police expanded their search to Lake Wheeler and Lake Johnson.

Map Of Area

“My wife Donna and I and our family are very grateful for the search effort being put on by Cary Police,” said Garry Rentz in a written statement. “We are overwhelmed by Nancy’s friends – the search effort they mounted, the care they have extended to our grandchildren. We thank the community for the support that they've given and ask they continue in their effort to find our daughter.”

Cooper’s identical twin sister Khrista Lister as well as her mother and father, Garry and Donna Rentz, arrived in North Carolina Monday from Canada.

"People have been coming by, letting us know where they're going, we're keeping a list and then I'm sort of coordinating phone calls if anyone sees anything," said Diana Duncan, one of Cooper's friends, who helped organize the search effort.

Cooper's route normally covers a lot of ground -- the avid runner has been training for a half-marathon, so volunteers had a tough time narrowing down exactly where to look.

"We thought we'd just head out and assist any way we could," said Marilyn Terrill.

Many of the volunteers took off on bicycles or headed down wooded pathways on golf carts borrowed from the Lochmere Country Club, and a lot of them have never even met the woman they were looking for. The volunteers tried to work as closely with police as possible.

"We have not named a suspect or a person of interest in this case," Bazemore said.

Neighbors said they are devastated by the disappearance and apparent murder. They not only lost a friend but some said they are on edge.

"I think one of the big concerns is that you hear Cary is one of the safest places in America. Now we don't feel safe," Cooper's friend Damia Tabachow said.

Anyone who has information should call Cary Police at (919) 469-4012.

Related Links

1. Family Blog On Search For Nancy Cooper