Suspect in Door Co. homicide appears in court

STURGEON BAY - WARNING: This story contains details some readers may find disturbing.

An Illinois man is being held on $1 million cash bond in the deaths of a woman and her unborn child.

Brian Cooper, 35, of Plainfield, Ill. appeared in Door County court Tuesday afternoon.

Cooper hasn’t been charged yet in the death of 21-year-old Alisha Bromfield, also of Plainfield, Ill. But authorities are recommending two counts of first-degree intentional homicide and one for third-degree sexual assault.

Before court, Door County Sheriff Terry Vogel told FOX 11’s Bill Miston that Bromfield was six and a half months pregnant. Vogel also said that Cooper is not the father.

In court, Door County District Attorney Ray Pelrine says Cooper and Bromfield had known each other for a number of years through work.

But about one year ago, Pelrine says Cooper told investigators that the relationship had become more romantic.

“He wished it to be more and wanted it to be more and hoped it would be more, and he invited her to a family wedding that was going to be taking place in Door County this weekend for the express purpose of hopefully having that relationship go to a more romantic level that he wished,” explained Pelrine. “But she clearly did not wish.”

Pelrine says the two had a small squabble on Saturday before the wedding of Cooper’s sister at the Log Den in Egg Harbor.

The two eventually attended.

Pelrine says Cooper drank and Bromfield did not.

When they returned to Sand Bay Beach Resort & Suites in Nasewaupee, Pelrine says Cooper wanted to make plans to do something on Sunday. But Bromfield had no wish to stay, wanted to go home and proceeded to fall asleep.

That’s when Pelrine says Cooper became angry at the apparent breakup of their relationship and his feeling of her apparent coldness to him throughout the evening.

Pelrine then revealed details that some may consider disturbing.

“He then awakened her sometime between 2 and 3 in the morning, got on top of her and with his hands, he strangled her to death,” said Pelrine. “After killing her, he then undressed her and undressed himself and he had sexual intercourse with her body.”

Pelrine says Cooper awoke a couple hours later and realized what he had done and made several attempts on his life.

Pelrine says Cooper told investigators he then began driving throughout the county, eventually trying to drown himself in Ellison Bay.

Pelrine says when police took Cooper into custody at a gas station in Sister Bay – after he called police, telling dispatchers what he had done – he had no shoes on and his clothes were wet.

“There isn’t really any bond high enough I think to guarantee his appearance,” remarked Pelrine.

Pelrine asked for a $1 million cash bond.

However public defender Eric Maciolek asked for a lower bond of $500,000.00.

“Obviously this is a serious case. He’s never been on probation, never been arrested and as I said, never been incarcerated, so this is overwhelming for him,” said Maciolek.

However, Pelrine says Cooper told officers not having a relationship with Bromfield was more overwhelming to him.

“His hopes were shattered, but they were hopes that only existed in his mind, not from anything that she had led him on to believe,” said Pelrine after the hearing.

Judge Todd Ehlers agreed to Pelrine’s $1 million bond recommendation.

Cooper is scheduled to return to court Sept. 5.

Again, Cooper is not yet charged in her death. Those charges could be filed by the end of the week. Pelrine says there will probably additional charges filed.

Sheriff Vogel says Pelrine is under suicide watch in the Door County jail.