Central Texas Woman Who Cut Husband’s Catheter Sentenced To Prison

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Reporter: By KBTX-TV

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(August 26, 2008)—Dorian Cooper, 24, of Bryan, who was accused of cutting her husband’s dialysis catheter, causing his death, was sentenced to 25 years in prison Monday after pleading guilty just before her trial was set to begin.

Cooper was arrested in September 2007 and was charged with murder.

She had been under investigation since Bryan police were called to the home she shared with her husband Shawn.

When authorities arrived, they discovered Shawn Cooper’s catheter had been cut.

The 25-year-old was on life support in the days that followed, but eventually died.

Hospital officials told authorities they had noted suspicious details regarding the death.

During a hearing, Cooper's attorneys claimed she was borderline mentally retarded, but the judge ruled they did not show that she was either incompetent to stand trial or insane at the time of the offense.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 27, 2008 at 02:33 PM
According to the US Department of Justice in 2005 56% of Texas inmates reported some type of mental disability and at leaast 9% of those are either singularly or dually diagnosed with some type of learning disorder or mental retardation, this is a reality in our prisons today. I knew this girl and she is in fact a person with a disability, I am sickened that this is how our society chooses to portray this event and the means in which they are supposedly dealing with this.

Posted by: Anon Location: Waco on Aug 27, 2008 at 08:49 AM
What was going through her head to cut his catheter off? If she was mentally retarded like everyone is saying then why was she at home with him alone trying to take care of him? There is more to this story that they are not telling. If this had been a serious situation that her husband was in, they do send in home care nurses to take care of the person. Was no one paying attention to how this man was being taken care of? There is a lot that doesn't make since here.

Posted by: Jimmy Location: Belton on Aug 27, 2008 at 05:07 AM
Angela Loc:Belton. First, why do you assume he was terminal? He was on dialysis, and assuming there were no other major problems, could live a long time. Second, why wouldn't a person be at home if they are terminally ill? Hospice is a wonderful resource for people and families dealing with terminal illness.

Posted by: Angela Location: Belton on Aug 26, 2008 at 05:58 PM
Well, she is serving a long time in prison, she was smart enough to enter a guilty plea before the trial started to avoid the death penalty, so I think she is intelligent. If this man was terminally ill, what was he doing at home with his wife?

Posted by: Bob Location: Belton on Aug 26, 2008 at 01:29 PM
Why put this woman in prison for life. We will end footing the bill for her. I say give her the needle for what she did. Murder is murder...

Posted by: T Location: WACO on Aug 26, 2008 at 11:43 AM
HELLO SHE DESERVES TO BE IN PRISON AND THE PART ABOUT THE MENTALLY RETARDATION THAT IS JUST A COP OUT SHE IS TRYING TO GET OFF BUT SHE DESERVES TO BE LOCKED UP FOR A VERY LONG TIME

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