“A Killer Renovation”: 20/20 Reports on Shanti Cooper-Tronnes Homicide July 11 2025

ABC’s 20/20 returns this Friday with a powerful two-hour encore titled A Killer Renovation, airing from 9:01 to 11:00 p.m. EDT. Co-anchor Deborah Roberts leads the investigation into the tragic death of Shanti Cooper-Tronnes, a 39-year-old mother and businesswoman who was found murdered in her Orlando, Florida home in April 2018.

This episode revisits the case with a comprehensive look at the evidence, key interviews, and the devastating impact on Shanti’s son and loved ones. The murder initially appeared to be the result of a botched robbery, but detectives soon began to suspect something far more calculated. As police dug deeper, they uncovered a toxic marriage, financial motives, and a man who stood to gain greatly from his wife’s death.

The Couple and the Renovation Dream

Shanti Cooper and David Tronnes met in 2013 and married in 2017. Their relationship seemed promising, but cracks began to appear beneath the surface. David moved from Minnesota to Orlando to be with Shanti and her young son Jackson. In 2015, David purchased a home in Delaney Park, an upscale neighborhood in Orlando, with grand plans for renovation.

David became deeply invested in the remodeling project, while Shanti financed the work. The couple’s living situation became strained as the renovation dragged on and costs mounted, reportedly reaching over $250,000. David lived in the garage with their dogs while Shanti and her son lived in a small apartment above it. Tensions grew, and the house became a point of both financial and emotional stress.

The Discovery and Suspicious Circumstances

On April 24, 2018, David Tronnes called 911, claiming to have found Shanti unresponsive in the bathtub. He suggested that she may have slipped and fallen. When first responders arrived, they found Shanti dead, but the scene did not match David’s story. The bathtub was dry, and Shanti’s body showed signs of blunt force trauma and strangulation.

Adding to the confusion was the reported disappearance of Shanti’s $15,000 diamond engagement ring. While it initially seemed to support a robbery narrative, detectives noticed that other valuables were untouched. Blood was found on the side of the bed, suggesting the attack began elsewhere. David’s alibi—he had gone jogging—did not line up with the timeline and evidence found at the scene.

The Investigation and Revelations

Orlando police detectives Barbara Sharp and Teresa Sprague led the investigation. As they pieced together the timeline, inconsistencies in David’s story became apparent. He was questioned for 14 hours but released without charges. Over the following months, detectives learned more about his financial activities, including large transfers from joint accounts and his status as sole beneficiary of Shanti’s $350,000 life insurance policy.

Investigators also discovered that David had been living a double life. He was a member of a same-sex bathhouse in Orlando, a fact that raised questions about the couple’s relationship and what Shanti may have known. Surveillance and financial records added to the suspicion that David had strong motives to kill his wife.

In August 2018, a grand jury indicted David Tronnes on first-degree murder. He was arrested at his mother’s house, where detectives later recovered Shanti’s missing engagement ring. The prosecution alleged that David removed the ring from Shanti’s body after her death in an attempt to mislead investigators.

The Trial and Verdict

The trial began in October 2023 and lasted five days. Prosecutors presented forensic evidence showing that Shanti had likely been attacked in the bedroom before being moved to the bathtub. Blood stains on the bed and injuries inconsistent with a fall undermined the defense’s theory. Writings from Shanti revealed her concerns about the marriage and her financial vulnerability.

“Zombie House Flipping” host Keith Ori testified that Shanti appeared distressed in the days before her death. The prosecution argued that David feared Shanti would leave him and expose secrets that would ruin his public image. They painted a picture of a man whose obsession with money, control, and appearances led to murder.

The defense did not call any witnesses and maintained that the investigation ignored alternative possibilities. Nevertheless, on October 18, 2023, the jury found David Tronnes guilty of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Aftermath and Legacy

Following the conviction, Shanti’s teenage son Jackson, who had attended each day of the trial, gave a moving victim impact statement. He described the emotional void left by his mother’s death and the strength he had to summon to seek justice. Shanti’s ex-husband Jim Cooper, friends, and family members also shared their grief and admiration for her spirit.

A Killer Renovation also includes reflections from the detectives who pursued the truth and former prosecutor Ryan Vescio, who framed the case as one of deep betrayal. The episode serves as both a tribute to Shanti’s life and a reminder of the dangers that can lurk beneath the surface of seemingly ordinary relationships.

Watch the Full Story

ABC’s 20/20 offers an in-depth account of this harrowing case in its July 11, 2025 encore presentation of A Killer Renovation. The episode will be available for streaming the next day on Hulu.