Florida man goes on trial for the murder of his wife after she refused to participate in reality TV show ‘Zombie House Flipping’ which he thought would save their home from being a money pit

A Florida man is on trial for allegedly murdering his wife after she refused to participate in a reality TV show about homelessness.

David Tronnes (55) pleaded not guilty to the first-degree murder of his wife, 39-year-old Shanti Cooper-Tronnes, in April 2018.

Cooper-Tronnes, who had been married to Tronnes for about a year, was found in a bathtub at their home in Orlando, Florida.

Prosecutors in the case say Tronnes told investigators his wife “passed” and fell in the bathtub, a week after she walked out of a meeting with a contractor who worked for the reality show “Zombie House Flipping.”

Flipping is a strategy used that involves buying houses, renovating them and then selling them for a quick profit.

According to the Huffington Postprosecutor Michael Smith said the TV show was a ‘lifeline’ for Tronnes who were counting on it to save their home.

Prosecutors in the case say Tronnes, pictured here, told investigators his wife “passed out” and fell in the bathtub

The trial after the murder of his wife began earlier this week, with Tronnes seen here in the courtroom

Prosecutor Michael Smith said the TV show was a ‘lifeline’ for Tronnes who were counting on saving their home, seen here.

The outlet reported that Smith said even first responders questioned Tronnes’ account from the beginning.

According to them, Cooper-Tronnes was the victim of a ‘violent attack’ and suffered multiple injuries including a cut to her face and a bruised neck.

A medical examiner ruled that Cooper-Tonnes died of blunt force trauma to her head and strangulation.

Tronnes paid $600,000 cash for their 4,000-square-foot home in the Delaney Park neighborhood of Orlando, but kept his wife’s name off the deed.

Ryan Vescio, who led the investigation into Tronnes, previously said 48 hours that he became obsessed with the renovation.

He said: ‘This house has become more than just a project for David Tronnes. It was his life.’

Tronnes believed that if the house was featured on ‘Zombie House Flipping,’ its value would increase, prosecutor Smith said.

Because Cooper-Tronnes was not committed to the idea of ​​appearing on the show, prosecutors said Tronnes killed her.

Tronnes was initially found incompetent to stand trial due to a schizophrenia diagnosis, but this was ruled last year by a judge who allowed the proceedings to proceed

Cooper-Tronnes, right, was the victim of a ‘violent attack’ and suffered multiple injuries including a cut to her face and neck bruising

Jurors heard in court this week from people who knew the couple, including friends and family.

According to WeshLori Cootcher, who worked with Cooper-Tronnes, told the courtroom that Tronnes failed to notify his wife’s family of her death.

She told the court: ‘I asked David if I had permission to notify the clients and he said yes.

“But he said it would be disrespectful to notify the customers before I notify Shanti’s family, and I said, ‘Have you notified Shantee’s family and friends,’ and he said, “No .”

According to Fox Newsretired police officer Steven Wilson was first to respond to the scene.

The outlet reported that he said: ‘He wasn’t crying. In this case he acted as if he was sobbing.’

Tronnes denied involvement in her death and claimed that he found her face down in their bathtub after she came in from chores.

The two met on Match.com in 2013 and he then moved his life to Florida to be with her just a few months later.

Cooper-Tronnes had an eight-year-old son from a previous relationship, who sat in on the proceedings.

From the beginning, however, investigators and prosecutors have labeled his story a bad cover-up, with his wife found dry despite his claims that she was in the bath.

Tronnes, seen here in his earlier mugshot, denied involvement in her death, claiming he found her face down in their bathtub after coming in from chores

The pair met on Match.com in 2013 and he then moved his life to Florida to be with her just a few months later, with Tronnes living with her and her son from a previous relationship.

During his interview with the police, he suggested that his wife had slipped and fallen while he was trying to get into the bath.

Detective Teresa Sprague is heard in an audio recording, originally obtained by the Orlando Sentinel, telling Tronnes his story did not match any of the evidence at the scene.

Detective Sprague can be heard saying: ‘Common sense would tell you if you pull a woman – soaking wet – out of a bath at 3 o’clock and call the police within six minutes, that everything will be soaking wet when the police arrive within three. minutes of it.’

In the footage, Tronnes, who later told detectives he “didn’t have the information” they were looking for, chose to play dumb.

He asked the detective, ‘So how did everything dry up?’ he asked, to which she replied, “That’s our question.”

While Tronnes painted his marriage as happy and full of love, the police weren’t having a bar of it.

Detective Teresa Sprague is heard in an audio recording, originally obtained by the Orlando Sentinel, telling Tronnes his story did not match any of the evidence at the scene

Sprague, who called his version of events leading up to Cooper-Tronne’s death “hogwash,” said the defendant failed to display any emotion expected of a man who tragically lost his beloved wife .

She told him: ‘You fake cried for about seven or eight hours today. Not one tear came from your eyes – not one.

“You’ve been crying foul about this woman’s death since we made contact with you. There is not an iota of remorse for what you have done to this woman.’

WFTV previously reported that Tronnes visited a gay spa, which included a visit the day after his wedding and two weeks before his wife was killed.

Tronnes was initially found incompetent to stand trial due to a schizophrenia diagnosis, his lawyer said.

A judge ruled on this last May and said he was competent after treatment at a state hospital.