A Portage man has formally been charged with murdering his wife on Monday.
Richard Cooley, 63, faces one count of murder in the death of 47-year-old Dana Cooley.
Initially, police booked Richard Cooley in the Porter County Jail without bond on a reckless homicide charge, according to a Portage police press release
Around 10:45 a.m. Monday, police responded to the 2100 block of Damon Street in connection with a man calling that he had accidentally shot his wife in the chest, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Police found Dana Cooley unresponsive and medics confirmed that she died at the scene, records state.
An autopsy confirmed that Dana Cooley died from a single gunshot wound to the chest, with the pathologist calling it a “hard contact wound” meaning that the gun had been pressed against her chest, court records state. There was soot with no stippling and muzzle abrasion on the gun shot wound.
This evidence runs contrary to Richard Cooley’s version of events, according to court records.
Assisting in the investigation were the Portage Fire Department and the Porter County Coroner’s Office.
