David Tronnes has been convicted of first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Shanti Cooper-Tronnes, in their Orlando residence, as per the announcement from the Office of the State Attorney of the Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida. The verdict came after a six-day trial, concluding with Tronnes being sentenced to life imprisonment in the Florida Department of Corrections.
The incident, dating back to April 24, 2018, stemmed from a disagreement over home renovations.
Tronnes initially alleged finding his wife’s lifeless body in the bathtub, suggesting an accidental fall. However, autopsy results revealed strangulation and blunt-force trauma, classifying the death as a homicide.
An investigation by Orlando police detected inconsistencies in Tronnes’ narrative, highlighting a lack of remorse during his interrogation. The arrest was made on August 30, 2018. The case saw a delay when in 2021, Tronnes was deemed unfit for trial due to a schizophrenia diagnosis but was later declared competent by the state hospital, paving the way for the trial to proceed.
This case underscores a tragic culmination of domestic discord, with the legal proceedings providing a semblance of closure to the victim’s family.