ORLANDO, Fla. — A man who falsely claimed to be a millionaire is on trial for allegedly killing his wife after his lie was exposed. The trial for David Tronnes, who is facing a first-degree murder charge, began on Wednesday in Orlando. Tronnes’ lawyers had initially argued that he was incompetent to stand trial, but a judge ruled earlier this year that he was fit to proceed.
According to investigators, Tronnes and his wife, Shanti Cooper-Thrones, had ambitious plans to feature their home renovation project on a reality TV show called ‘Zombie House Flipping.’ However, the couple’s extensive renovation became a source of contention between them, with Cooper-Thrones reportedly becoming disappointed with the progress. There were indications that she may have been planning to leave her husband.
On the day of the incident, Tronnes called 911 and claimed that his wife had fallen in the shower and was unresponsive. However, when officers arrived at the scene, both Tronnes and Cooper-Thrones were dry, contradicting his account. A photo obtained by local news station WKMG showed Cooper-Thrones with visible injuries, including a busted lip, a bloodied nose, a black eye, and bruising around her chin and neck. Authorities determined that she had been violently strangled, and her skull was cracked.
It was later revealed that Tronnes had deceived his wife about his financial status. After meeting on Match.com, he falsely claimed to have inherited millions of dollars from his father. When Cooper-Thrones discovered the truth, it is alleged that Tronnes killed her. A friend of the couple told police that Tronnes always talked about his wealth but was strangely frugal.
During the trial, a state prosecutor told the court, “When you’ve heard all the evidence in this case, you will conclude that the only reasonable explanation for Shanti’s death is sitting right there.” Cooper-Thrones, a mother of one, had her son present in the courtroom during the proceedings.
The trial is ongoing, and further details will be revealed as the case progresses.