Husband of Mason Valley mail carrier found shot to death in March charged with murder
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Thu, 12/15/2016 - 1:00pm
A 27-year-old Mason Valley man was arrested Thursday in connection with the March 22, 2016 death of his wife who was a Mason Valley mail carrier, according to the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office.
Dustin Cooper is charged with first degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon of his 26-year-old wife, Johnie Nicole Shadden. He’s being held without bail at the Lyon County Detention Center in Yerington.
On March 22, Lyon County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of a gunshot injury on Stanley Lane in Mason Valley. When deputies arrived on scene they found Shadden had died from a gunshot wound.
The U.S. Postal inspectors assisted with the arrest, along with the FBI which provided assistance and support throughout the nine-month investigation, according to Lyon County investigators.
Cooper had a number of weapons in his possession for repairs that were confiscated by the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office pending the completion of the investigation.
The Sheriff’s Office is working with the Lyon County District Attorney’s Office and the ATF for their release. Owners will be notified of the date and location where they will be able to pick up the weapons, according to the sheriff's office.
