Missing concreter at centre of theft and fraud allegations found dead

A RIVERINA concreter who went missing just days after being charged over the alleged theft of $75,000 worth of farm equipment — and being publicly accused of ripping off clients — has been found dead in Wagga.

Police confirmed on Saturday afternoon that the body of 36-year-old Jarrod Anthony Cooper, who had been reported missing from Glenfield Park less than 24 hours earlier, had been located.

“There are no suspicious circumstances, and a report will be prepared for the information of the coroner,” NSW Police said in an updated statement on Saturday afternoon, May 16.

The tragic development follows a dramatic and highly public series of events involving Cooper over the past week.

Rural Crime Prevention Team detectives had arrested Cooper at a home on Nunkeri Place in Glenfield Park on Wednesday afternoon, May 13, following an investigation into the alleged theft of a bobcat and trailer with a combined estimated value of $75,000.

Police allege the investigation began after officers were called to Gap Hall on Coolamon Road at The Gap about 6.45am on Tuesday, May 12, following reports of an unregistered Ford Ranger being driven while towing a plant trailer and bobcat.

According to police, the vehicle allegedly left the roadway and crashed into a tree before the driver allegedly unhitched the trailer and fled the scene with the bobcat.

Image: Supplied/NSW Police

A short time later, police stopped the man while driving into Wagga, where he allegedly returned a positive roadside drug test.

Investigators later confirmed the bobcat and trailer had allegedly been stolen from separate locations within the previous three months.

Cooper was taken to Wagga Police Station where he was charged with two counts of receiving stolen property, negligent driving, using a vehicle with a misleading number plate, driving an unregistered vehicle, and using an uninsured motor vehicle.

He was refused bail by police and appeared before court on Thursday, May 14, where he was granted conditional bail.

Later that night, Cooper was publicly identified in a local television news report in which a former client accused him of allegedly ripping her off more than $10,000 by taking payments for concreting work that was either incomplete or never started.

The report also revealed Cooper’s concreting licence had been suspended until January 2199.

Late Friday afternoon, May 15, NSW Police issued a public appeal after the 36-year-old was reported missing from Glenfield Park.

Police said concerns were held for his welfare after he was unable to be contacted or located.

Image: Supplied/NSW Police

Then, about 7am on Saturday morning, emergency services were called to a mental health-related incident within the Silvalite Wildlife Reserve at Moorong, near the intersection of the Olympic Highway and Red Hill Road.

The incident prompted a significant emergency response involving NSW Ambulance, NSW Police and Fire and Rescue NSW, with the area cordoned off for several hours while crews worked at the scene.

Shortly after details of the operation emerged, multiple sources confirmed to The Junee Bulletin that Cooper was deceased at the scene.

Police later formally confirmed the body of the missing 36-year-old man had been located.

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