If you’ve spent any time on true crime TikTok or binge-watching old episodes of 48 Hours, you probably recognize the name David Tronnes. It’s a story that sounds like a rejected Hollywood script: a "millionaire" from Minnesota, a crumbling historic home in Orlando, a reality TV show called Zombie House Flipping, and a brutal murder that centered around a dry bathtub. But for the family of Shanti Cooper-Tronnes, the horror was very real. Now that the cameras have stopped rolling and the trial is a memory, people are asking: where is David Tronnes now?
Honestly, he's exactly where the judge told him he’d be for the rest of his natural life.
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In late 2023, David Tronnes was formally sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. As of 2026, he is still serving that sentence within the Florida Department of Corrections. While he spent years in the Orange County Jail waiting for his day in court—largely due to a long-drawn-out battle over his mental competency—his permanent home is now a state-run penitentiary. He’s no longer the guy overseeing a disastrous $250,000 renovation in the Delaney Park neighborhood. He's an inmate with a number, far away from the "millionaire" facade he spent years building.
The Reality of Life for David Tronnes Now
When the jury came back with a guilty verdict in October 2023, they didn't take long. They deliberated for less than five hours. That’s a blink of an eye in a case this complex. The evidence was just too damning. Prosecutors showed that Shanti was beaten and strangled, her body then placed in a bathtub that Tronnes claimed she’d fallen into. The problem? The tub was dry. Shanti was still in her pajamas. Her injuries were consistent with a violent assault, not a slip and fall.
Today, Tronnes is essentially living the opposite of the high-life he tried to project. He had told Shanti he was a multi-millionaire who inherited a fortune. In reality, she was the one paying the bills while they lived in a tiny, cramped garage apartment because their main house was a literal construction zone with no floors.
Recent Legal Developments and Appeals
You might think a life sentence is the end of the road, but the legal system always has a few more gears to turn. Tronnes didn't just accept his fate and move on. In 2025, his legal team brought his case before the Sixth District Court of Appeal in Florida. They were looking for a way out—maybe a technicality or a claim that the judge shouldn't have allowed certain evidence.
On May 6, 2025, the court issued its decision. It was a "Per Curiam Affirmed" ruling. Basically, that’s legalese for "we looked at it, and the original conviction stands." The appeals court didn't see any reason to overturn the jury's decision. For David Tronnes, this was likely his last major chance to see the outside world again.
Why People Are Still Obsessed With This Case
The "Zombie House Flipping" angle is what keeps this case in the Google Discover feed even years later. It’s rare that a home renovation show becomes the catalyst for a murder. Tronnes was obsessed—and I mean obsessed—with getting his home on the show. He thought it would save him from the financial hole he’d dug. When Shanti refused to participate, seeing the renovation for the money-pit nightmare it actually was, prosecutors say he snapped.
There was also the "secret life" aspect. During the investigation, it came out that Tronnes was spending time at local bathhouses, living a double life that Shanti may or may not have known about. It added this whole other layer of deception to an already messy story.
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- The Victim: Shanti Cooper-Tronnes, 39, a successful businesswoman and mother.
- The Motive: Financial ruin, a failing renovation, and a desperate need for reality TV fame.
- The Crime: Murder by blunt force trauma and strangulation in April 2018.
- The Sentence: Life without parole.
Where is He Housed?
Tronnes is currently under the jurisdiction of the Florida Department of Corrections. While specific inmate locations can change based on security needs or health requirements, he is held in a maximum-security facility. These aren't the kind of places you'd ever want to visit. We're talking about rigid schedules, limited contact with the outside world, and zero chance of ever returning to a Delaney Park porch.
For Shanti's son, Jackson, the conviction was a massive weight lifted. He spoke at the sentencing about the "hole in his heart" David left behind. Knowing that Tronnes is behind bars provides a sense of finality that the family waited over five years to feel.
Actionable Next Steps for True Crime Followers
If you want to keep tabs on this case or similar high-profile Florida convictions, there are a few things you can do to stay informed:
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- Check the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) Inmate Search: You can search for "David Tronnes" directly on the FDC website to see his current facility and status.
- Monitor the Sixth District Court of Appeal Docket: While his 2025 appeal was denied, any further post-conviction motions would show up here.
- Watch the 48 Hours and Court TV Archives: These outlets provide the most granular look at the interrogation videos, which are genuinely chilling to watch.
The story of David Tronnes is a stark reminder that the "perfect" lives people project online—or to their own spouses—are sometimes built on nothing but sand. He wanted to be a TV star; now, he's just another inmate in the Florida prison system.