A New York man has been charged with the murders of his ex-wife and her boyfriend in a premeditated attack that unfolded while his 15-year-old daughter waited outside in his car, Suffolk County authorities said on Friday.
Details of the Crime
Daniel Coppola, 50, is accused of killing his former wife, Kelly Coppola, 50, and her boyfriend, Kenneth Pohlman Jr., 53, late Wednesday night in the quiet hamlet of St. James, Long Island. Prosecutors allege that Coppola meticulously planned the killings, which were outlined in a typewritten note discovered in his home. The note also contained threats against the attorneys involved in his contentious divorce.
According to Assistant District Attorney Eric Aboulafia, Coppola first texted his teenage daughter, instructing her to leave her mother’s home and wait in his car parked outside. Shortly after, Coppola allegedly shot through the lock on the front door, proceeded upstairs, and fatally shot both Pohlman and Kelly Coppola.
Legal Proceedings and Charges
Coppola was arraigned on Friday and pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder. His defense attorney, Jason Cohen, requested that his client be placed on suicide watch, acknowledging the severity of the charges and the potential risk to Coppola’s well-being.
Prosecutors argue that Coppola’s actions were premeditated and that he executed a calculated plan to kill his ex-wife and her boyfriend. “He put a premeditated plan into action,” said Aboulafia during the arraignment, highlighting the deliberate nature of the crime. Following the murders, Coppola allegedly drove his daughter to his own home, where he threatened to take his own life.
Discovery of Evidence
Authorities discovered a semiautomatic pistol and a detailed planning document in Coppola’s home. The document reportedly described his intentions with “excruciating detail,” including a list of intended victims. The note also indicated that Coppola blamed his ex-wife for his financial troubles, which he cited as justification for his actions.
“The letter states that he had a bullet with the names of each of the attorneys involved in the case,” Aboulafia said. “He even had a bullet for his own attorney.” In the chilling document, Coppola wrote, “I am of sound mind and I know exactly what I am going to do.”
