A Long Island man who allegedly killed his ex-wife and her boyfriend in their million-dollar home had plans to harm others as well, prosecutors revealed during a court hearing that was disrupted by emotional outbursts from grieving family members.
During the arraignment of Daniel Coppola, 50, on second-degree murder charges, family members shouted in anger as he entered the Suffolk County courtroom in handcuffs.
Prosecutors described how Coppola coldly carried out the murders of his ex-wife, Kelly Coppola, 50, and her boyfriend, Kenneth Pohlman, 53, with a semi-automatic gun in the St. James home they shared.
Prosecutors revealed that Coppola had written letters detailing his reasons for the murders, including blaming financial issues on Kelly and even having bullets with the names of lawyers involved in the divorce proceedings.
Coppola’s rage was evident in the letters, with statements like “I am of sound mind, I know exactly what I am doing,” according to the prosecutor.
He lured his daughter out of the house before carrying out the premeditated murder, shooting the couple as they were in a vulnerable state, prosecutors said.
After the killings, Coppola informed his daughter of what he had done and was later arrested at his own home, where he made suicidal threats.
He admitted to the murders and was ordered to be held without bail and placed under suicide watch.
Family members of the victims expressed their grief and anger during the court hearing, lamenting the loss of a second chance at life for the couple.
Family members described Coppola as abusive and unstable, noting that Kelly had finally found happiness with Kenneth Pohlman after a bitter divorce.
John Patton, Kelly’s father, expressed the family’s devastation over the tragic loss, saying that Kelly had found true happiness with Kenneth and that the sorrow felt by both families was overwhelming.
