Napa roomate murders could result in death penalty

http://www.ktvu.com/news/5032291/detail.html
Napa Homicides Could Result In Death Penalty
POSTED: 12:14 pm PDT September 28, 2005
UPDATED: 11:48 am PDT September 29, 2005
Associated Press

NAPA -- Murder charges with special circumstances carrying the death
penalty will be filed against a Napa man, who is charged in the
stabbing deaths of a former South Carolina beauty queen and her
roommate nearly a year ago, prosecutors said Thursday.

Eric Matthew Copple made admissions linking him to the crime, but they
have not revealed why the women were killed.

The statements to police linked him to the slayings of Adriane Insogna
and Leslie Mazzara, both 26, in their Dorset Street home on Nov. 1,
2004, Napa police Chief Richard Melton said at a morning press
conference.

Copple was arrested early Wednesday after interviews that began when
Copple and some of his family members arrived at a police station
Tuesday night, Melton said.

Refusing to go into specifics, Melton said Copple made several
admissions and had specific information about the murders. Melton said
it would be reasonable to conclude that, "based on his admissions, he
did confess."

Though Melton would not comment on any motive, he said police never
believed the killings were random and confirmed a possible connection
between Copple and one of the victims, Insogna. Insogna's friend and
coworker Lilly Prudhomme was engaged to Copple at the time of the
murders, and the couple has since married.

Insogna worked as a Napa County sanitation engineer and Copple is a
land surveyor, according to police. Mazzara worked at a local winery.

Copple's name came to investigators' attention while they contacted
friends of the victims in eight states, but he was "on the outer ring
of relationships," Melton said.

As investigators tried to contact Copple, it became clear that he did
not want to talk to them, Melton said.

Since his arrest Copple has appeared subdued and depressed, Melton
said.

Copple was due to be arraigned this afternoon on two counts of murder
with the use of a knife and the special circumstance of committing two
murders at the same time.

Napa County District Attorney Gary Lieberstein said Copple could face
26 years to life in prison on each murder count if he is convicted, and
the special circumstance could bring a sentence of life in prison
without parole or the death penalty.

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