An attorney confirmed that Phoebe Copas, a Tompkinsville woman scheduled for a court hearing in El Paso this week, died while in the city.
Copas was charged in connection with the 2023 death of Daniel Piedra, an Uber driver who allegedly told her he was taking her to Juarez, Mexico, instead of a casino in the El Paso area. Copas shot and killed Piedra in his vehicle, which led to charges in his death.
Ken Garrett, a Glasgow-based attorney who has served as co-counsel in the case, confirmed that Copas died Tuesday morning in her hotel room while in Texas. She had been scheduled for a status hearing at 11 a.m. but did not appear.
Copas had attended a hearing on Monday, where the judge ordered her to return for a follow-up hearing the next day. She was expected to stand trial in April.
Garrett said he had been with Copas on Monday but left to return to Kentucky later that evening. He confirmed that she was reportedly in contact with her family before her death.
Copas was known to have several health issues, including syncope, a cardiac condition that causes fainting. She had been released from jail and was primarily awaiting trial while staying in Texas.
Garrett described her death as “a real unfortunate tragedy,” adding that she had been expected to present a self-defense argument in court, claiming she was defending herself against Piedra, who allegedly said he was taking her to the Juarez Fair.
Garrett said a cause of death was not known as of Wednesday morning.
It was not immediately clear if Texas officials are conducting a death investigation.
Source: WBKO
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