Kentucky woman dies before trial for Uber driver's murder

A woman from Kentucky, Phoebe Copas, has died while awaiting trial for the shooting of an Uber driver in El Paso. Her attorney announced her death on March 25. Copas was facing a murder charge in the killing of Daniel Piedra Garcia, who was 52 years old. The incident occurred on June 16, 2023, when Copas claimed she shot Garcia in self-defense as he was driving her to an entertainment center. The trial was scheduled to begin on April 28, but it had been delayed due to Copas’ serious medical issues. Reports indicate she collapsed during a court hearing in December. The cause of her death has not been revealed. Copas' attorney, Matthew James Kozik, maintained that she was innocent and claimed that Garcia had threatened to kidnap her to take her to Juárez, Mexico. Kozik argued that the vehicle's locks and windows were not working and noted the presence of razor blades inside the car. He also criticized the police account of the incident as false. Kozik expressed disappointment over some community reactions to the case, insisting that no one should celebrate the deaths of either Copas or Garcia.