A Kentucky woman accused of murdering an Uber driver in El Paso died on Tuesday, just weeks before her scheduled trial. Phoebe Copas was charged with killing Daniel Piedra Garcia, 52, on June 16, 2023. Her murder trial was scheduled for April 28, but she died on March 25, her former attorney Matthew James Kozik reported to ABC 7.
Copas claimed self-defense, stating that Garcia attempted to kidnap and take her to Juárez, Mexico. Kozik stated that “Phoebe Copas was and remains an innocent woman.” She failed to attend a court hearing set for the day she died. Her health had previously deteriorated, and she collapsed at a December hearing, according to the El Paso Times.
Didi Lopez, Garcia’s niece, had conflicting emotions. “Anger struck us. “I’m also sad,” she told ABC 7. “Where is the accountability?” We believe her death lacked justice. Garcia’s family requested justice, describing Copas’ conduct as “reckless.” They suggested that she could have called 911 instead of shooting.
Kozik defended Copas, alleging that Garcia’s automobile had malfunctioning locks and windows. He claimed razor blades littered the vehicle. “She begged him to stop,” Kozik told The El Paso Times. “He sped up, saying, ‘I’m taking you to Juárez.'” Copas drew her revolver after failing to flee, Kozik claimed. “She did not just shoot.” She feared for her life.”
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Police rejected her story. Copas allegedly shot Garcia after seeing Juárez traffic signs, although the route also went to the casino she sought. After the incident, Garcia’s Nissan Maxima collided with barriers far from any border crossing, according to a police affidavit. “No kidnapping happened. Piedra stayed on her path, according to police.
Prosecutor Shantal Ortega reiterated the claim at a hearing on June 29, 2023. “No facts show she was being kidnapped,” she told me. “Living in a border city, she’d have seen those signs before.” District Attorney Bill Hicks described her reaction as “very unreasonable.” He continued, “El Paso is safe.” Her acts demonstrate a misperception that we must challenge.”
Kozik dismissed the police narrative. “The sign story is law enforcement’s imagination,” he informed me. He highlighted body camera footage and Copas’ interrogation, noting that she never attributed the gunshot to road signs. Instead, Kozik said that an officer initially noted the signs, which sparked the rumors.
Video from the scene captured Copas’s grief. The El Paso Times reported that she wailed in a patrol cruiser, praying and asking if Garcia had died. “She’s crying, ‘Jesus, I’m sorry,'” Kozik explained. “This wasn’t racial.” Police believe she photographed Garcia after the incident and texted her boyfriend before dialing 911. Kozik argued that she sought treatment, and her boyfriend initially doubted her.
Authorities discovered razor blades and a crowbar near Garcia, which fueled Copas’ anxieties, according to Kozik. Garcia’s family is still mourning a missed opportunity for justice, as Copas’ death brings an end to a bitter chapter.
