TX - Phoebe Copas charged with shooting Uber driver Daniel Garcia because she thought he was kidnapping her, El Paso, 25 June 2023

[Ebon]

Uber Passenger Who Mistakenly Thought She Was Being Kidnapped Shoots Driver, Is Charged with Murder

"He didn’t deserve that, no one deserves that,” the victim's niece said

people.com

A woman is facing murder charges after shooting her Uber driver in the head last week after she claims she thought she was being kidnapped.

An investigation by the El Paso Police Department in Texas allegedly showed the woman was never in danger and her driver, a 52-year-old husband and a father, never veered from her destination.

Phoebe Copas, 48, is now being held on a $1.5 million bond, El Paso police said in a statement.

Copas, who is from Kentucky, was in Texas visiting her boyfriend, according to local KFOX14. She called an Uber to take her to visit her boyfriend at a local casino after he got off work. But Copas then allegedly became worried when she saw highway signs for “Juarez, Mexico,” according to police.

“At some point during the drive, Copas thought she was being taken into Mexico and shot Piedra,” El Paso police alleged. Authorities told local KVIA that Copas allegedly pulled out a revolver and shot Garcia in the back of the head and wrist, causing the car to crash. Before calling 911, Copas reportedly took a photo of the incident and sent it to her boyfriend.

 

[LoveyG]

Unbelievable. I guess they don't have a lot of highway signs for Mexico in Kentucky.

 

[Ladyotm]

This is so utterly disgusting. I so sorry for Piedra's family. This was totally uncalled for. It's good to see a substantial bond and I hope she never gets out of prison.

 

[drdetective]

How awful. Does anyone have a photo of this sign?

 

[LordMo]

ugh, I'm no Texan native but it looks like El Paso and Juarez are roughly 30 minutes to an hour apart (interrupted by a border crossing gate,) meaning that the interstate and on-ramp signs would probably all say which major cities and suburbs each lane/cardinal direction would lead to, eventually, usually with interstate markers and mileages. Juarez was less than 10 miles away depending, signs for it were probably all over the place.

Just to think, if she'd seen a "NEXT EXIT - MCDONALDS" highway sign, she would have executed her driver instead for taking her to be the Hamburglar's slave.

 

[Chimera]

This is so utterly disgusting. I so sorry for Piedra's family. This was totally uncalled for. It's good to see a substantial bond and I hope she never gets out of prison.

This ! ^^^
Agreed 100 %.
So senseless and cruel.

Rest in peace, Daniel.
My utmost condolences to his grieving loved ones.

 

[Ladyotm]

Bond Altered for Woman Accused of Killing Uber Driver

She reported that the driver began driving erratically, asking her if she wanted to go to Juarez, and wouldn't stop and let her out of the car.
* Could there have been language/accent barrier and she became frightened and hysterical? IMO, her version of events sure make the victim look like he was up to no good.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

Bond Altered for Woman Accused of Killing Uber Driver

She reported that the driver began driving erratically, asking her if she wanted to go to Juarez, and wouldn't stop and let her out of the car.
* Could there have been language/accent barrier and she became frightened and hysterical? IMO, her version of events sure make the victim look like he was up to no good.

It's convenient that he's not here to defend himself against her allegations. IMO.

 

[LadyL]

if she wanted to get out the locked door or window, why didn't she shoot them out?

 

[worm]

It's convenient that he's not here to defend himself against her allegations. IMO.

That and her penchant for details is what I was thinking as I read it.

 

[Ladyotm]

if she wanted to get out the locked door or window, why didn't she shoot them out?

Right! I wonder did they drug and alcohol test her.

 

[LordMo]

if she wanted to get out the locked door or window, why didn't she shoot them out?

If someone points out that she would have been in a position to get the drop on the driver and hold him at gunpoint without him being able to respond, do you think she'll suddenly add in a part of the story to explain why that wouldn't work, too?

 

[LadyL]

If someone points out that she would have been in a position to get the drop on the driver and hold him at gunpoint without him being able to respond, do you think she'll suddenly add in a part of the story to explain why that wouldn't work, too?

yep I do

 

[LadyL]

and that she texted her boyfriend first is unfreakingbelievable
throw the book at her

 

[Friday Fan]

Someone's been watching too many movies!!!

Why bother going to a border town, if it scares you this much???


USA Today has a better article

Woman fatally shot an Uber driver in Texas. Police say she wrongly thought she was being kidnapped

• Uber was driving U.S. 54 southbound in South-Central El Paso
• The area where the car crashed was "not in close proximity of a bridge, port of entry or other area with immediate access to travel into Mexico," the affidavit says. "The roadway (Copas) was traveling on is a normal route to drive to the destination requested."

Uber driver dies after being shot on US 54; woman now charged with murder

An Uber driver shot on U.S. 54 in South-Central El Paso by a woman claiming she feared he was kidnapping her was taken off life support Wednesday.

www.elpasotimes.com

This was her destination. This is where she wanted to go. Lots of signs are in
Spanish, lots of streets have Spanish names. 122 S Old Pueblo Rd · 122 S Old Pueblo Rd, El Paso, TX 79907


This is likely one of the signs she saw. A typical freeway sign. It's on the same sign that says San Antonio. Exit onto I-10 East which leads to San Antonio and Juarez (Screenshot is kinda blurry). Driver stayed on 54. Did not even go in the direction of the bridge. US 54/I-10 Junction

 

[JustSleuthing]

Former attorney confirms death of Kentucky woman accused in El Paso Uber driver's killing

Phoebe Copas faced a murder charge in the killing of 52-year-old Daniel Piedra Garcia as he was driving her to Speaking Rock Entertainment Center.

www.elpasotimes.com

 

[LordMo]

good for her.

 

[asmi106082]

Former attorney confirms death of Kentucky woman accused in El Paso Uber driver's killing

Phoebe Copas faced a murder charge in the killing of 52-year-old Daniel Piedra Garcia as he was driving her to Speaking Rock Entertainment Center.

www.elpasotimes.com

I’m getting a paywall. Can someone summarize please?

 

[Sjöberg]

I’m getting a paywall. Can someone summarize please?

Copas' former attorney, Matthew James Kozik, confirmed her death on Tuesday, March 25; the cause of death was not disclosed. The trial date had been delayed as Copas had faced serious medical issues, including apparently collapsing at a court hearing in December.

 

[asmi106082]

Copas' former attorney, Matthew James Kozik, confirmed her death on Tuesday, March 25; the cause of death was not disclosed. The trial date had been delayed as Copas had faced serious medical issues, including apparently collapsing at a court hearing in December.

Thanks!!