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Cigarette Butts Crack Napa Valley Double Murder Case
25 Nov
Summary
- A double murder in Napa Valley was solved nearly a year later.
- Three cigarette butts left at the scene were crucial evidence.
- The killer confessed after his preferred cigarette brand was revealed.
In the quiet Napa Valley, a brutal double murder shattered the sense of safety, leaving residents shaken. Leslie Mazzara and Adriane Insogna were found dead in their home in the early morning hours after Halloween in 2005. The investigation spanned nearly a year, with police interviewing hundreds and collecting numerous DNA samples, but leads were scarce.
The turning point in the case arrived with a seemingly minor detail: the killer had smoked three cigarettes outside the victims' home. This crucial clue, combined with Eric Copple's uncooperative behavior, led investigators to focus on him. The announcement of the specific cigarette brand, Camel Turkish Gold, prompted Copple to confess to his family.
Copple was subsequently arrested and confessed to entering the home through an unlocked window and attacking the women. The sole survivor narrowly escaped and alerted authorities. Despite the confession, a clear motive was not established, though prosecutors speculated about jealousy. Chillingly, Copple had married Insogna's best friend, Lily Prudhomme, after the murders.
