Long Island Couple Found Dead in Apparent Murder-Suicide

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A 68-year-old Long Island man apparently shot his 63-year-old girlfriend to death and then took his own life in a brutal murder inside the home they shared, according to Suffolk County police. The bodies were discovered by authorities who were called to the couple's Port Jefferson home for a welfare check after the girlfriend failed to show up for work.

Why it matters

Domestic violence and murder-suicides are tragic and all-too-common occurrences, raising concerns about mental health resources, domestic abuse prevention, and the need for stronger policies and support systems to protect vulnerable individuals.

The details

Police responded to the Oakwood Road home just after 11 a.m. on February 10, 2026 after receiving a call from the girlfriend's employer that she had not shown up for work. When they arrived, they found the bodies of Paul Trefimovich, 68, and his partner Valerie Kopetic, 63, lying inside in what appeared to be a murder-suicide. Authorities concluded that Trefimovich shot Kopetic before turning the gun on himself, though they did not indicate whether there had been any prior domestic disturbance calls to the residence.

• Police were called to the home just after 11 a.m. on February 10, 2026.
• Valerie Kopetic failed to show up for work on the morning of February 10, 2026, prompting the welfare check.

What’s next

Police have not indicated if there were any prior domestic disturbance calls to the home, and the investigation into the murder-suicide is ongoing.