An 81 year old Lincoln man who was awaiting trial for the murder of his wife has died. Lancaster County officials say John Kotopka, who had been in custody since June, died at a Lincoln hospital on Thursday.
Kotopka was awaiting trial on a first-degree murder charge. The cause of death has yet to be determined, but county officials say Kotopka was being treated for a chronic medical condition.
Lincoln Police officers went to the couple’s home on June 20 and were contacted by a 42 year old man who reported he heard a gunshot and then found his mother, 78 year old Janet Kotopka, in the living room with a gunshot wound to the head. She died three days later.
Police then determined it was her husband who pulled the trigger and Kotopka was arrested. As is the case whenever an inmate dies in the custody of Lancaster County Department of Corrections, a grand jury will conduct an investigation.