BY STACI WILSON

Accused killer Jonathan Kopacz told police his targeted victim did not know he was there before he shot her in the head outside her home.

Kelly Conklin, age 22, was shot 11 times with two 9 mm handguns as she exited her car in front of her Washington St. Susquehanna, home in the early morning hours of Oct. 17, 2014.

Kopacz, 34, faces criminal homicide charges in the shooting death of Kelly Conklin, age 22. He appeared in New Milford District Court Monday morning for a preliminary hearing.

The homicide charge, as well as counts of terroristic threats and recklessly endangering another person, was held for trial by Magisterial District Judge Jodi Cordner.

Kopacz remained silent throughout the hearing. He was wearing a bullet-proof vest. Extra security procedures were also put into place at the District Court office.

Some of the testimony presented Monday seemed to shock Conklin’s friends and family members present in the courtroom.

Susquehanna County Coroner Anthony Conarton testified about the number of times Conklin had been shot. The statement drew muffled gasps from several in the courtroom.

Conarton said an autopsy had been conducted by Dr. Gary Ross and the manner of death was ruled homicide.

Pennsylvania State Police Tpr. Greg Deck, a criminal investigator out of the Gibson barracks, offered up more details about events before and after the shooting.

Deck said Conklin had exited a tavern in Susquehanna with a friend at about 1 a.m. She got into her vehicle, and her friend got into his, following her as far as a stop sign.

According to Deck, after Conklin pulled through the intersection, a boxy-style SUV sped around the witness to follow the victim. Deck said Conklin’s friend had attempted to call her about the vehicle – telling police he had trouble hearing her and “then the phone went silent.”

After several more unsuccessful attempts to reach her, Deck said the witness returned to Susquehanna to find police and emergency crews at Conklin’s home.
Deck also provided details about taking Kopacz into custody later that same morning at his third floor apartment in Thompson Borough.

The trooper said Kopacz adamantly stated he was not coming out and told police that he planned to kill himself.

“My life’s over. I killed somebody,” Deck said Kopacz stated to him over the phone.

He also said Kopacz then threw a two-page written statement about the murder to police. Deck said another trooper read it and said, “This is a confession.”

Once he was taken into custody, Deck said Kopacz was cooperative but through the interview was crying, joking and being matter-of-fact.

According to the affidavit, Kopacz had also told police he planned the murder for months.

A statement from one of the teens who lived in the same building as Kopacz said the accused had told her he felt Conklin had used him for money; and that he wanted to hurt her for what she had done to him.

Kopacz had told police that he and Conklin had been in a relationship that soured about five months before the shooting.

Kopacz’s attorney, George Lepley, asked Deck about his client’s mental state through the events.

Deck said he was taken aback by one statement the accused made while he was trying to coax Kopacz from his apartment. Deck told the court Kopacz said to him: “C’mon, baby steps. I killed someone last night, remember?”