In the quiet community of Port Jefferson, New York, a tragedy unfolded that left friends and colleagues mourning the loss of a woman described as the "heart and soul" of her organization. Valerie Kopetic, a 63-year-old female, was found deceased in her home on Oakwood Road on the morning of Monday, February 9, 2026. Her death, a result of gunshot wounds, was determined by authorities to be a murder-suicide.
Concerns were raised when Kopetic, the dedicated executive director of Long Island Adolescent and Family Services, failed to arrive at her job. A subsequent welfare check by Suffolk County police led to the grim discovery at approximately 11:00 a.m. Inside the residence, officers found Kopetic and her domestic partner, 68-year-old Paul Trefimovich, both deceased from gunshot wounds.
The investigation conducted by the Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad concluded that Trefimovich shot and killed Kopetic before turning the gun on himself. There were no prior reports of domestic incidents at the couple's home, leaving the motive behind the tragic event under investigation. The weapon used in the incident was identified as a shotgun.
Valerie Kopetic was remembered by those who knew her as a kind and compassionate person who always wore a smile. She had dedicated over 15 years to her work at the nonprofit organization, where she was responsible for administrative and financial matters, as well as managing employees and caregivers. Her sudden and violent death sent shockwaves through the community, with friends taking to social media to express their heartbreak and share fond memories of a woman they described as a "beautiful person inside and out."
