In the summer of 2026, the life of 68-year-old Yvette Appleby came to a tragic and violent end in her Peoria, Arizona, home. On the evening of July 16th, a heated argument, described by her live-in boyfriend as being over "stupid stuff," escalated to a fatal conclusion. That evening, at approximately 6:30 p.m., police received a 911 call from 53-year-old David Koepke, who calmly informed the dispatcher that he had just shot his girlfriend.
The couple, who had been together for some time but were living as roommates, had a history of bickering, but on this day, their dispute turned deadly.
When officers arrived at the residence near 69th Avenue and Olive Avenue, Koepke surrendered without a struggle, walking out of the mobile home with his hands in the air. Inside, they found Yvette Appleby suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to her torso. First responders immediately began life-saving measures and transported her to a local hospital, but her injuries proved to be too severe, and she was pronounced dead. The investigation that followed was described by law enforcement as an isolated incident, with no further threat to the public. Koepke was taken into custody and booked on one count of second-degree murder.
During questioning, David Koepke admitted to the shooting, stating that he "lost control" during their argument as Appleby was walking away from him. He also informed detectives that he had consumed between eight and ten beers throughout the day. Despite his confession and an expression of regret, saying "I wish I could take back everything," he reportedly showed little emotion when informed of Appleby's death. For a man whose only prior mark on his record was a speeding ticket, this act of violence was a shocking turn. He was held on a $1 million bond as the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Yvette Appleby continued. The final disposition of the charges against David Koepke, including any trial, conviction, or sentencing, has not been detailed in available online sources.
