In a quiet Lincoln, Nebraska home, the morning of June 20, 2021, was shattered by the sound of a gunshot. In the living room, 78-year-old Janet Ruth Chisholm Kotopka was found by her son with a life-threatening gunshot wound to the head. First responders rushed the female victim to a local hospital, where she was listed in critical condition. Despite medical efforts, Janet succumbed to her injuries and passed away on June 23, 2021.
The investigation into the shooting quickly focused on
Janet's husband of 57 years, 80-year-old John Kotopka. He was arrested at their home near 18th and Dakota streets on the day of the incident. According to police, John admitted to shooting his wife. He told investigators that he was exhausted and overwhelmed from being the primary caregiver for Janet, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease two years prior. Her condition had deteriorated to the point where she required constant supervision.
John Kotopka reportedly expressed to investigators that he had been contemplating harming his wife for about ten days leading up to the shooting. He cited concerns over the potential financial strain of moving her into a healthcare facility as a contributing factor to his distress. Investigators recovered the firearm used in the shooting from the couple's home. Initially arrested on suspicion of first-degree assault and use of a weapon to commit a felony, the charges against John were upgraded to first-degree murder following Janet's death.
John Kotopka was held at the Lancaster County Department of Corrections while awaiting trial. However, before he could face trial for the murder of his wife, the 81-year-old died in a hospital while still in custody. Officials stated he was being treated for a chronic medical condition. As is standard procedure when an inmate dies in custody, a grand jury investigation into his death was initiated.
