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Husband charged with alleged murder of promising local scientist

Nathan Urie and Adam Roberts Abington Journal Staff

ABINGTONS- Caroline Coffey is being described by her local colleagues and friends as a “promising young scientist,” “an organizer, a doer and an extremely hard worker" .

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Coffey was a graduate of the University of Scranton

Shelby Fisk / The Times Leader

Caroline Coffey

Photo / facebook.com

Related headlines

• Dr. Caroline Marianne Coffey
• Lackawanna County native allegedly killed by husband

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Coffey, 28, a 2002 graduate of The University of Scranton and 1998 graduate of Scranton Preparatory School, is a victim of what police are calling homicide that occurred near Ithaca, NY, where she was living with her husband Blazej J. Kot, 24, according to a release from Harry J. Corbitt, superintendent of the New York State Police Troop "C."

Kot was arraigned Thursday on second-degree murder charges in connection to Coffey’s death, according to the Associated Press.

According to the New York State Police release, at about 8:50 a.m., on Wednesday, June 3, two hikers located the body of a deceased female, later identified as Coffey, which was found lying on the ground on the "Black Diamond Trail" about 400 yards south of Coffey’s residence. The trail is part of Taughannock Falls State Park property, commonly used for hiking and outdoor recreation. It runs parallel and to the west of Route 89.

Coffey’s body was discovered, according to police, after a large search detail was formed, consisting of members of the New York State Police, New York State Park Police, Tompkins County Sheriff’s Department, Cornell University Police and the Ithaca Police Department. In conjunction with the NYSP Aviation unit, a coordinated ground search was initiated at 8 a.m.

The search that resulted in the discovery of Coffey’s body was prompted, according to police, by a pursuit on Tuesday, June 2 at about 9:47 p.m. New York State Park Police Officer Gerald L. Lewis was on routine patrol when he observed a vehicle pull into a closed parking area of Taughannock Falls State Park, adjacent to Jacksonville Road in the Town of Ulysses.

According to the release, Lewis activated his emergency lighting and approached the single male occupant in the vehicle and observed what appeared to be blood on him. Upon seeing the officer, the subject accelerated, drove across a grassy area and fled. A pursuit was initiated with state police, Tompkins County Sheriff and Trumansburg Police Department units assisting. The pursuit lasted about five minutes, covering approximately five miles. The vehicle slowed down as it approached Reynolds Road, where the driver drove his vehicle off the road and into a group of trees.

Pursuing officers approached the vehicle and observed the driver clutching an edged weapon. The weapon was forcibly removed by Lewis. As officers removed the man from the car, they observed he was suffering from an apparent self-inflicted and life-threatening injury. Emergency medical treatment was performed by officers at the scene pending the arrival of Bang’s Ambulance.

The suspect, identified as Coffey’s husband, Kot, 24, 921 C Taughannock Boulevard, Ithaca, NY, was airlifted to Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, Pa., where he underwent emergency surgery. According to the release, Kot remains hospitalized and his condition is stable.

While at the scene, officers developed information which led them to respond directly to the Kot’s Taughannock Boulevard residence. Upon arrival, officers observed that the interior of the apartment was on fire. The Ithaca Fire Department responded and extinguished the blaze in about 15 minutes. Officers conducted a cursory check of the interior and were unable to locate anyone inside. The Ithace Fire Department’s Fire Investigation Unite responded and assisted with the investigation on the scene. The cause of the fire has since been determined to be incendiary.

Due to the inability to locate Coffey, the search efforts were coordinated.

Coffey, who was born in Ireland, grew up in Clarks Green and was living in Ithaca as a Cornell University graduate student, according to the Associated Press.

Friends and colleagues from Coffey’s hometown, high school and college were saddened by news of her death.

"I remember Caroline as an extraordinary person and outstanding student," Pat Marx, principal of Scranton Preparatory School, said.

Dr. Michael Sulzinski, professor of biology at The University of Scranton, knew Coffey for 11 years. He first met her as an undergraduate at the school where she was assigned to him as an advisee.

"Caroline was not just another student. She was my protégé, a respected colleague and a talented researcher," Sulzinski said.

While working with Dr. Sulzinski, Coffey’s laboratory experiments were documented and published in the American Society for Microbiology, a world-wide, peer reviewed publication.

"It’s extremely unusual," he said of the accomplishment as an undergraduate, "but she was the type of scientist who could take it all the way to completion. She bypassed a Master’s (degree) and went straight through to a Ph.D."

After she had received her doctorate, Sulzinski said he would bring her back to his classes at The University of Scranton to "show her off" to other students as an example of what they could accomplish.

"She was such a promising young scientist and had so much to offer our profession. It’s the most wonderful reward for me," he said. "I exchanged emails with her earlier this week."

 "We’re certainly saddened at the news of her death," Jerry Zaboski, vice president of Alumni and Public Relations for The University of Scranton, said.

Coffey received her Bachelor of Science degree from The University of Scranton and was also a three-year member of the Equestrian Club.

During her final three years at the University of Scranton Coffey trained with the Equestrian Club at Candy Apple Farm, Dalton. In high school, Coffey was also active at the farm. She boarded her horse, Jimmy, there beginning in 1995.

"She was a wonderful girl," said Linda Vass-Shoemaker, who taught Coffey equestrian lessons. "She was very devoted to anything she did."

Coffey even took a two-week horse show trip to Virginia with other riders from the farm.

"All of the kids that are here are part of the family," said Vass-Shoemaker.

Susie Morgan, owner of the Candy Apple Farm, also described Coffey as dedicated.

"She was an organizer, a doer and an extremely hard worker. If you wanted something done she’d be the one to do it," said Morgan.

In 2007, Coffey was awarded a Ph.D. from Cornell University from the College of Veterinary Medicine where she focused on comparative biomedical sciences. Upon graduation, she remained at the university where she conducted post-doctoral research regarding cancer at the school’s College of Engineering.

Tommy Bruce, vice president for university communications at Cornell University issued the following statement on the university’s Web site: "We are shocked and profoundly saddened by the news of this tragedy. We offer our support and condolences to friends, colleagues and family members of Caroline Coffey and Blazej Kot."

From September 2007 to June of 2008 Coffey taught courses in biology, microscopy and genetics as well as performing research at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.

"Everyone here is shocked and saddened. She was only here for a brief time. She was popular," a spokesperson said from St. Joseph’s University.

According to the police report, on Thursday, June 4, in an autopsy conducted by forensic pathologist, Dr. James T. Terzian, the cause of Coffey’s death was determined to be an incise wound to the neck, which caused exsanguination. The manner of death was ruled to be homicide.

An investigation into the homicide continues under the direction of the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office.