PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (CBS12) — A woman who killed her fiancé and mother, later blaming the act on an occult, was found not guilty by reason of insanity on Tuesday. Alexandra Cupolo, 30, was determined to be mentally ill and “manifestly dangerous” to herself and others, according to Palm Beach County court documents. As a result, she will be involuntarily committed for treatment.
Cupolo was initially charged with two counts of first-degree murder with a firearm. The charges stemmed from a tragic incident in April 2022 when Palm Beach Gardens police responded to a welfare check for Cupolo’s fiancé, Dr. Andrew Sturm, an emergency room physician. Authorities were alerted after a neighbor reported hearing three gunshots in the early hours of the morning.
Upon entering the home on Arbor Crest Way, police found Cupolo’s mother, Jacqueline Cupolo, and Dr. Sturm deceased. Inside, they also discovered Cupolo, who was found unresponsive in a bedroom. She regained consciousness briefly and reportedly confessed to the killings, saying, “The occult made me do this, it was self-defense.”
Investigators found a Smith and Wesson .380 caliber pistol on an end table in the bedroom, along with an envelope containing Cupolo’s Last Will and Testament, a Living Will, and instructions for the care of her dogs.
Cupolo’s defense team presented arguments of mental illness, and the court agreed that her condition met the criteria for involuntary commitment rather than criminal punishment. Her next hearing is scheduled for May 21, 2025.
