The Homicide Squad reports an arrest in connection with a fatal house fire that originally occurred on Tuesday, November 20, 2018 at 10:09 p.m. in Centre Island.
According to detectives, Centre Island Police responded to a working house fire at 300 Centre Island Drive, a single family residence. The fire was extinguished with the assistance of Bayville, Locust Valley, Oyster Bay, Glen Cove, Glen Cove Volunteer Ambulance, Sea Cliff, Glenwood, Syosset and Nissequogue Fire Departments. Upon investigation the body of James M. Coppola, 75, of Centre Island and Howard Beach was found deceased within the residence.
Jennifer Gross, 54, of Long Beach has been arrested for the above crime. She has been charged with Murder 2nd Degree and Arson 2nd Degree. She was arraigned on Saturday, September 21, 2019 at First District Court, 99 Main Street in Hempstead.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.