From Mark Alan Koper’s appeal:
On Saturday, March 10, 1990, Koper and his wife, Tammy, visited a state park in West Virginia with their 15-month old daughter, Bethany. Koper’s wife was six months pregnant. On their return from West Virginia, Koper turned onto a side road in Frederick County, Virginia, and stopped the car. Koper then killed his wife by shooting her in the back of the head, placed her body in the trunk of the car, and drove approximately 60 miles to a secluded, wooded location in Fauquier County, Virginia, where he deposited his wife’s body. On the way home, Koper stopped at a car wash and cleaned the trunk of the car. Koper, a weapons specialist with the United States Marine Corps, also interchanged parts of the gun with which he had killed his wife with parts from another gun.
The following day, Koper contacted the police at approximately 10:00 am and reported that his wife was missing. Koper told the police that his wife had left at approximately 8:00 pm Saturday night to walk four blocks to an IGA store, and she never returned. The police found Tammy Koper’s body on March 15. The police subsequently obtained a search warrant for Koper’s car and found a pistol and a pair of bloody boots. The police arrested Koper on March 16, 1990.
Mark Alan Koper is now up for parole. For all of those who want to join in protesting his possible parole, there is a letter below that you can copy and paste (there is also one you can download if that is easier for you – it is the last link). You can mail the letter to:
Virginia Parole Board
6900 Atmore Drive
Richmond, Virginia 23225
Letters need to be received by March 20, 2014. Thanks to all who help!
(Date)
Virginia Parole Board
6900 Atmore Drive
Richmond, VA 23225
RE: Mark Alan Koper – ID# 183116
Dear Chairman and Parole Board Members:
On March 10, 1990, Mark Alan Koper murdered his wife, Tammy Crossley (Koper), who was six months pregnant, in front of their seventeen-month-old daughter, Bethanie. The couple had become involved in an argument while out for a family drive in Frederick County, Virginia. Koper claims that he accidentally shot his wife, as they struggled for his gun. But investigators revealed that Tammy was shot in the back of the head from at least three feet away. After he shot his wife, he placed her body in the trunk of the car and drove to Fauguier County, Virginia, where he dumped her body in a wooded area.
Koper then proceeded home to clean the car and clothing, and prepare dinner for his daughter, one of his girlfriends and her nine-month-old son. She ended up spending the night. The next day, Koper filed a missing person report with the Front Royla Police Department. Five days later, a man stopping to relieve himself, found Tammy’s body.
Mark Alan Koper plead guilty to First Degree Murder. He was sentenced to sixty (60) years in prison and an additional two years for felonious use of a firearm. Koper has served less than 25 years in prison and, because his conviction pre-dates Virginia’s Truth-In-Sentencing Law, he is eligible for parole once again. His ninth (9th) parole hearing is scheduled for March 20, 2014.
Mark Koper must be held accountable for his personal choice to murder Tammy Crossley (Koper). Because of his complete disregard for human life and the heinous nature and brutality of this crime, justice demands that this convicted murderer be denied parole. He must remain behind bars where he cannot again harm another innocent human being.
Please help Tammy’s family and friends by keeping her murderer behind bars and deny parole to convicted murderer Mark Alan Koper for the maximum time allowed by Virginia law.
Thank you for your consideration.
(Your Name)
For your confidentiality, do NOT put your return address on the letter, only on the outer mailing envelope.
Please send a copy of your letter to the victim’s family:
Eleanor Crossley – 304 Longview Avenue, Mingo Jct., OH 43938
Mark Alan Koper v Ronald J. Angelone 1997 (habeas corpus – dismissed)
Parole Opposition Letter for Mark Alan Koper
INMATE INFORMATION
OFFENDER ID: 1074006
OFFENDER NAME: Mark Alan Koper
GENDER: Male
RACE: White
VADOC RELEASE DATE: 04/28/2021
LOCATION: Coffeewood Correctional Center
Samuel V. Pruett, Warden
12352 Coffeewood Drive
P. O. Box 500
Mitchells, VA 22729
(540) 829-6483
