Florida woman who blamed occult influence deemed unfit for trial in double murder case

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (WPEC) — A woman charged with two counts of premeditated murder of her fiancé and mother in April 2022, who blamed the occult for making her do it, was ruled incompetent to stand trial.

After being transferred to mental health court in May to undergo evaluation, one month later the suspect, 29-year-old Alexandra Cupolo, was deemed unfit to stand trial. The judge ordered her to be turned over to a treatment facility of the Department of Children and Families and requires reports every six months on Cupolo's competency restoration to decide whether the trial will proceed or not.

The case began with a welfare check April 12, 2022, for the woman's fiancé, emergency room physician doctor Andrew Sturm, who didn't show up for work. When Palm Beach Gardens Police Department officers showed up to the home, one officer spoke to a neighbor who claimed he heard three gunshots in the early morning hours.

According to the affidavit, police began checking the perimeter of the home. They saw a woman lying down on a bed inside and entered the home out of fear for her safety.

Cupolo's mother, Jacqueline Cupolo, and Sturm were found dead.

The 29-year-old woman was found unresponsive in the bedroom. She woke up, the arrest report said, and muttered a confession of sorts to the officers before falling unconscious again.

She was taken to the hospital for treatment. While authorities continued searching the home, they found a note in the kitchen reading:

"It was self-defense. The occult were messing with me. Don't believe anything bad. I am telling the truth."

A Smith and Wesson .380 caliber pistol was located in an end table in the bedroom where Cupolo was found unresponsive. Additionally, an envelope was found with the kitchen note, containing her Last Will and Testament and Living Will along with instructions on how to take care of her dogs.

Six spent shell casings were found throughout the home.

With Cupolo at the hospital, she requested to talk with detectives and allegedly confessed: "I shot my mom, and then I shot Andrew."

She told them she shot her mother because she "is a b****" and turned the gun on her husband-to-be because "he was standing next to her," according to the affidavit.Cupolo added Sturm's death was all right because he is now at peace.

Cupolo's next status hearing is scheduled for Dec. 13, according to records.