GROTON, CT – A man from Connecticut faces murder charges after allegedly killing a woman with a baseball bat over a missing supply of cocaine, living alongside her body for over a week, then dismembering and abandoning her remains in a local cemetery, authorities said.
Donald Coffel, accused of murdering 58-year-old Suzanne Wormser, came under scrutiny after a suitcase containing a woman’s torso was discovered by a passerby at Colonel Ledyard Cemetery on March 19. Police responded to the gruesome find when an individual reported a suspicious odor emanating from a suitcase left near rubbish bins at the cemetery’s entrance.
Upon inspection, investigators identified the remains as belonging to Wormser, whose body was missing the head and limbs. As the inquiry gained momentum, her sister contacted police after noticing her absence for several months. She shared Wormser’s last known address, leading officers to her apartment on Allen Street, a short distance from where the remains were found.
Joshua Coffel, who had previously lived with Wormser, was quickly associated with the case due to their cohabitation history. Neighbors mentioned not having seen Wormser for months while Coffel was receiving medical treatment at a hospital. Upon searching the residence, authorities found evidence suggesting a violent crime had occurred, including bloodstains on various surfaces and a baseball bat with traces of blood and hair hidden behind a bookcase.
Interviewed at the hospital, Coffel detailed his relationship with Wormser, describing living arrangements that began last November after returning from a brief stay in Arizona. He claimed Wormser had mental health issues and struggled with drug dependency, which he tolerated for the sake of accommodation. Coffel noted uncharacteristic behavior during her disappearance between January and February, though he admitted not having noticed her absence within the initial timeframe.
A critical advancement emerged when lab tests confirmed the blood in Wormser’s apartment was a match to the remains found. On April 22, a witness informed detectives that Coffel had admitted to attacking Wormser with a bat following a dispute over $200 worth of cocaine she allegedly took from him.
During further interrogation, Coffel confessed to the crime, claiming frustration over the drug theft led him to fatally strike Wormser with a baseball bat in early January. He lived with her deceased body for several days before dismembering it, discarding the parts in various locations, and placing the torso in the suitcase found at the graveyard.
Coffel was arrested on a warrant for murder and remains in custody under a $1 million bond. Earlier public speculation hinted at a serial killing but was dispelled by authorities at a press briefing following Coffel’s arrest.
Despite the sordid details of the case, Groton police have clarified that Coffel acted alone, prompting residents’ reassurances regarding community safety amid circulated rumors.