Long Beach woman sentenced to 22 years for Centre Island murder

A Long Beach woman was sentenced to 22 years and five years post-release supervision for the killing of a Centre Island man on November 20, 2018, Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced on Thursday.

Jennifer Gross, 55, pled guilty on March 12 before Judge Meryl Berkowitz to manslaughter in the first degree. Gross was arrested on Sept 20 for killing 75-year-old James M. Coppola at his Centre Island home in November 2018 and then setting the house on fire in an attempt to cover up the murder.

"This case represents the violent end of an off and on relationship that included police-involvement, money and arguments back and forth over the years," Singas said in a news release. "It was revealed through the excellent investigative work of the Nassau County Police Department and my office that James Coppola was killed in a fit of rage when a demand for money was not met. That rage was followed by calculated efforts to cover up the killing and theft by fire. This sentence holds the defendant responsible for her actions and seeks to provide justice to the Coppola family."

Singas added that on November 20, 2018, between 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m., the defendant went to Coppola's Centre Island home to demand money. When Coppola refused to give her money, Gross attacked and beat him with an object from the home about his body and head – ultimately killing him. Gross then set the house on fire to cover up his death. Before setting the house on fire, Gross stole jewelry from the victim.

The defendant and victim had a romantic relationship that lasted approximately 20 years.

Gross’s Attorney, Jeffrey Groder said he believed the outcome was fair, but said the case was an overall tragedy .

“The whole case was a tragedy for everyone involved,” Groder said. “For the family of Mr. Coppola and to Ms. Gross and her children. She did the only thing she could do, accept responsibility.”