Lisa Gail Handlon Kopanakis:1989, Portage, Indiana




  Lisa Handlon was born in 1965. She was the daughter of Linda Jane Reinhard and Steven Handlon. 


  In 1989, Lisa lived in Portage, Indiana. Portage sits along the crowded Lake Michigan shore in Indiana. Lake Station is to the west of Portage. 


  Lisa married George Kopanakis on August 21st 1988. He had grown up nearby in Lake Station, Indiana. 




  Someone broke into the Kopanakis apartment and killed the couple’s two beloved dogs on Easter day in 1988. The dogs’ throats were slashed. Who could be so cruel? Was it a neighbor upset about the dogs’ barking? Was it someone like a stalker who wanted to eliminate a couple of noisy dogs so he could quietly come back later?


  Who would know that Lisa and her husband were not going to be home that day? 


  Lisa and her fiancee, George, were understandably so rattled by the murder of their little dogs that they moved to another apartment. 


  They began thinking about moving out of state. Lisa’s husband got a job in Knoxville, Tennessee. He had gone on ahead there to start the job and get an apartment. Lisa was still in Indiana, getting things ready for the move to Tennessee.


  On August 4th 1989, Lisa was brutally murdered in their apartment at 5237 Rachael Street. Her throat was slashed. She was beaten and bludgeoned. She died of blood loss. 


  Her sister-in-law, Niki Kopanakis, found her. After calls had gone unanswered; Niki was asked to go and check on Lisa. What a terrible thing to have to see. 


  The Kopanakis family had experienced more than their share of tragedy in the eighties. Police thought maybe Lisa’s murder might have some connection with the 1980 murder of her husband’s uncle, Gus “Barber” Raftopoulos. He was called “Barber” because he owned several barber shops. He was bludgeoned to death and his body was dumped. Perhaps the killings were related. But, why? What was the motive here? 

  

  Lisa’s father was an attorney. Could someone have been angry enough with him to want to go after his daughter? 


  Could this have been a stalker?  Could this have been a rival? Could this have been a family member from either side who disapproved of their relationship? 


  Who wanted to hurt Lisa and her husband? Who would be most hurt by the death of Lisa?


   Was she sexually assaulted? That wasn’t reported. So, I can’t say one way or another. 


    These are the kinds of answers that might help investigators. Lisa Gail Kopanakis’ case is still unsolved. 


    What evidence was saved here? What evidence can still be tested? Was the killer’s DNA under her fingernails? Did the killer leave any fingerprints behind? Did the killer accidentally cut himself or herself and leave blood evidence behind? 


    I don’t think that investigators should rule out a female perpetrator here. I have no idea if this was a woman but the fact that the dogs were murdered makes me think that someone really wanted to hurt Lisa and scare her away from marrying George. 


    Lisa’s husband, George Kopanakis, never remarried. When his mother passed away recently; he was still listed as the husband of Lisa. It seems he was devastated by her death and very devoted to her. 


  If you have information about Lisa Gail Kopanakis’ murder please submit a tip to the Portage Indiana Police at 219-762-3122. 


   Rest in Peace Lisa



    



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