Ted Koppel’s son found dead in New York City
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
The 40-year-old son of news anchor Ted Koppel was found dead in New York City, and the cause of death is being investigated, authorities said Tuesday.
Andrew Koppel, one of the broadcaster’s four children, was pronounced dead by paramedics in an apartment in Manhattan’s Washington Heights area about 1:30 a.m. Monday, officials said. Ellen Borakove, a spokeswoman for the city medical examiner, said an autopsy was performed Monday, but results were pending further study, including toxicology and tissue testing.
The New York Post reported that Andrew Koppel had been drinking most of the day. The newspaper spoke with Russell Wimberly, with whom the younger Koppel struck up a conversation at a Hell’s Kitchen bar on Sunday morning.
‘He had a straw hat on, and I had one on, and he said, ‘Nice hat, man,’’ Wimberly told the Post. ‘We got to talking, and he started buying me drinks.’
Wimberly said that Andrew Koppel suggested bar hopping, sipping from a pint of whiskey while walking from place to place. He also indicated that neither man had eaten that day. After a final stop for more whiskey and beer, Wimberly brought Koppel to the apartment of a friend, Belinda Caban.
‘[Koppel] was just really messed up when he came in. He was very drunk,’ the 53-year-old resident said. Wimberly and Caban put Koppel in a bedroom to sleep it off, checking on him a few hours later to find he did not appear to be breathing.
Andrew Koppel, who lived in Queens with his girlfriend and baby daughter, was formerly an attorney for New York City’s Housing Authority.
-- Matt Donnelly
Related dispatches from The Ministry of Gossip
Dennis Hopper dead at 74 after long battle with prostate cancer
The House of Representatives pauses to note Gary Coleman’s death, and so do we
Brittany Murphy’s husband, Simon Monjack, found dead Singer, actress, legend: Lena Horne dies at 92
Get breaking news headlines from the Ministry on Twitter and Facebook