A tragic love triangle in Connecticut has taken a shocking turn, leading to manslaughter charges months after a fatal car crash. The incident, which unfolded on July 28, claimed the life of 24-year-old Kevin Gangell and has now resulted in the arrests of two young adults, 20-year-old Abbigale Whipple and 21-year-old Logan Diaz-Lopardo.
The story began with a rocky relationship between Whipple and Gangell, who had been dating for about a year. According to investigators, their relationship had become toxic and full of conflict. On the night before the crash, the two argued over Gangell’s plans to attend a car show with his father and a family friend. Their disagreement spiraled into a barrage of angry text messages from Whipple, who reportedly expressed harsh wishes for Gangell, including hoping he would die. Despite their argument, Gangell told Whipple he still wanted to see her the next day.
On the morning of July 28, things escalated. Gangell had blocked Whipple’s number, which pushed her to turn to her friend, Diaz-Lopardo, for support. Though the pair were reportedly just friends, Diaz-Lopardo was said to have romantic feelings for Whipple. She messaged him, venting her frustration and expressing a desire to hurt Gangell physically. In one message, she asked, “Can we beat his ass please?” Diaz-Lopardo seemed eager to help, replying, “Come to me, I’ll hold you down.”
The pair then drove to Gangell’s home in Harwinton, a small town about 25 miles from Hartford. During the drive, Whipple continued to send threatening messages to Gangell, warning him she would ruin his life and even threatening to contact his parole officer. Her final message read, “I warned you.”
Shortly after, tragedy struck. Diaz-Lopardo, driving the car with Whipple in the passenger seat, hit Gangell. The impact was so severe that Gangell was thrown 70 feet and landed on the side of the road. Emergency responders rushed him to a nearby hospital, but he was pronounced dead from blunt force trauma to his head, torso, and limbs. The medical examiner later confirmed his death was a homicide.
Diaz-Lopardo told police he never intended to hit Gangell and denied being romantically involved with Whipple. However, Whipple reportedly admitted that Diaz-Lopardo would “do anything” for her. Investigators say her messages and the events leading up to the crash suggest she was determined to confront Gangell and cause him harm.
On January 13, both Whipple and Diaz-Lopardo were arrested by Connecticut State Police at Troop L in Litchfield. Whipple was charged with being an accessory to manslaughter, while Diaz-Lopardo faces two counts of manslaughter in the first degree and conspiracy charges. Diaz-Lopardo’s bond has been set at $500,000, while Whipple’s is $250,000.
This heartbreaking case has left many in the Harwinton community reeling, as it highlights how a tumultuous relationship and a series of rash decisions ended in devastating consequences.
