Nurse charged in OC with killing man who asked her to help him die

SANTA ANA — A registered nurse has pleaded not guilty to killing a friend in Southern California who’d asked her to help him die after a romantic breakup.

Authorities say 58-year-old Kristie Koepplin of Peoria, Arizona entered a not guilty plea to murder on Monday in Orange County. She was released after posting $1 million bail.

Prosecutors contend Koepplin lethally injected Matthew Sokalski with drugs last year. His body was found in a Mission Viejo hotel room.

Koepplin was arrested two weeks ago in Arizona.

She could face 25 years to life in prison if convicted.

“California’s right to die law strictly governs the conditions under which terminally ill adult patients with the capacity to make medical decisions can be prescribed an aid-in-dying medication,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement. “That was not the case here. It is beyond disturbing that someone who is trained as a nurse to aid the sick and the dying would twist their duty to willingly end the life of another human being.”

Her attorney, Michael Guisti, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.