A 23-year-old Torrington resident is slated to receive a nine-year prison sentence in connection with the fatal 2024 vehicular striking of a Harwinton man outside his residence. Logan Diaz-Lopardo appeared in court following a negotiated resolution to criminal charges stemming from the violent confrontation that claimed the life of 24-year-old Kevin Gangell.
Under the terms of the formal plea arrangement, Diaz-Lopardo entered a guilty plea to a single count of first-degree manslaughter. The legal agreement outlines an overall sentence of 20 years in prison, which will be suspended once he serves nine years behind bars.
Upon completing his term of incarceration, the defendant will remain under state supervision for a period of three years on probation. The details and framework of the negotiated settlement were confirmed by Diaz-Lopardo’s defense attorney, Ioannis Kaloidis, ahead of the formal sentencing proceedings before the presiding judge.
The case originated from a fatal incident that occurred during the summer of 2024 in Harwinton. On July 28, 2024, emergency responders and law enforcement personnel were dispatched following reports that Gangell had been struck by an oncoming motor vehicle directly outside his home, sustaining catastrophic injuries that proved fatal.
Following a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deadly collision, the Connecticut State Police secured a warrant for Diaz-Lopardo’s arrest. State troopers executed the warrant on January 13, 2025, formally taking him into custody and placing him behind bars on a court-ordered $500,000 bond, where he has remained detained throughout his legal proceedings.
According to investigative findings compiled by state police, Diaz-Lopardo was operating an Audi A4 at the time of the fatal collision. Riding alongside him in the passenger seat was 22-year-old Abbigale Whipple, who had previously maintained a close personal connection with the victim.
Court records and police affidavits detail a volatile history between Gangell and Whipple prior to the July incident. Investigators formally characterized the romantic relationship between the victim and Whipple as both "tumultuous and toxic," setting the stage for the hostile encounter that ultimately unfolded outside the residence.
According to the arrest warrant, the deadly sequence of events began to materialize when Whipple reached out to Diaz-Lopardo to request transportation. Investigative records state that Whipple specifically asked Diaz-Lopardo to pick her up so that he could accompany her and inflict physical harm upon Gangell.
State police noted in court documents that Diaz-Lopardo harbored an active dislike toward Gangell. Investigators indicated that the two men had experienced friction, with evidence suggesting that Diaz-Lopardo may have been actively competing with the victim for the same woman's romantic attention.
The hostility rapidly escalated once Diaz-Lopardo arrived in his Audi A4 to pick up Whipple. Immediately after entering the vehicle, Whipple dispatched an ominous electronic text message directly to Gangell, warning him with the words: "I warned you."
Shortly after the threatening message was transmitted, the vehicle arrived at the Harwinton property where Gangell was located. Investigators determined through their accident reconstruction and witness interviews that Diaz-Lopardo did not merely lose control of his car, but deliberately drove the Audi directly into Gangell on purpose.
The violent impact left Gangell with fatal trauma and prompted an intensive multi-month criminal investigation by state authorities. The subsequent findings formed the factual basis for the serious first-degree manslaughter prosecution brought forward by state prosecutors.
Diaz-Lopardo was not the sole individual charged in connection with the fatal incident. State police also placed Whipple under arrest for her integral role in facilitating the deadly encounter, leading to separate felony charges through the judicial system.
Court records indicate that Whipple has likewise opted to resolve her criminal case through a plea agreement, pleading guilty to a charge of accessory to first-degree manslaughter. Like her co-defendant, Whipple has remained in continuous custody under a $500,000 bond pending the conclusion of her court process.
Judicial scheduling records reflect that Whipple is currently slated to return to court for her formal sentencing hearing on October 9. Her appearance will mark the final scheduled phase of criminal proceedings arising from the July 2024 collision.
With Diaz-Lopardo’s impending nine-year prison sentence, the court system brings a measure of legal resolution to the fatal confrontation outside the Harwinton home. The conclusion of both plea agreements wraps up the state's prosecution of the two young adults responsible for the events leading to Gangell's death.
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