in july 1969, ted kennedy was involved in a car accident at a bridge on chappaquiddick island in massachusetts that resulted in the death of his passenger, mary jo kopechne. although pregnant and confined to bed in the wake of two previous miscarriages, joan attended kopechne's funeral. three days later, she stood beside her husband in a local court when he pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident. she suffered a third miscarriage soon afterwards.