SAN MARINO, CA - On Jan. 6, 2025, Dr. Irene Gaw-Gonzalo, 56, was found dead in her San Marino, California home. Now, according to Law & Crime, her estranged husband was arrested on murder and arson charges in connection with her death, authorities said.
Yoon “Kevin” Lai, 62, pleaded not guilty in court last week and was ordered held without bail by a judge. The outlet previously reported that Gaw-Gonzalo had filed for divorce for the second time in August 2024, after the first in 2003, just months after they got married. The couple reconciled, and the victim gave birth to twin sons, now teenagers.
The Los Angeles Times obtained court documents describing a scene far more disturbing than initially reported by the police department, which included finding a bloody frying pan and a metal baseball bat.
Investigators previously said that the victim may have sustained additional physical trauma in addition to being seriously burned, which led to the homicide investigation. The Times obtained a death investigation report that showed Gaw-Gonzalo suffered burns over 60% of her body; she also suffered broken bones in her face and bruises all over her body. The cause and manner of death were listed as “undetermined.”
The local Patch outlet, citing courtroom testimony, said the victim’s relatives said she was seeking to terminate the marriage, believing Lai was having an extramarital affair. Gaw-Gonzalo’s sister, who has retained legal guardianship of the twin boys, said her sister was seeking to nullify a prenuptial agreement and have her name on several properties they jointly owned.
That agreement was revoked in September 2024, after Lai agreed to add his estranged wife’s name to the properties, believing it would prompt her to reconsider the divorce. Instead, she continued pursuing the divorce.
On Jan. 6, 2025, at 7:06 a.m., Lai picked up his sons for baseball practice, then told them he would go to work after dropping them off. However, a Ring camera in the neighborhood captured a car resembling Lai’s returning to the area of the couple’s home at 8:19 a.m.
In a court filing, a next-door neighbor, Connie Morris, stated that she saw smoke coming from Gaw-Gonzalo’s home at 9:46 a.m. and she called for assistance. She also testified that she saw Lai at the home “peering out the door.” Morris said Lai asked, "What’s going on?” She responded, “Your house is on fire.” She claimed Lai looked “bewildered.”
Morris added that Lai told her his estranged wife wasn’t in the home and that she was picking up their sons from baseball practice. She observed Gaw-Gonzalo’s car still in the driveway.
The fire was contained to one room in the house, according to arson investigators, the room where the victim’s body was found, and it was determined that the fire was “intentionally set.” Investigators found two indoor surveillance cameras that covered the den where Gaw-Gonzalo’s body was found had been “manually disabled.”
Prosecutors believe that Lai killed his wife for financial reasons and set the fire to cover up his wife’s murder. Lai’s attorney told The Los Angeles Times in an email: “We look forward to defending these false allegations in court.”
Lai has pleaded not guilty to murder with special circumstances and arson, and will be held without bail until a bond hearing on Feb. 9.
Comments