Downey man sentenced in stabbing of wife

A Downey man was sentenced Sept. 30, 2008, to state prison for the stabbing death of his wife, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

Kris Young Lee, 36, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced immediately to 15 years to life in prison.

On Feb. 25, 2008, Ratchanok Seesura, a 28-year-old Asian woman, was stabbed to death in the 10400 block of La Reina Avenue in Downey.

According to authorities, officers from the Downey Police Department responded to a call of domestic violence at the address. Upon arrival, officers discovered Seesura inside her bedroom, bleeding from multiple stab wounds. Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene about 3:45 a.m.

As police were investigating, the California Highway Patrol responded to a radio call of an accident at the Rose Hills exit off the 605 Freeway in the City of Industry. Among the involved drivers was Lee.

Police said Lee confessed to a CHP officer that he killed his wife with a kitchen knife during an argument.

Lee was hospitalized at County-USC Medical Center and later arrested on suspicion of murder.

-- Maloy Moore