Carson man sentenced to 35 years to life for killing wife of more than 40 years

A Carson man will serve 35 years to life in prison for killing his wife last October after she presented him with divorce papers, authorities said.

Benjamin Christino Ramirez, 69, was sentenced Oct. 1 at the Compton courthouse for killing his wife, 67-year-old Fely Ramirez, prosecutors said.

Ramirez was convicted Sept. 10 of first-degree murder with the allegation that he used a handgun.

Ramirez filed for divorce and showed her husband the paperwork on Oct. 5, 2018, according to a probation report filed in court. The couple had been married for more than 40 years.

According to the report, Ramirez’s nephew went to his aunt’s home to check on her but found her lifeless on a couch with a blanket over her head and her feet on an ottoman.

The nephew then contacted authorities. Under the blanket, deputies discovered that she suffered two bullet wounds to the head and chest, and found divorce papers under her legs, according to the report. Deputies also found guns in a bedroom.

Investigators obtained a neighbor’s surveillance footage and saw that Benjamin Ramirez entered and left the residence earlier that day. Ramirez was arrested the next day when a neighbor notified authorities that he was at the home, according to the report.

Ramirez was scheduled to appear in court Oct. 31 for a restitution hearing.

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.