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Murder of Ee Lee

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Ee Lee (c. 1984 – September 19, 2020) was an American woman who was raped and murdered by two black teenagers in a racially-motivated[3] daylight attack in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The two perpetrators, Kamare Lewis and Kevin Spencer, pleaded guilty to first-degree reckless homicide and second-degree sexual assault in 2023. Later that year, Lewis was sentenced to 26 years in prison, while Spencer was sentenced to 32 years in prison.

Murder of Ee Lee
Location of Milwaukee within Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
LocationWashington Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
DateRape and beating:
September 16, 2020 (2020-09-16)
Lee's Death:
September 19, 2020 (2020-09-19)
Attack type
Murder, by beating, rape, violence against women
VictimEe Lee
PerpetratorsKamare Lewis and Kevin Spencer
MotiveAnti-Asian racism
VerdictPleaded guilty
ConvictionsFirst-degree reckless homicide, second-degree sexual assault
ChargesFirst-degree intentional homicide, first-degree sexual assault (dropped after plea deal)
SentenceLewis:
26 years in prison, plus 19 years extended supervision[1]
Spencer:
32 years in prison, plus 20 years of extended supervision[2]

Background

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Ee Lee, a Hmong American, was originally from Thailand and grew up mostly in California. Lee had been homeless since the late 2000's, according to Lee's sister, who described her as "going through an unstable time".[4] Lee was 36-years old at the time of her death. She was survived by a fifteen-year old son and a three-year old daughter.[5]

Rape and murder

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In the afternoon of September 16, 2020, Ee Lee was sitting on a blanket in Washington Park after buying food at a nearby Asian supermarket when she was attacked by a group of teenagers, who initially intended to rob her. Lee was punched and kicked several times before the youths dragged her to a treeline near Washington Park Lagoon, where she was raped by then-17-year-old Kamare Lewis and then-15-year-old Kevin Spencer while nine others watched. During and after the assault, Lee was beaten with tree branches and then left for dead by the group, who subsequently left the park on foot and bicycles.[6][7] She was found half-clothed and unconscious, but still breathing at around 9:30 pm.[8] Video footage shows that the perpetrators directed anti-Chinese slurs against the victim.[9] She was taken to Froedtert Hospital for treatment but died three days later.[10][11]

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On February 6, 2021, two local African American teenagers, Kamare R. Lewis, 17, and Kevin T. Spencer, 15, were arrested and charged with first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree sexual assault with an aggravating factor of great bodily harm. Lewis had recorded the rape and murder on his phone and had shared the video with his friends. Approximately nine other youths were present in the video.[12][13][14] Spencer confessed to raping and murdering Lee.[8] Spencer was involved in another murder in December 2020.[15]

According to the criminal complaint in two different interviews, one of the perpetrators said that they never called for help at all because he thought she was dead or soon to be dead and it "wouldn't have made a difference and that he didn't really care about her at all because she is not someone he knows personally."[10][16]

Guilty pleas

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On March 16, 2023, both Kamare Lewis and Kevin Spencer entered plea deals for the lesser offenses of first-degree reckless homicide and second-degree sexual assault, with the previous charges of first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree sexual assault dropped. Instead of facing a life sentence as they previously had, they faced 15 to 80 years in prison.[17][18][19]

On June 16, 2023, Lewis was sentenced to 26 years in prison plus 19 years of extended supervision upon release.[20] Spencer was sentenced on August 3 to 32 years in prison, plus 20 years of extended supervision.[2]

Response

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Vigils were held for Lee by the Hmong American Women’s Association and broader Wisconsin Hmong community.[21][22]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "19-year-old man sentenced to 26 years in prison for 2020 rape, murder of woman in Washington Park".
  2. ^ a b Van Zelst, Christina (August 3, 2023). "Washington Park killing, rape; Milwaukee man gets 32 years in prison". WITI. Milwaukee. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  3. ^ "Kamare Lewis sentenced in rape and murder of Ee Lee in Washington Park". WTMJ-TV Milwaukee. June 16, 2023. Retrieved June 20, 2023. Prosecutors described the attack as racially motivated because the suspects said racial slurs at her.
  4. ^ Carson, Sophie; Volpenhein, Sarah (September 24, 2020). "Vigil held for Hmong woman who died Saturday, three days after being found at the Washington Park Lagoon". Journal Sentinel. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  5. ^ "Unsolved case of woman found dead in Washington Park leads to custody battle over daughter". CBS58. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  6. ^ Kraemer, Sam (February 9, 2021). "Teens face homicide charges in rape, murder of Ee Lee". FOX6 News Milwaukee. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  7. ^ "Over 10 teenagers accused of raping and beating Asian woman to death in Wisconsin". Resonate. January 14, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  8. ^ a b McBride, Jessica (February 11, 2021). "Ee Lee Homicide: Extreme Brutality Detailed In New Criminal Complaint". Wisconsin Right Now. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  9. ^ "Graphic Details Emerge of Ee Lee's Homicide". Asian Dawn. February 23, 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Teens charged in random attack of woman raped, beaten to death in Milwaukee County park". ABC 17 News. CNN. February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  11. ^ General, Ryan (February 10, 2021). "Teens Charged Over Rape and Murder of Milwaukee Woman". NextShark. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  12. ^ McCloskey, Jimmy (February 11, 2021). "Boys, 15 and 17, 'filmed themselves raping and killing woman, 36, at park'". Metro. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  13. ^ Danbeck, Jackson (February 10, 2021). "2 teens charged in sexual assault, murder of Ee Lee in Washington Park last year". TMJ4. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  14. ^ "Over 10 Teenagers Accused Of Raping And Beating Asian Woman To Death In Wisconsin". Resonate. January 14, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  15. ^ "Teens charged with sexually assaulting woman, beating her to death". YouTube.
  16. ^ State of Wisconsin, Circuit Court (February 11, 2021). "Criminal Complaint Lewis, Kamare R, Multiple Parties" (PDF). wisconsinrightnow. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  17. ^ Dawson, Drew (March 16, 2023). "Two plead guilty to sexual assault, homicide in Ee Lee's 2020 death in Washington Park". Journal Sentinel. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  18. ^ "Washington Park killing, rape; Milwaukee man pleads guilty". FOX6 News Milwaukee. March 16, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  19. ^ "Milwaukee man charged with raping, beating woman to death at Washington Park pleads guilty". CBS58. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  20. ^ Wells, Jenna (June 16, 2023). "19-year-old man sentenced to 26 years in prison for 2020 rape, murder of woman in Washington Park". CBS58.
  21. ^ "Vigil to be held for woman killed in Washington Park". TMJ4. September 24, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  22. ^ Carson, Sophie; Volpenhein, Sarah. "Vigil held for Hmong woman who died Saturday, three days after being found at the Washington Park Lagoon". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
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