Yoon Lai arrested for allegedly murdering his wife in San Marino

In January 2025, authorities in the United States responded to a residential incident in San Marino, California, where the San Marino Fire Department found the deceased body of Irene Gaw-Lai, aged 56, on the doorstep of her home. Firefighters initially arrived at the scene following a call about a fire. Upon investigating, they notified the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, initiating a homicide investigation. Subsequent efforts by law enforcement involved serving 25 search warrants as they gathered evidence regarding the circumstances surrounding the woman's death. After thorough inquiries and building a case, detectives identified Yoon Lai, aged 62, as a person of interest. Eventually, they secured an arrest warrant due to the suspect’s direct association with the incident. Yoon Lai was apprehended at his residence located in San Gabriel, illustrating the law enforcement's diligent approach to pursuing the necessary legal actions against individuals suspected of such serious crimes. The suspect has been held on a no-bail warrant pending further developments in the case, specifically until investigators can present their findings to the LA County District Attorney's Office. As of now, the exact motive behind the alleged killing remains unspecified, with detectives not disclosing detailed information that might shed light on the circumstances leading up to this incident. This case reflects the seriousness of domestic violence and the increasing scrutiny surrounding cases involving potential homicide within the confines of domestic relationships.