Ee Lee (1984 – September 19, 2020) was an Asian-American woman who was raped and murdered by two black teenagers in a racially-motivated[1] daylight attack in Milwaukee. The two perpetrators, Kamare Lewis and Kevin Spencer pleaded guilty to first-degree reckless homicide and second-degree rape in 2023.
| Murder of Ee Lee | |
|---|---|
| Part of Violence against women in the United States | |
 | |
| Location | Washington Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Date | Rape and beating: September 16, 2020 Lee's death: September 19, 2020 |
Attack type | Murder, rape, beating |
| Victim | Ee Lee, aged 36 |
| Perpetrators | Kamare Lewis and Kevin Spencer |
| Motive | Rape, anti-Asian racism |
| Verdict | Pleaded guilty |
| Convictions | First-degree reckless homicide, second-degree sexual assault |
| Charges | First-degree intentional homicide, first-degree sexual assault (dropped after plea deal) |
Rape and murder
On September 16, 2020 in Washington Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Ee Lee, an Asian-American woman was raped by then-17 year old Kamare Lewis and then-15 year old Kevin Spencer while nine others watched. She was then beaten and dragged to the pond in Washington Park and left to die. She was found half-clothed and unconscious, but still breathing.[2] Video footage shows that the perpetrators directed racial slurs against the victim.[3] She was taken to Froedtert Hospital for treatment but died three days later.[4][5]
Legal proceedings
Two local African American teenagers, Kamare Lewis, 17, and Kevin 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.[6][7][8] Spencer confessed to raping and murdering Lee.[2] Spencer was involved in another murder in December 2020.[9]
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."[4][10]
Guilty pleas
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 now face 15 to 80 years in prison. Spencer is scheduled to be sentenced on June 2, 2023, and Lewis is scheduled to be sentenced on June 16, 2023.[11][12][13]
Response
Vigils were held for Lee by the Hmong American Women’s Association and broader Wisconsin Hmong community.[14][15]
See also
- 2021 Atlanta spa shootings—Killing of eight people, six of whom were Asian women, at an Atlanta massage parlor
- Hmong in Wisconsin
References
- ^ "Statement in Support of Asian Americans Facing Discrimination in the United States". Human Rights Now. April 28, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
- ^ a b McBride, Jessica (February 11, 2021). "Ee Lee Homicide: Extreme Brutality Detailed In New Criminal Complaint". Wisconsin Right Now. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
- ^ "Graphic Details Emerge of Ee Lee's Homicide". Asian Dawn. February 23, 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ General, Ryan (February 10, 2021). "Teens Charged Over Rape and Murder of Milwaukee Woman". NextShark. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
- ^ McCloskey, Jimmy (February 11, 2021). "Boys, 15 and 17, 'filmed themselves raping and killing woman, 36, at park'". Metro. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Over 10 Teenagers Accused Of Raping And Beating Asian Woman To Death In Wisconsin". Resonate. January 14, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ^ "Teens charged with sexually assaulting woman, beating her to death". YouTube.
- ^ State of Wisconsin, Circuit Court (February 11, 2021). "Criminal Complaint Lewis, Kamare R, Multiple Parties" (PDF). wisconsinrightnow. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- ^ "Two plead guilty to sexual assault, homicide in Ee Lee's 2020 death in Washington Park". Journal Sentinel. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ "Washington Park killing, rape; Milwaukee man pleads guilty". FOX6 News Milwaukee. March 16, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ "Milwaukee man charged with raping, beating woman to death at Washington Park pleads guilty". CBS58. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ "Vigil to be held for woman killed in Washington Park". TMJ4. September 24, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
- ^ 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.