Man Charged Accused of Fatally Stabbing Wife in La Palma Dies After 3-Year Coma

A 44-year-old man who had been in a coma since being charged with fatally stabbing his ex-wife in La Palma three years ago died recently without ever regaining consciousness, a prosecutor revealed today.

Romeo Villajin's arrest was caught live by news crews as he tried to hold police at bay following the May 1, 2009, stabbing death of 39-year-old Lorena Villajin, Deputy District Attorney Scott Simmons said.

The victim was having a "divorce party" to celebrate the dissolution of her marriage when someone sent her former spouse a photo of her with someone at the party, Simmons said.

An enraged Romeo Villajin then went over to her home in the 700 block of Bon Villa Circle in La Palma about 12:45 p.m. and attacked her, Simmons said.

He was tracked down hours later at a shopping center in West Covina, but refused to get out of his car, Simmons said. A police dog eventually yanked him out, but not before Villajin had slashed his wrists.

Villajin had been in a coma since then and died this month, Simmons said.

The slaying occurred less than two miles from the Cerritos border in neighboring La Palma.