The husband of a beloved California doctor was arrested months after she was found dead in their burning $2.6 million home.
Yoon “Kevin” Lai, 63, was taken into custody on Thursday on suspicion of murdering his wife, endocrinologist Irene Gaw-Lai, 56. The estranged couple, who had twin 16-year-old boys, were amid a contentious divorce, friends told ABC7.
Firefighters discovered Gaw-Lai’s remains on January 6 after extinguishing a fire at their San Marino home. Her cause of death remains undetermined, but police noted physical trauma on her upper body, prompting a homicide probe.
Lai told police he took their sons to baseball practice and returned to find the house on fire. It remains unclear if Gaw-Lai died before or during the fire.
Gaw-Lai filed for divorce in August 2024, with a prior divorce filing in 2003, according to court records cited by the Los Angeles Times.
Lai, a civil engineer and land surveying company president, is held without bail pending a district attorney’s review on Tuesday.
Gaw-Lai’s patients and family have paid heartfelt tributes to the respected endocrinologist, praising her care and kindness.
