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Men accused of killing Albuquerque couple face charges, including rape and murder

By Maggie Shepard
Thursday, December 20, 2007

The two men charged in connection with the slaying of a Korean couple in their Northeast Heights home also raped the woman, according to charges included in the indictment filed today.

Previously described by police as a robbery gone bad, the deaths of Tak Yi, 79, and his wife Pung Yi, 69, are now cast in a more brutal light as both suspects, Travis Rowley, 23, and Mike Lee, 21, face rape charges.

Rowley and Lee were indicted by a state District Court grand jury Wednesday on charges that also include murder, aggravated battery, robbery, burglary, larceny, kidnapping and conspiracy.

Under the circumstances, the two, both traveling magazine salesmen, are eligible for the death penalty, said District Attorney Kari Brandenburg. Her office has 90 days to decide whether to pursue it.

The Yis were found Dec. 4 in their home in the 6900 block of Avenida la Costa Northeast by their son, who was checking in on them after they failed to call him.

Family members told investigators that jewelry, several cameras and credit cards were missing from the home, according to Metro Court criminal complaints.

But the complaints and search warrants left out details of the alleged rape.

Detectives in the case have said this detail was withheld from the family to protect them from the brutality of the couple's death.

Brandenburg said the family was informed last week of the charges her office planned to seek.

Prosecutors were waiting for more evidence to determine whether to charge both Rowley and Lee or one of them with the rape of Pung Yi.

According to the criminal complaints, Rowley and Lee were dropped off in the Yis' neighborhood to sell magazine subscriptions when they saw Tak Yi working in his backyard. Rowley told police that Lee said he was going to "steal an item from the home."

Lee allegedly punched Pung Yi, who fell to the floor, and Rowley reportedly dragged her into the home. Then Tak Yi entered the home and tried to call police, Rowley told police.

After punching Tak Yi twice, Rowley said, Lee suffocated Pung Yi and then walked over to Tak Yi and stomped his foot on his head, the complaint said. Rowley said he believed the "blow was fatal."

Lee and Rowley were picked up Dec. 7 after the public called in tips. The two were selling their magazines door-to-door when officers arrested Rowley in Rio Rancho and Lee on the city's West Side.

Lee, from the Boston area, is held in lieu of $2 million cash-only bond; Rowley, from outside Los Angeles, is held in lieu of $2 million cash or surety bond. Both are held in the Metropolitan Detention Center.