'Ticking time bomb:' Milwaukee teen gets 32 years in 2020 death of Ee Lee

Kevin Spencer Jr. will spend the next 32 years behind bars for his role in the beating death of 36-year-old Ee Lee in Washington Park nearly three years ago.

Members of Spencer's family wept softly in the gallery Thursday as Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Glenn H. Yamahiro pronounced the sentence. Some said, "We love you, KJ," as he was escorted out of the courtroom in shackles.

Spencer, 18, was one of two teens charged in the death of Lee, who was found unconscious and beaten by the pond in Washington Park in September 2020. She died in a hospital three days later.

Describing Spencer as a "ticking time bomb," prosecutor Sarah Beth Hill argued Spencer should serve significant prison time for his role in the attack, to ensure public safety.

"He's a danger," she said, referring to the escalation in his criminal history. "We can't have an undiffused bomb out there."

"She was tortured by the worst people on this earth," Nancy Lee said of her sister, while choking back tears. "I don't think the people who did this to her have any feeling or any kind of heart."

On Sept. 16, 2020, Lee had been seen shortly before 6 p.m. at the Viet Hoa Supermarket, just northwest of the park. She was spotted again about 20 minutes later walking in the park, near the lagoon.

Police said Spencer was in a group of six individuals that approached and harassed Lee in the park. Prosecutors maintain Spencer and Kamare R. Lewis — sentenced in June to 26 years — were the most aggressive; they punched, kicked and beat Lee with sticks. She also was sexually assaulted.

She was taken to a hospital, where she later died. The cause of her death was blunt-force trauma to the head. Lee also sustained injuries associated with rape, according to court records.

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Spencer and Lewis were charged with first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree sexual assault, both as a party to a crime. They were 15 and 17, respectively, at the time of the crime.

Under Wisconsin law, 17-year-olds are charged as adults. Children age 10 and older may be charged as adults for some serious crimes.

Spencer and Lewis pleaded guilty earlier this year to lesser charges of first-degree reckless homicide as party to a crime and second-degree sexual assault as party to a crime.

Spencer also must serve 20 years of extended supervision when he's released and must register as a sex offender.