Woman Pleads Not Guilty in CityWalk Slayings

A North Hollywood woman pleaded not guilty Tuesday to murder charges in the double killing on Mother’s Day at Universal CityWalk, as sheriff’s investigators revealed new details of her relationship with the victims.

Donna Kay Lee, 44, could barely be heard as she entered her plea at a 10-minute arraignment in Beverly Hills Municipal Court. She is charged with the killings of Doris Carasi, 61, and Sonia Salinas, 29, who were found with their throats cut atop a parking garage. Lee also faces the special circumstance allegation of committing multiple murders, which could make her subject to the death penalty.

Lee’s attorney, Salvador Alva of Huntington Park, refused to comment, saying only that Lee has been in a “great deal of pain” from knife slashes to her abdomen. Alva denied speculation by Sheriff Sherman Block that Lee’s wounds may have been self-inflicted.

About 15 minutes after the killings, Lee phoned for help from a Hollywood Freeway emergency call box about four miles from where the women were discovered, saying she had been stabbed by a robber on the freeway.

But last week sheriff’s investigators arrested Lee and her boyfriend, Paul Carasi, 30, the son of Doris Carasi and former boyfriend of Salinas.

Carasi was released from custody Monday after prosecutors declined to charge him with murder, citing insufficient evidence. Sheriff’s investigators have said, however, that they still consider him a suspect and are seeking more evidence.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Mike Robinson said Tuesday that Salinas “was apparently upset with Paul because of the relationship with Donna” and that there was a custody problem between Paul Carasi and Salinas over their child, 2-year-old Michael.

Robinson also said that there was “a rub” between Lee and Salinas, but said it did not appear to be an “intense jealousy.” Lee, Salinas and Paul Carasi all worked together at a Bank of America data processing center.

Sheriff’s investigators said they have also learned of a running dispute between Paul and Doris Carasi. Neighbors have said that Doris Carasi fought with Lee several weeks before the stabbing.