Hayfork Woman Gets Reduced Charge in Killing of Her Husband

A Hayfork woman has been sentenced for killing her husband after charges were reduced. In December of 2019, Trinity County Deputies and medical personnel were called to a Hayfork home and found 48-year-old Billy Vang dead. He had been shot once in the chest and once in the head. The weapon, a Ruger semi-automatic pistol, was turned over to deputies by an unnamed family member at the house, who said that the couple had been arguing. 52-year-old Kay Chue Vang said Billy had tried to kill her, so she shot him twice. She then put the gun to her head, threatening to pull the trigger. The family member was able to get the gun away from her and unload it before giving it to deputies. Trinity County’s District Attorney initially sought a capital-level first degree murder conviction against Kay. With the reduced charge of manslaughter, she faces 15 years in prison.

-Steve Gibson