Patricia Wong: Hawaiian woman convicted of killing young rodeo star sentenced to life in prison

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

HAWAII, UNITED STATES: Kaycee Smith, a 21-year-old rodeo star, tragically lost her life to a single gunshot wound to the head. 

Despite an initial ruling of suicide, years later, an older couple has been convicted for her murder.

Patricia Wong, aged 62, had portrayed herself as Kaycee's 'hanai auntie', a term in Hawaiian culture indicating an informal adoption within the extended family. 

Essentially, Wong claimed to be Smith's adopted aunt as per Law&Crime.

On the other hand, Peter Fuerte was also convicted of being an accomplice in Smith’s murder last week

Further details regarding the death of Kaycee Smith have been revealed during the recent trial

What happened during sentence hearing of Patricia Wong?

On Tuesday, Patricia Wong received the harshest punishment allowed by law: life in prison for the two murder charges, plus an additional 20 years for the solicitation and conspiracy charges.

The sentences must be served one after the other.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Annaliese Wolf expressed satisfaction with the court's decision, saying, "We are glad the Court recognized the severity of the actions taken by the Defendant by handing down a consecutive sentence."

He added, “She made a plan to commit murder and took relentless criminal actions to achieve her goal of killing Kaycee Smith. The Court has provided a clear and strong message to the Defendant that her actions were abhorrent, egregious, and deserved the most serious punishment and that there is no place for this kind of heinous conduct in our community.”

Despite being condemned, Wong maintained her innocence, stating, "“I’m not gonna admit to something I didn’t do, And I know God is in my heart. So, I do have remorse over Kaycee, and I loved her like my own. So whatever they think I did, I didn’t do it. So that’s all I have to say."

During the sentencing hearing, Smith's mother, Emma Chong, spoke about her daughter, saying, "I first want to be a voice for the true victim, the deceased, my daughter Kaycee Smith Kaycee’s life was senselessly taken from her, her family and friends. Kaycee loved life and people. She was loving, generous and kind. But taking Kaycee’s young life at 21 years shortchanged her, cheated her family and the world."

Chong also addressed Wong directly, saying, "Our family’s forever changed,” Chong went on.

“Every holiday, birthday and family gathering Kaycee’s absence is prominent. But incomprehensible grief, sorrow and loss, my family, community and I suffered all at the hands of Miss Wong … My daughter’s blood is on her hands."

Peter Fuerte accused of being accomplice in Kaycee Smith's murder

Law enforcement also accused Peter Fuerte, aged 56, of being an accomplice to murder and an accomplice to attempted murder.

Fuerte eventually accepted a plea deal and was found guilty of having a firearm as a felon and hindering prosecution in August 2023.

He testified against Wong during her trial in 2023, telling the jury that she offered him money to kill Smith. 

In the end, Fuerte admitted to only giving Wong a handgun. However, the police say that the gun provided by Fuerte was not the one used in the murder.

Last week, Fuerte received a five-year prison sentence.

What did court documents say about Kaycee Smith’s death?

On June 30, 2009, Kaycee Smith was discovered dead at her home in Orchidland Estates, a community located in Hawai'i County, Hawai'i, which falls under the jurisdiction of the District of Puna on the Big Island. 

Last year, Patricia Wong was convicted by jurors for the murder of Kaycee Smith, along with charges of attempted murder, criminal conspiracy, and criminal solicitation. 

Court documents revealed that the crime scene had been altered to make it appear as though the victim had taken her own life. In 2016, nearly seven years after the tragic event, police indicted and subsequently arrested Wong. 

In December 2022, Wong faced more charges. 

"She always went to Kaycee for money or had a lot of investments or whatnot with her that I think was corruption," remarked Brooklyn Maile Rogan, one of Smith's closest friends.