SANTA ANA (CBS) — A 44-year-old man who had been in a coma since being charged with fatally stabbing his ex-wife in La Palma three years ago died recently, a prosecutor said Friday.

Romeo Villajin never regained consciousness.

He was arrested in 2009 after fatally stabbing his ex and then slashing his wrists.

His arrest aired on live TV as Villajin tried to keep police at bay following the May 1, 2009, stabbing death of 39-year-old Lorena Villajin, Deputy District Attorney Scott Simmons said.

The victim was having a “divorce party” to celebrate the dissolution of her marriage when  a party guest sent a photo of her with someone attending the party, Simmons said.

An enraged Romeo Villajin then went over to her home in the 700 block of Bon Villa Circle in La Palma about 12:45 p.m. and attacked her, Simmons said.

Villajin was tracked down hours later at a shopping center in West Covina, but refused to get out of his car. A police dog eventually yanked him out, but not before Villajin had slashed his wrists.

(©2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)