Officials Indict Garden Grove Woman For Castrating Husband

SANTA ANA (CBS) —  Catherine Kieu, the Garden Grove woman accused of slicing off her estranged husband's penis and tossing it in a garbage disposal, was indicted Thursday on torture and other charges.

Kieu, 48, was indicted on torture and aggravated mayhem, both felonies. She also faces a sentencing enhancement allegation of using a knife in the alleged attack.

Deputy District Attorney John Christl said  he is trying to get the case ready for trial by May or June.

Kieu, who is being held on $1 million bail, is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment Monday. She could face up to life in prison without parole if  convicted.

Kieu is accused of cutting off her 60-year-old husband's penis July 11 after tying him down on his bed as he slept.

The two had been married for about a year and a half, but he filed for divorce six months before the attack, Garden Grove police Lt. Jeff Nightengale said. The husband let Kieu continue living with him in the 14000 block of Flower Street because she had nowhere else to go, Nightengale said.

The man told investigators he did not feel well after he ate dinner Kieu made for him and he went to bed. When he woke up, his arms and legs were tied to each corner of the bed. Kieu allegedly pulled down his pants, grabbed his penis and slashed it off with a 10-inch kitchen knife, Nightengale said.

Kieu put the severed body part in the kitchen garbage disposal and switched it on before calling 911 and telling officers he "deserved it," Nightengale said.

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