A Michigan man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after being convicted of brutally killing his girlfriend in 2023.
Martin Yost, 45, was sentenced on Aug. 20 to life in prison for the murder of 45-year-old Dhoua Lao, a mother of two.
The killing happened on Nov. 13, 2023, after the couple had been dating for only about two months.
Authorities said Yost beat Lao to death before police later found him passed out behind the wheel of his vehicle in Roseville, Michigan.
Lao was found dead in the passenger seat.
According to The Detroit News, she had suffered severe trauma to her head and face.
Yost was eventually convicted of first-degree premeditated murder.
Court and prison records also showed that Yost had previously been sentenced in connection with domestic violence incidents in 2015 and 2020.
Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido called the case a devastating example of where domestic violence can lead.
“This is a stark and tragic illustration of the ultimate and worst consequence of domestic violence,” Lucido said in a statement.
He added that while the verdict cannot erase the family’s loss, prosecutors hope the outcome brings them some measure of peace.
“No verdict can undo the profound loss suffered by the victim’s family, but we hope this outcome brings them a measure of peace and closure,” he said.
Lao leaves behind two children.
Yost’s life sentence brings the criminal case to a close nearly three years after her death.
