Husband convicted of murdering wife on romantic cruise

In this episode of Crime Watch Daily Updates: Is there a better place to rekindle a broken relationship than the Mediterranean?

Micki Kanesaki and Lonnie Kocontes’ story began at a big law firm in Los Angeles where Lonnie worked as an attorney and Micki as a paralegal. Lonnie, already once divorced, fell in love, and married Micki. But the two split up years later amidst allegations that Lonnie wasn’t faithful.

Lonnie exchanged vows with another woman soon after their divorce, but then split up with her and went back to Micki. Despite their reconciliation, Micki and Lonnie’s relationship was hardly smooth sailing.

On May 21, 2006, Lonnie and Micki traveled to Spain for a cruise around the Mediterranean. Lonnie, unfortunately, had ulterior motives.

About five days after the voyage began, Lonnie claimed Micki went to the canteen, and never returned. He flew back to Los Angeles amid the investigation into his wife’s disappearance, and right into the arms of his third wife. Then, on May 28, 2006, researchers on a vessel off the coast of Italy found Micki’s body floating in the water.

The autopsy determined Micki was strangled to death and thrown into the water.

Federal officials charged Lonnie with Micki’s death, but a judge rejected the case, claiming there wasn’t enough evidence linking him to the crime.

Six years after the murder, Lonnie had married his fourth wife and moved to Florida. It was around then that his third wife changed her tune. She came forward and said Lonnie urged her to lie during the FBI investigation and that he planned for Micki to die on the cruise. He was arrested in 2013.

Lonnie was eventually charged with Micki’s death, and in June 2020, he was convicted of murder with the special circumstances of murder for financial gain. He was sentenced to life in prison in September 2020.

Let’s look back at the ruse of a romantic getaway orchestrated by a husband who only wanted his wife out of the picture.