Woman sought in baby’s death arrested

Jen Lawson

Wednesday, March 19, 2003 | 10:49 a.m.

A woman who eluded authorities for more than five years after her newborn son, police allege, was drowned in a toilet at the Lady Luck hotel was arrested Tuesday night in Seattle.

Kristine Sue Westin was taken into custody by Seattle authorities about 5 p.m. Tuesday after she was detained on suspicion of theft. Authorities checked her record and found she was wanted for murder in Las Vegas, Sgt. Ted Lee of the Criminal Apprehension Team said.

Her boyfriend, Kevin Dale Woo, who was also charged with murder in connection with the baby's death, had barricaded himself in a Seattle hotel Tuesday night when police arrived to arrest him.

The standoff was still in progress this morning, Lee said. Police said Woo had a gun and was threatening to kill himself.

Police had been searching for Westin and Woo for 5 1/2 years.

On July 13, 1997, University Medical Center received an anonymous call from someone asking questions about premature births. An hour later paramedics were called to the Lady Luck downtown.

They found Westin, 37, and her boyfriend, Woo, 35, in a guest room on the fifth floor. Their baby was unresponsive and in the toilet. Westin said she had been seven months pregnant and gave birth to the baby while sitting on the toilet.

Westin was taken to the hospital but checked herself out before police could talk to her again. Two days later Woo's roommate's vehicle was stolen and Westin and Woo were gone. The vehicle was later found in Santa Ana, Calif.

An autopsy revealed the baby boy had traces of cocaine in his system.

Murder and felony child abuse warrants were issued Sept. 17, 1997, against Westin and Woo. They were also charged with possession of cocaine.