Family of slain Bell Gardens mayor sues for wrongful death, demands $53 million (updated)

The mother of slain Bell Gardens Mayor Daniel Crespo has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against his wife Lyvette, alleging she "killed him with malice and in cold blood." 

The lawsuit, which is under the guardianship of the mayor's brother William, demands $53 million in damages, according to the L.A. Times. The suit charges Lyvette Crespo planned her husband's death — stating that a "reasonable person would have first called 911" and calling her a "cold-blooded killer."

Daniel Crespo was fatally shot by his wife on September 20, after an argument in their Bell Gardens condo turned violent. Their 19-year-old son, Daniel Jr., got involved in the altercation with his father and Lyvette produced a weapon and shot her husband several times in the torso. She was taken into custody but no charges were ever filed against her.

At a press conference Monday, William Crespo said that he believed the "murder was planned" and that Lyvette provoked and harassed the mayor. He addressed Lyvette directly, saying, "You should not [have] killed my brother. You belong behind bars."

James Devitt, the attorney representing Crespo's mother Otilia Santos and William Crespo, told reporters that "Daniel was no angel."

"He was the mayor of the city. He was a great guy. But honestly, he had a bit of a zipper problem," Devitt said, referring to the couple's troubled relationship and an alleged affair with another woman.

Devitt showed reporters several text messages between Daniel Crespo and his wife, including one that read, "N it better b d last time U threaten to shoot me in d head!!!" He, too, said he believed the shooting was planned and that Lyvette probably "decided to take the matters into her own hands."

Lyvette Crespo's attorney Eber Bayona told the L.A. Times the suit was full of inaccuracies, saying he didn't know where the allegations came from since "there were only three people present."

This story has been updated.