A mother in Minnesota killed her three children and herself after her husband took his life last week, police said Tuesday.
The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office determined the three children, Phoenix Lee, 5, Quadrillion T. Lee, 4, and Estella Zoo Siab Lee, 3, were all victims of homicide via drowning on Friday, with the oldest and youngest also dying by smothering. The mother, Molly Cheng, 23, had also died from drowning, and her manner of death has been determined to be suicide, the sheriff’s office announced Tuesday.
“Our hearts go out to the family, friends, and community impacted by this terrible tragedy,” said Undersheriff Mike Martin. “The sheriff’s office is continuing to investigate the circumstances of this incident to provide clarity and closure to the surviving family members.”
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The depth of the lake at Vadnais-Sucker Lake Park in Vadnais Heights, where the bodies were found, ranges anywhere from 5-10 feet deep, Cmdr. Eric Bradt said.
Police were alerted by a relative of Cheng that she was going to kill herself and her children at approximately 4 p.m. on Friday. Law enforcement agencies started to track Cheng’s phone and were able to place her phone in the area of Vadnais-Sucker Lake Park at approximately 5:45 p.m.
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The body of Quadrillion T. Lee was found by authorities first at around 7:32 p.m. on Friday, and Phoenix Lee’s body was found at 12:03 a.m. on Saturday. After a temporary suspension of their search, authorities found Cheng’s body at approximately 10:39 a.m. and Estella Lee’s body at around 11 a.m.
Earlier on Friday, law enforcement was alerted by Cheng that her husband, Yee Lee, 27, had shot himself. Lee’s cause of death was determined to be from a gunshot wound, and the manner of his death was suicide.
