Community Corner
Vadnais Heights Tragedy: Relatives Raise Funds For Funeral Expenses
The father died by suicide, and the mother and three toddlers died in a triple murder-suicide, authorities said. They were from Maplewood.
MAPLEWOOD, MN — The relatives of Molly Cheng, Yee Lee, and their three young children are raising funds for the family's funeral expenses after they all died last week.
The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the children's and mother's deaths as a triple murder-suicide that happened after the father killed himself.
"Due to the tragic event that we are enduring this difficult time, we are struggling to find the funds for multiple funeral expenses," the GoFundMe page states. "The whole family would like to ask for donations from you all. We truly appreciate every little help and want to thank you all from the bottom of our hearts."
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Just after 10:30 a.m. on July 1, Maplewood police and fire crews responded to the 1300 block of Pearson Drive in Maplewood. The caller, Cheng, 23, reported that her husband had shot himself.
The man was later identified as Lee, 27, of Maplewood. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner ruled his death a suicide.
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Hours later, at around 4 p.m., a relative called 911 and said Cheng was planning to kill her children before killing herself, according to authorities. Following that call, Maplewood police issued a statewide alert to find Cheng and her children.
At about 5:45 p.m., authorities tracked Cheng's cell phone to the area of Vadnais Lake in Vadnais Heights. At the lake, deputies found several pairs of kids' shoes and a set of car keys on the shore.
Crews searched the lake from 7:30 p.m Friday until 11 a.m. Saturday and found the bodies of three children and one adult woman.
The names and ages of the three children were released:
- Estella Zoo Siab Lee, 3, of Maplewood
- Cause of death: Drowning and smothering, ruled a homicide
- Quadrillion T. Lee, 4, of Maplewood
- Cause of death: Drowning and smothering, ruled a homicide
- Phoenix Lee, 5, of Maplewood
- Cause of death: Drowning, ruled a homicide
Cheng's body was also found, and her death was ruled a suicide by drowning.
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