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Hours after husband's death, Minnesota mother drowns 3 children, kills self, police say

Just hours after her husband died by suicide over the holiday weekend, a mother drowned her three children in a Minnesota lake and then killed herself, officials said.

The children, ages 3, 4 and 5, whose bodies were found in a lake in suburban Minneapolis, died in drownings classified as homicides, and their mother died as a result of suicide, authorities announced Tuesday while identifying the victims.

Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department Undersheriff Mike Martin said searchers recovered the bodies of Molly Cheng and her three children from Vadnais Lake on Friday and Saturday.

Authorities had said earlier that the deaths were being investigated as a triple murder-suicide.

According to Martin, the woman called police Friday and said her husband, Yee Lee, had shot himself to death at his Maplewood home.

That afternoon, one of Cheng’s relatives called police to say she planned to kill her children and herself, the department said, which resulted in a welfare check. Deputies  eventually tracked Cheng's cellphone to Vadnais-Sucker Lake Regional Park.

Searchers recovered all four of the family's bodies over two days, Martin said.

Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office Undersheriff Mike Martin  (at right) provides an update on Saturday, July 2, 2022, following the recovery of four bodies from Vadnais Lake, in a suspected murder-suicide.
Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office Undersheriff Mike Martin (at right) provides an update on Saturday, July 2, 2022, following the recovery of four bodies from Vadnais Lake, in a suspected murder-suicide.

In a news conference, Sheriff's Department Cmdr. Eric Bradt told reporters the lake is fairly shallow, ranging anywhere from 5 to 10 feet deep.

The Ramsey County medical examiner determined that the cause of 4-year-old Quadrillion Lee and 3-year-old Estella Zoo Siab Lee's deaths was drowning and smothering. Five-year-old Phoenix Lee's death was caused by drowning.

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"Our hearts go out to the families involved here and their friends," Martin said.

A motive in the family's deaths was not immediately known. The deaths remained under investigation Tuesday, authorities said.

If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) any time day or night, or chat online.

Crisis Text Line also provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741.

Natalie Neysa Alund covers trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Minnesota mom drowns kids in lake after husband dies by suicide