On July 1, 2022, three-year-old Estella Zoo Siab Lee's father, Yee Lee (27), died by suicide from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the family's home in the Rolling Hills Estates Mobile Home Park in Maplewood, Minnesota, which the children's mother, Molly Cheng (23), witnessed. After police investigated the father's death, the children were going to go to their grandparents' house, but the mother insisted they stay with her. Later that afternoon, a family member called 911 stating that Cheng intended to kill the children and herself. Police issued a statewide alert and tracked her cell phone to Vadnais-Sucker Lake Park in Vadnais Heights, where they found her car and children's shoes on the shore. Cheng smothered and drowned Estella and her brother Quadrillion (age 4), drowned her other child Phoenix (age 5), and then drowned herself in Vadnais Lake. Estella's body was recovered from the lake on the morning of July 2, 2022. Her cause of death was officially determined to be drowning in fresh water with probable smothering, and her manner of death was ruled a homicide. The family had no known prior criminal history or involvement with child protection services.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
The vital records document (2022-MN-027580.pdf) lists the cause of death as "Drowning In Fresh Water; Probable Smothering" and the injury description as "Fresh Water Drowning." The PEOPLE article states Estella "died by drowning and smothering." The Safe Passage report confirms "she had drowned the children and then herself" in Vadnais Lake.
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
The PEOPLE article states that the children's mother "reported that her 27-year-old husband Yee Lee had fatally shot himself in their Maplewood, Minnesota, home on July 1." The Safe Passage report also notes "the children's father died by suicide." The father's death by self-inflicted gunshot wound is a firearm incident that directly precipitated the children's murders.
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The vital records document (2022-MN-027580.pdf) lists the cause of death as "Drowning In Fresh Water; Probable Smothering." The PEOPLE article states that "Cheng smothered and drowned two of her children" and that "Quadrillion and Estella died by drowning and smothering." Smothering and intentional drowning are inflicted injuries.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
The PEOPLE article explicitly states: "The sheriff is investigating the death of Cheng and her children as a triple-murder suicide." The mother killed all three children and then drowned herself. The Safe Passage report confirms: "she had drowned the children and then herself."
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The Safe Passage report identifies the "Adult Perpetrator: Mother." The PEOPLE article identifies her as "Molly Cheng, 23" who "killed her children." She is the biological mother of the children, including Estella.
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
The Safe Passage report states that "family members notified police that she intended to harm herself and the children." The PEOPLE article reports that "Cheng's relative called 911 'stating that Molly was going to kill her children and herself'" and that "Cheng died by suicide by drowning." Additionally, the Star Tribune article references the mother being "reported to be suicidal." The father also "died by suicide." While no formal mental health diagnosis is mentioned, the suicidal behavior and intent of both parents constitute references to mental health.
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
The Safe Passage report describes a critical missed intervention opportunity: "After police investigated their father's death, the children were going to go to their grandparent's house, but their mother insisted they stay with her. Later in the evening, family members notified police that she intended to harm herself and the children." Despite family members calling 911 with an explicit warning that the mother intended to kill the children and herself, and despite police issuing a statewide alert, the children could not be located in time. Additionally, the father's suicide by gunshot earlier that same day was the direct precipitating event for the mother's subsequent murder-suicide, representing a recognized pattern of family annihilation. The PEOPLE article notes police tracked Cheng's cell phone to the area but found only "several pairs of kids' shoes and her car keys on the east shore of the lake" by the time they arrived.
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