Grieving for three young children whose bodies were pulled from Vadnais Heights Lake on Friday and Saturday, their families and law enforcement are searching for answers.
The body of Molly Cheng, the children’s 23-year-old mother, was also found in Lake Vadnais. The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office said Saturday that it is investigating the case as a possible triple murder-suicide.
The death follows the reported suicide of Cheng’s husband, who is the father of the children. Maplewood police and firefighters were called to the family’s home in the 1300 block of Pearson Drive about 10:30 a.m. Friday and found him dead.
Law enforcement began searching for the mother and her children on Friday.
“As a result of the incident that occurred (in Maplewood), they were concerned for her well-being and the well-being of the children,” Deputy Sheriff Mike Martin said Saturday. Molly Cheng’s cell phone was tracked Friday around 4 p.m. to Vadnais-Sucker Lake Regional Park, which is located off Interstate 694 and Rice Street. Her car was found parked, children’s shoes were also found.
Ramsey County Sheriff Mike Martins speaks to the media at the scene of a suspected triple suicide at Vadnais-Snail Lakes Regional Park in Vadnais Heights on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (John Autey/Pioneer Press)
Searches began at the lake and park, with officials removing a boy’s body from the lake around 7:30 p.m. Friday. Another boy was found dead in the lake around midnight, followed by the bodies of their mother at 10:40 a.m. and a girl at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
The Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office is working to determine the cause and manner of their deaths.
Cheng’s sons were 4 and 5, and her daughter was 3, according to Cheng’s social media posts. Cheng writes that he works as a tattoo artist, does permanent makeup, and is also a hair and makeup artist.
HOW TO GET HELP
The names of the people who died were not released by authorities Saturday, although Sher Cheng knew them – he was Molly Cheng’s cousin and said he had spent time with her husband.
He said he didn’t understand what happened.
“I can’t even say anything about what she did,” he said Saturday. “It’s just hard.”
He said he last spoke to Cheng’s husband a few weekends ago and “he was acting the same way;” Cher had no sense that anything was wrong.
“He’s just a nice guy,” he said. “Surely he loves his children.”
Dan Reidenberg, executive director of SAVE (Suicide Education Voices) in Bloomington, urged people to avoid speculating or jumping to judgment.
“Suicide is never about one thing,” he said. “In a situation like this, if she finds out that he killed himself, there must have been more to it than that.”
The vast majority of people who suffer the loss of a relative or friend to suicide receive support and help “and can get through it,” Reidenberg said.
He also wants people to know there are resources and support available for people in crisis. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 800-273-TALK (8255).
“If you’re worried about someone — you hear them say they have no reason to live, that they’re giving away their possessions — reach out, try to help them,” said Sue Abderholden, executive director of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Minnesota.
In Ramsey County, people can call the Adult Mental Health Crisis Line at 651-266-7900, which is available 24 hours a day.
“LOSS OF THREE INNOCENT LIVES”
Vadnais Heights Mayor Heidi Gunderson, the city council and city staff said their thoughts and prayers are with the family, responding officers and firefighters who helped with the search.
“We in the city have children in our lives and there are simply no words to express the sadness associated with the loss of three innocent lives,” they said in a statement.
The grief of the families was felt by the people who found the children in the lake. It “takes a toll on those who respond,” Deputy Pat Scott said Friday night during “Live on Patrol,” Sheriff Bob Fletcher’s live broadcast while on patrol.
They used sonar boats, did visual searches and had the Minnesota State Patrol helicopter assist them by air. Wings of Hope and Northstar Search and Rescue, both nonprofit organizations, brought aid and technology to help with the search.
“At the end of the day, it’s identifying possible objects of interest and then sending out divers who actually physically search for and locate the victim,” Martin said.
Cmdr. Eric Bradt, who is in charge of the sheriff’s office’s water patrol, said he’s been in law enforcement for 30 years and water patrol for most of his career and finding the children “has been one of the most difficult” . People involved will be given opportunities for counseling and stress analysis, Martin said.
Ramsey County Sheriff’s boats wait to be docked at Vadnais-Snail Lakes Regional Park in Vadnais Heights on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (John Autey/Pioneer Press)
The search for land and water continued until 3 am on Saturday and their work was suspended until about 8 am. There are some deep spots in the lake, but it’s mostly 5 to 10 feet deep, Brad said. Boating on the lake is not permitted.
“Our hearts go out to the families involved here and their friends,” Martin said. “Our goal was to find the children and the mother and return them to their families.
For most people, “to even imagine it would be terrifying just to think about it,” Fletcher said.
Fletcher recalled some similar situations in the past, including when Naomi Gaines threw her 14-month-old twin sons off the Wabasha Street Bridge in St. Paul on July 4, 2003. One drowned and one survived. Gaines then jumped into the Mississippi River; she survived.
And on September 3, 1998, Khoua Her killed her six children, ages 5 to 11, at their residence in St. Paul’s McDonough Homes. She attempted suicide after what remains the worst mass killing in St. Paul’s history.
“The mental health aspect of people … it’s just hard to deal with how someone does this,” Fletcher said Friday.
“If you’re mentally healthy, it’s unimaginable,” Scott said.
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