In a surprising turn of events, a family who purchased a storage unit at an auction in New Zealand made a chilling discovery of two deceased individuals inside. Hakyung Lee, 44, is currently facing trial in Auckland for the alleged murder of her 8-year-old daughter Yuna Jo and 6-year-old son Minu Jo. Authorities claim that Lee is accused of drugging her children with a potent antidepressant before hiding their bodies in suitcases.
According to court proceedings, prosecutors disclosed that toxicology tests unveiled traces of the antidepressant Nortriptyline in both children’s chest cavities and livers. A pathologist’s report indicated that the children were killed by unspecified means, as the passing of time hindered precise dosing analysis. Remarkably, no physical signs of trauma, such as broken bones, were found during the autopsy.
Nortriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant commonly used for depression and nerve pain, is known to pose serious health risks to children, including seizures, heart arrhythmias, and cardiac arrest, even at low doses. Allegedly, Lee obtained a prescription for the drug in 2017 after her husband’s cancer diagnosis, claiming symptoms of dizziness and insomnia to her physician.
The prosecution asserted that Lee’s mental state deteriorated following her husband’s medical issues and eventual demise. Alleged messages from Lee indicated a desire for the family to perish together, with statements suggesting she would have preferred her children to die instead of her spouse. Prosecutors claim that Lee admitted to wrapping her children’s bodies in multiple layers of plastic, securing them with duct tape, and placing them in separate suitcases within the storage unit.
Shortly after the tragic incident, Lee reportedly fled the country on a business class ticket, changed her identity, and eventually extradited from South Korea in 2022. She has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder, citing an insanity defense. Her defense attorney argued that Lee had descended into madness and believed in a collective demise for the family.
During the trial, Justice Geoffrey Venning highlighted to the jurors the importance of determining not only if Lee caused the children’s deaths but also if she was legally insane at the time of the incident. The trial is anticipated to span up to four weeks as further details and testimonies come to light.
