A New Zealand family was shocked to discover two deceased bodies in a storage unit they purchased at an auction. Hakyung Lee, 44, is currently facing trial in Auckland for the alleged murder of her children, Yuna Jo, 8, and Minu Jo, 6, in 2018. Prosecutors claim that Lee drugged her children with a potent antidepressant, hid their bodies in suitcases, and expressed a desire for the family to perish together.
Toxicology tests confirmed the presence of the antidepressant Nortriptyline in the children’s systems. Although the exact means of murder could not be determined due to time elapsed, no physical signs of trauma were found during autopsies. Medical experts warn that Nortriptyline, a medication prescribed for depression and nerve pain, can pose severe health risks to children even at low doses.
Lee reportedly acquired the drug after her husband’s cancer diagnosis, citing dizziness and sleep issues. Prosecutors allege that her mental state deteriorated following her husband’s death, leading to disturbing messages expressing a wish for the family’s demise in various tragic scenarios. Lee is accused of meticulously concealing her children’s bodies in plastic layers, sealing them in suitcases, and storing them in a unit before fleeing the country.
Upon extradition from South Korea in 2022, Lee pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the charges of murdering her children. Her defense argues that she was in a state of mental instability and believed the family should die together. The trial, expected to extend over four weeks, will require jurors to determine both the act of the killings and Lee’s mental state at the time.