The children, ages 3, 4 and 5, whose bodies were found in a suburban Minneapolis lake died in drownings ruled homicides and their mother died as a result of suicide, authorities said Tuesday as they identified the victims. Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department Undersheriff Mike Martin said investigators recovered the bodies of Molly Cheng and her three children from Lake Vadnais on Friday and Saturday. Authorities had earlier said 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 in 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, prompting a welfare check. Deputies eventually tracked Cheng’s cell phone to Vadnais-Sucker Lake Regional Park. Investigators recovered all four of the family’s bodies within two days, Martin said. Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Mike Martin (right) provides an update Saturday, July 2, 2022, after four bodies were recovered from Vadnais Lake in a suspected murder-suicide. At a news conference, Sheriff’s Department Cmdr. Eric Brandt told reporters the lake is fairly shallow, 5 to 10 feet deep. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death for 4-year-old Quadrillion Lee and 3-year-old Estella Zoo Siab Lee as drowning and suffocation. The death of five-year-old Phoenix Lee was caused by drowning. Highland Park victims: Parents of 2-year-old boy, ‘beloved’ grandfather and more. Florida mother arrested: Mother charged after 2-year-old son finds gun, fatally shoots father, sheriff says “Our hearts go out to the families involved here and their friends,” Martin said. The family’s motive for the death 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 US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) any time of the day or night or chat online. The story continues The Crisis Text Line also provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they call 741741. Natalie Neysa Alund covers trending news for USA TODAY. Contact her at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Minnesota mom drowns children in lake after husband dies by suicide