Chens brother dismissed that report, saying Chen only hosted small card games for friends. In addition, two women testified that, in the 1970s, Bramblett had given them alcohol and molested them when they were eleven and fourteen years old.[1]. "This is a truly rare situation," said Horan. The bodies of Wu Hong Chen, 53; Shieh Yeh-Mei Chen, 52, and Raymond Chen, 26, have never been found. Ed was arrested for killing his family on August 17, 1995. He was sentenced to 36 years in prison. It remains disturbing to us to have this case open, McNally says. In the weeks following the murder, local Pastor Charlie Muller's church donated $5,000 for a reward. However, Mandy never turned Ed in, they got married, had a child together and were married for about two years. Despite more than 600 leads in the case, investigators couldnt zero in on any suspects. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. . The Unsolved Chen Family Murders of Upstate New York Remain Shrouded in Mystery Elena Ferrarin In this Oct. 9, 2014, file photo, authorities prepare to enter the scene of a quadruple homicide in Guilderland, New York, where Jin Chen, his wife and their two children were found fatally stabbed. The flooring had been replaced in the master bedroom, but they asked if the flooring underneath had been replaced, it hadnt. Interestingly, the court initially considered Edwards confession in police custody inadmissible, but Mandy, Michael, and Vickies testimonies helped strengthen the case. Interestingly, neither of them was reported missing up until then, and their neighbors theorized that the family might have gone away to Taiwan for good. [5], Around midday on October 8, 2014, a coworker of Chen's at the King's Wok restaurant where he worked became concerned when he had not reported for work or called to say he would be absent or late. The bodies were found Friday in a house on the 1300 block of Windy Hill Road. As reported by A&E, the brothers both enjoyed working with plants and were part of the school's garden club. Tips can also be submitted by calling 1-866-411-TIPS(8477), or call Fairfax County Police at (703) 691-2131. He could not say yet whether the killings were the work of organized crime, but allowed that "it's certainly a theory".[4]. Kowalski said Jin Feng and Hai Yan Li did not speak fluent English. Drawings of stick figures with arrows that corresponded to the Hodges' bullet wounds were found at Bramblett's place of employment. The guard . Their . Ultimately, pressured by the investigation, the police had to carry out a search of the Chen family home, as well as the Chesapeake Bay, since the bodies were allegedly dumped there. [11] All were involved in running a family restaurant;[6] investigators there believe the three were killed by professional assassins dispatched from New York City. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. Michael said he would cut them up and throw them in the ocean. He said his parents had heard the noise, and he went into their bedroom. Jin Feng Chen and Hai Yan Li were natives of China's Fujian province. The police decided to go the Chen house, but at this point it was owned by another couple. Months after his arrest in January, the man accused of shooting and killing an elderly Pokmon Go player has been indicted by a grand jury on a first-degree murder charge on . His dad tried to run away, which is he ended up on the floor, but he killed them. Chen, the newspaper said, had allegedly been involved in large transfers of unrecorded cash used to pay undocumented Chinese workers at restaurants in the New York City area, the Capital District and beyond,[9] transporting them from Chinatown to their jobs and back and providing accommodation in cities too far away for day bus trips. Tue, October 8th 2019, 2:15 PM PDT. The statue of limitations had expired. As reported by A&E, one of Chen's coworkers went to his home to find out why he did not show up for work. Edward Chen, the Chens' younger son and Raymond's younger brother, is now charged with three counts of murder. Edward Y. Chen pleaded guilty this morning to three counts of first-degree murder, admitting that he shot his parents and older brother to death in their Great Falls home in 1995, then left. said in a October 6, 2015 press conference, Anyone with any information about the case, Ashley Freeman and Lauria Bible: The Mysterious Murders of Teenage Best Friends. Feng Lu, 58, was taken into custody when he landed in San Francisco on a flight from China, Gonzalez said. I think he should have gotten life in prison, because he can still get out around age 60 for good behavior, according to one of the articles. Raymond Chen began working in real estate, including overseeing five Fairfax properties his parents bought, and Edward Chen enrolled at the University of Virginia. We're taking a break from Beyond Belief for a few weeks (but staying in the 90s) to cover a true crime case that is local to MM's neck of the woods and we have a coincidental connection to: the Chen Family murders in Great Falls, Virginia in August 1995. The woman who alerted authorities three years ago to a triple murder in Great Falls, committed by her ex-boyfriend Edward Y. Chen, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Alexandria to. "We think there is sufficient evidence" for the charges, Horan said, "with or without the bodies.". [5], Newsday reported a month after the crime that state police had been putting up bilingual fliers seeking information and tips in restaurants and stores along East Broadway, in the section of Chinatown that, due to its high concentration of Fujianese immigrants in recent years, has increasingly come to be known as Little Fuzhou. [5], Funeral services were held in Chinatown a month after the killings, to allow relatives from China to obtain visas and flights in order to attend. HENRY COUNTY, Va. . But after the March 19 phone call to police by Chen's ex-girlfriend, Vickie Henry, detectives quickly investigated and arrested Chen on March 29. Chen will be eligible for geriatric release when he is 60, after serving about 33 years. American Chinese-language media, such as the newspapers World Journal and Sing Tao, widely read among recent immigrants, also sent reporters to cover the case. Updated: 1:56 PM EDT June 30, 2022. The triple murder case at a home in Great Falls involved the Chen family. Greenspun said that Chen will serve about 30 years. It's been 20 years since the Short family was killed. VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) The family of a man shot and killed in 2017 has filed a lawsuit against the security guard accused of his murder as well as his employer and a community association. To listen please click below or find us wherever you listen to podcasts. "It is very unclear whether he was working," said Horan. The couple immigrated to the United States in the early 2000s. His final words were, "I didn't murder the Hodges family. At his arraignment Monday, Chen told the court he is not employed. "I shot them. Despite an investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies that reached as far as Canada and China, the brutal killings of a family of four in upstate New York remain unsolved. However, authorities never confirmed his involvement. The coworker was greeted by the gruesome scene of four brutal murders that remain unsolved to this day. ", Fostin said the family moved in two years ago. Investigators believe the family members were shot in their bedrooms, with a rifle, in the house in Great Falls. 60 is still pretty young, and who knows, he could hurt someone else again. You have to actually be sitting across from the person who did that to ask that question. The woman told a police dispatcher that on Aug. 17, 1995, when Chen was 19, he shot his father, Wu-Hung Chen, 53; his mother, Yeh-Mei Chen, 52; and his brother, Raymond, 25. It also said that an unnamed source had told the paper that Chen had shut down his restaurant two years earlier and his wife was in the U.S. illegally. Authorities eventually determined the murders occurred in the early morning hours of October 8, 2014. He said that Mandy Chen had not committed a crime and that the statute of limitations had expired for Reese's part in the crime. Anthony and Eddy Chen attended Guilderland Elementary School, where they were both described as happy and thoughtful students. Ed offered Michael $100,000 and a new car. [2] No suspects have been identified and as of January 2020[update], the investigation is continuing. Once questioned, Mandy mentioned that her relationship with Edward was quite challenging since his family was against the union. He left a $25,000/year job in February, Horan said, because he didnt want to do it any more. I also think its bullshit that Michael Reese was never charged. Investigators looked into links to gangs and human trafficking, according to media reports. If you missed the program, you can watch it online. He and his wife spent most of their time in Taiwan, giving rise to the assumption that is where they were, Horan said. The bodies of Wu Hong Chen, 53; Shieh Yeh-Mei Chen, 52, and Raymond Chen, 26, have never been found. Investigators were able to collect DNA samples that might belong to a suspect, but had not been able to determine who might have left it. [2] Eventually, the police discovered blood splatters belonging to Wu-Hung at the Chen family home, but the bodies were never recovered. Chen was initially charged with aggravated first-degree murder shortly after his son, Cooper Chen, and partner, Eric Cooper, were killed in the family's First Hill condominium. He was 20 when his family disappeared, according to police. All rights reserved, Metropolitan Police Department (DC Police / MPD), Family Awaits Return of DC Mother Missing for More Than 3 Weeks, Why Fans Say Trips to Disney World Are Now Incredibly Complicated' to Pull Off, This 28-Year-Old Ignored Warnings About Job-Hopping and Doubled Her Salary to $186K in 5 Years, Woman Who Smashed Bus Is Jailed Despite Defense's Report of Mental Illness, Daughter of Buccaneers LB Shaq Barrett Drowns in Family Pool. "There were so many cultural impediments, language barriers[b] and an overwhelming sense of fear", among the members of the local Chinese immigrant community detectives attempted to talk to, Albany County district attorney David Soares recalled later. The family member saw a body through a window of the home and called for help. The episode, dubbed "Ghosts of Great Falls," contains dramatizations of real-life events. "And one night I really just lost my nerve, lost my mind and I did it," Chen told Fairfax detectives. However, their relationship ended after two years. He was 20 when his family disappeared, according to police. Anyone with any information about the case is asked to contact New York State Police, Troop G, Major Crimes at (518) 783-3212 or email crimetip@troopers.ny.gov. Bramblett's sister provided police with a box he had left with her, which contained several audiotapes on which he spoke of his sexual attraction to 11-year-old Winter Hodges, and of his belief that the family, including Winter, was conspiring to set him up for child molestation charges. Soares said law enforcement officials are dealing with "one of the most complicated sets of circumstances [they] ever experienced in an investigation.". Yep, thats right FOUR YEARS. "He can't get out until he's 60," Horan said. However, Vickie was the one to end the relationship. All rights reserved. Police were also frustrated when Apple refused their initial requests to release the Chens' iPhone records. [3] In addition to the NYPD and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), both of which made interpreters available, investigators had reached out for help to police departments not only in other North American cities with large Asian populations, such as Chicago, Los Angeles, and Montreal, but to law enforcement in China, as well. Fairfax County, Va, officials arrest 27-year-old Edward Chen for 1995 murders of parents and brother (S) Ed admitted to everything. You have to actually be sitting across from the person who did that to ask that question.. Authorities explored similar murders of Chinese individuals and families in the region but were unable to find enough evidence to link any of those crimes to the Chen family murders. Ed did eventually tell Vickie that if he could take anything in his life back, it would be this. During their time there, a number of mysterious events occurred, including the "disappearance" of an illegitimate baby birthed by one of the students and the death of Mary's son, John, found burned to death in his bed. The bodies of Wu Hong Chen, 53; Shieh Yeh-Mei Chen, 52, and Raymond Chen, 26, have never been found. Chen told relatives in Taiwan that his family had died in a car accident in the United States. A young man named Edward Chen was charged with shooting his father, mother and brother with a rifle, stuffing their corpses into duffel bags weighted down with concrete, and dumping them in Chesapeake Bay. Though police are searching for the family's remains, Horan, who's never lost a murder trial, said he thinks he can get a conviction even without the bodies. Bramblett reportedly told friends that he wished he had not "hurt Tammy" three years after she went missing, though he was never charged in either Akers's or Rader's disappearances and their whereabouts are still unknown. The police said he was very matter of fact and didnt show much emotion. Bramblett murdered each family member in their residence before setting it on fire, and in 1997 was sentenced to death for the murders. It seems that Mandy was Eds motive for killing his family, and kept up appearances like paying the bills and doing yard work. I hope so.. However, Anthony and Eddy often came to her home to play with her puppies. Fairfax County police believe Hong Chen fatally shot Zhou, his wife, and James Chen, his son. They didnt have bodies or evidence, besides the word of two of Eds exes. Ed Chen murdered his mother, father, and brother in their home and went undiscovered until . [7] At the beginning of 2014, another Chinese family of four were found shot in the heads in their home outside Houston, Texas. However, a search of the Chens former residence revealed a dried-up blood stain, which matched Wu-Hungs blood, and convinced the police of Edwards involvement. Although the police were reluctant to believe Vickie initially, she stuck to her story and even claimed to have more witnesses. Although Virginia does not have parole, it does reduce sentences slightly for good behavior. They settled in the Albany suburb of Guilderland, near a take-out Chinese restaurant owned and operated by relatives, where Jin also worked. Impromptu memorials of flowers, candles and other mementoes were started not only at the house but the boys' elementary school. [1] Further investigation determined that the barrel of the murder weapon had been removed after Blaine had been killed, and that Blaine had been killed before the rest of his family. Instead, both sides agreed that the middle point of Virginia's suggested sentencing guidelines, which ranged from 26 to 45 years, was appropriate. Jin Feng Chen and Hai Yan Li were natives of China's Fujian province. By Joyce Chen July 15, 2016 Youtube 9 Some of the most chilling murders in recent history have taken place between family members, including the case of the Memphis mother who slashed four of. The week of the killing, a lengthy article in The New Yorker had documented this network, predominantly composed of Fujianese, for whom even the low pay and long hours at restaurants in the U.S. are preferable to the paucity of economic opportunities at home;[5] the author's primary source mentioned having taken a day bus from Chinatown to Albany to work at a restaurant there at one point. Tune in next week to hear from our favorite neighborhood papaya hater. All Rights Reserved. In an effort to encourage more witnesses to come forward, A&E reports that Albany County District Attorney P. David Soares offered witnesses immunity from being prosecuted for immigration-related offenses. ", What We Know About The Unsolved 2014 Murders Of The Chen Family. However, Ed eventually took a plea deal, and admitted to three counts of first degree murder. "We've done a lot of work here.". Ed said he had to use his brothers name to take care of his familys business accounts. He revealed the crime to Kolbe, but she said she didn't report it because she both loved and feared Chen. Investigation Discovery released this preview of the program: To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. She declined to set bond. Still, law enforcement officials could not find any evidence of complaints or criminal records related to the Chen family, and their neighbors did not report seeing any conflicts between family members. When Leslie Leon Burchart was arrested in 2000, he admitted to murdering at least 7 elderly women in 1996 during a killing spree that spanned 6 months. They asked Vickie if she would call Ed and record him confessing. The combined plea and sentencing hearing brought an abrupt end to a case that unfolded just as suddenly nine months ago, when Chen's ex-girlfriend called Fairfax County police and revealed Chen's secret. Franklin was put to death in 2013 for a different murder. Law enforcement officials determined all four victims were stabbed and beaten, with a vast majority of the injuries on their faces and heads. A DNA test on a pubic hair found in the bedroom where the girls were found was matched to Bramblett. Kowalski said she does not have any faith that the gruesome crime will ever be solved. He denied an early report that they had been shot, and later details emerged that the victims had been beaten with a hammer;[5] later accounts said they were stabbed as well. No homes or businesses in the immediate vicinity of the Chens had security cameras that might have provided footage to review. Ed was with his five year old daughter, Samantha, at the time and he said he wanted to say goodbye to her. In the early afternoon of October 8, 2014, a coworker of Jin Chen, 39, of Guilderland, New York, United States found the bodies of Chen, his wife and their two children in their home. On the other hand, people living near the Chen residence mentioned that after 1995, Edward often came over to maintain the houses exterior to give it a lived-in vibe. Chen, 43,. During her conversation with 6 News, she said, "Everyone knows this will be unsolved forever. Ed had to tip toe around his relationship with Mandy, even buying two apartments so his parents wouldnt find out. [3], In 2018, Robert Patnaude, commander of state police Troop G, which covers the Albany area, reiterated earlier pleas for help from the public, noting that sometimes even apparently trivial and innocuous information has solved cases. [6][4], The crime stunned Guilderland, normally a quiet suburb. The brothers lived in a house in Herndon, and each graduated from Herndon High School. Chen had owned a restaurant, but the business was all but closed for about two years, leading to questions about how he made a living, sources also told the newspaper. Young Performing Artists In McLean Awarded Scholarships By The Alden, McLean Home Listed For $3.2M Offers Luxurious Living Indoors, Outdoors, Special Grand Jury To Investigate Fatal Police Shooting At Tysons Mall, Antique Brass and Silver Restoration Services: MONDAYS 10-4, Celebrate Pilates Day: FREE Pilates Reformer classes & Happy Hour, SONOVA presents: Beethoven, Brews, and BBQ, Montgomery County Virtual 50+ Employment Expo Tuesday, May 16th, Summer Travel Season Could Be Busiest Ever In VA, AAA Says, VA Weather: Hazardous Weather Outlook Issued, Soggy Week Ahead, McLean Area Prospective Homeowners: See 5 New Homes On The Market, Math Whizzes, Finest Principal, White House Preserver: NoVA Good News, Morel Mushrooms Popping Up In VA: When To Find Springtime Delicacy. [3], Further inspection of the Hodges house revealed purposefully-disconnected telephone lines and the presence of a petroleum-based accelerant in several areas. Gaining entry, authorities found 37-year-old Teresa Lynn Hodges' body on a couch, still burning she had been strangled and doused with diesel fuel. Hong Chen, 52, Shirley Zhou, 48, and James Wenjie Chen, 16, were found dead in their. In the meantime, the younger Chen, like his brother a graduate of Herndon High School, sold the family's home in Seneca Knoll for $310,000. While the family was considered good-natured and quite generous, people who knew them mentioned how they would frequently travel to Taiwan to meet their relatives. Hello, listeners. It was a shock for everyone. Michael Reese was not charged with his crime. Its season 4 episode 6, titled Ghost of Great Falls.. On the other hand, Vickie also managed to make Edward partially confess to the murders over the phone, and the police wasted no time in arresting him in March 2022. Wu-Hung and Yei-Mei were constantly traveling to Taiwan, often leaving the two boys at home in their large home. HENRY COUNTY, Va. - It's a case that's gone unsolved for almost two decades. On Saturday, police identified those killed as Shirley Zhou, 48, James Wenjie Chen, 16, and Hong Chen, 52. People still talk about it., As for whether he believes the Chens will ever get justice, Gosh, he says, after pausing a beat. A World Journal reporter in attendance later told the Albany Times-Union that she and her colleagues believed the family knew more about what might have led to the killings than they were ready to say publicly. I feel very guilty for what I did.". On Aug. 15, 2002, investigators found Michael and Mary Short dead inside their home in Henry County, Virginia. For example, Guilderland police had to find an interpreter who spoke the appropriate Chinese dialect to communicate with some of the people who knew the Chen family, local media reported. "I want to apologize to my family and friends," Chen said in court, speaking publicly for the first time, "especially my daughter, for what I put them through. People who knew the family stated how they routinely traveled to Taiwan to meet their relatives, despite the fact that they were thought to be kind-hearted and relatively kind. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2002/12/10/fairfax-man-admits-killing-parents-brother/5008dc2d-f891-41bf-bcff-c3f1aaeb9148/, https://www.monstersandcritics.com/tv/true-crime/murders-of-wu-hung-weh-mei-and-raymond-chen-by-edward-chen-spotlighted/, https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2002/04/05/bodies-left-in-home-4-years-police-say/0b278b65-6233-4641-9a92-9db52de7ab2d/. Horan said he would not seek charges against Chen's ex-wife, who saw the bodies but did not report the killings, or Reese. Although the childs mother is in the area, care for the child will have to be sorted out by some court, Horan said. But Fairfax Commonwealth's Attorney Robert F. Horan still had three key witnesses: Chen's ex-wife, Mandy Chen, who had seen the bodies; Chen's friend Michael Reese, who helped him dispose of the bodies; and Henry, whom Chen had told about the killings and who made a tape-recorded phone call to Chen for the police shortly before Chen's arrest.