By Dakota Antelman, Managing Editor
UPDATE: The woman found dead alongside her daughter in Shrewsbury, March 19, has been identified. Shrewsbury Police, meanwhile, have reiterated that the Worcester County District Attorney will maintain jurisdiction over this investigation.
Shrewsbury – The sudden deaths of a 49-year-old-woman and her 12-year-old daughter shocked Shrewsbury and drew the attention of state and local investigators, this week.
Speaking outside police headquarters, March 19, Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early said police found the woman in a home on Ladyslipper Dr, just off Route 9, while responding to a 9-1-1 call shortly after 7:30am.
They brought her to UMass Medical Center University Campus in Worcester where doctors then pronounced her “dead on arrival.”
As police continued to investigate, back on Ladyslipper Dr, Early said they located the body of the 12-year-old girl.
“It was a very difficult scene,” Early said.
After initially declining to do so, March 19, Early identified the woman as Jihyun Lee via a Twitter post, March 20.
He did not share the name of Lee’s daughter.
Medical examiners, meanwhile, remained at work conducting autopsies of both the woman and her daughter when Early spoke back on March 19.
“We are really still early in the hours of this investigation,” Early told reporters assembled for a press conference. “…We’re very limited on the information that we can release at this time.”
Promising more details in the coming days, Early confirmed that this woman and her daughter leave behind a husband and son.
Shrewsbury Chief of Police Kevin Anderson assured the public that “this appears to be an isolated incident.”
Anderson said the School District is also aware of these deaths. It plans to provide grief counseling to those who need it.
“Our condolences go out to the family and the friends of the victims,” Anderson said. “It’s hard on the community.”
In a separate statement to the Community Advocate, March 20, Anderson reiterated his press conference comments, further emphasizing, though, that the DA’s office will maintain jurisdiction over this investigation in the days and weeks to come.
“This was a tragic loss for the family and the community,” he wrote. “Very sad.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates…
Additional reporting by Melanie Petrucci
