In this episode from the Rotten Mango podcast, the disturbing story unfolds of Lucy Lee, a member of a prominent Chinese Canadian family, and her alleged role in a brutal attempted murder. The summary delves into Lucy's background, including her powerful mother's influence and the public scrutiny surrounding Lucy's achievements.
It then recounts the harrowing details of how Lucy and her husband Oliver lured acquaintances Tyler and Jordan to a warehouse under false pretenses, resulting in Tyler's murder and Jordan's severe injuries. The summary explores the evidence, inconsistencies in Lucy's accounts, the devastating impacts on the victims and their families, and the ongoing legal battles.
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Lucy Lee is the oldest of three triplet sisters belonging to a prominent Chinese Canadian business family. Their mother, Winnie Lee, built a financial empire. Winnie actively promoted her family's image and her children's accomplishments through political connections.
Winnie, described as a "tiger mom," raised her children to be self-sufficient leaders. She instilled a competitive drive among the triplets, promising rewards for the first to become licensed to sell life insurance.
While Lucy attended Harvard's extension program, her mother often portrayed this as attending the main Harvard campus, fueling public skepticism over Lucy's achievements and background.
Lucy and Oliver invited Tyler Pratt and Jordan Romano to a warehouse under the guise of a business deal. There, Oliver shot and killed Tyler, while severely injuring Jordan.
Evidence pointed to premeditation, including Lucy purchasing a new vehicle, exchanging SIM cards, and attempting to sell the victims' cars before the event.
Jordan survived and testified against the couple, recounting being lured to the warehouse, Lucy's strange behavior, hearing gunshots, and witnessing their attackers flee.
Initially claiming innocence, Lucy later shifted blame to Oliver, portraying herself as an unaware victim in a toxic relationship. The prosecution highlighted inconsistencies in her stories.
Tyler's family grieved not only his murder but also the loss of his unborn child, mourning shattered dreams and potential.
Jordan nearly died from her injuries and continues to struggle with PTSD and anxiety so intense it caused her to have a car accident due to feeling pursued.
The judge described the murder as calculated, and Jordan expressed pity that Lucy and Oliver destroyed their lives over a relatively small amount of money, failing to break her spirit.
With Lucy and Oliver appealing their convictions and Jordan pursuing civil action, the emotional toll continues for the victims' families as they seek justice and closure.
1-Page Summary
Lucy Lee, the eldest of three triplets from a prominent Chinese Canadian family, has lived a life steeped in wealth, influence, and high expectations.
Lucy, known as the oldest of the Mia triplets by five minutes, has two additional siblings beyond her immediate triplet circle. Their mother, Winnie Lee, is a powerful businesswoman with a notable presence in Canada's financial sector. From modest beginnings after arriving from China, Winnie built a significant empire and established a reputation for her financial management business, which includes a service that facilitates the transfer of funds from China to Canada under a 20-year life insurance policy.
The Lee family has been closely involved in Canadian politics, with Winnie actively participating in fundraisers for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and receiving public recognition through handshakes and photo opportunities alongside him. She leveraged these opportunities to promote her family's image, including showcasing her children's accomplishments.
The triplets, at the early age of 13, founded the Canada Youth Funding Association, demonstrating their entrepreneurial spirit. The entire family is often referred to as a "company board of directors," where each member, according to Winnie, has a voice and can make influential decisions.
Winnie's decisiveness and powerful presence have defined her career and parenting style. She guided her children, teaching them to succeed independently and fostering leadership skills from a young age. On family trips, Winnie expected her children to manage all travel arrangements, allowing them to learn from their own mistakes without her interference. She also instilled a sense of punctuality and responsibility, notably having a policy of not waking them up for early flights.
Winnie has spoken on parenting panels and used her family as examples of success. She created a competitive atmosphere amongst her triplets, promising rewards to the first to get licensed to sell life insurance for her company.
Lucy Lee's Background and Family
Lucy and her husband Oliver were accused of orchestrating the murder of Tyler Pratt and the attempted murder of Tyler's girlfriend, Jordan Romano, by luring them to a warehouse under the guise of a business opportunity. The following recounts the evidence and testimonies brought forward regarding the case.
The couple allegedly attracted Tyler and Jordan to a warehouse under the pretext of a business opportunity. Once there, Oliver reportedly shot and killed Tyler and severely injured Jordan. Evidence suggesting the murder was premeditated includes the purchase of a new vehicle by Lucy, the exchange of SIM cards to disguise their movements, and efforts to sell the victims' cars before the event. Jordan, having survived the attack, gave a detailed account of the events, incriminating Lucy and Oliver.
A week before the crime, Lucy bought an Audi for Oliver, who didn't possess a license. They met Tyler and Jordan at the warehouse to assess its suitability for a marijuana growing operation. Here, confusion arose when the realtor did not show, and the doors were locked, prompting the victims to stay in their Range Rover. Lucy joined Jordan in the Range Rover and behaved nervously which Jordan found strange.
While Lucy was looking for a lockbox, she heard what were gunshots but didn't immediately recognize them as such. Oliver then furiously ordered Lucy into their Audi while Jordan struggled in the Range Rover. After the shooting, with Oliver and Lucy fleeing, Jordan crawled out seeking help and heard her attackers ensuring she was dead.
Tyler had known Oliver as a "rich kid with rich parents," and the guise for the meeting had been Oliver’s proposition of a profitable venture selling medical supplies in Europe. After the shooting, Jordan crawled onto the road seeking help until Annette Bright found her and called 911, eventually leading to Jordan fainting into a coma. During her victim impact statement, Jordan recounted how she and Tyler had been preyed upon for weeks by the couple.
Though Lucy’s lawyer argued that she was a naïve and manipulated individual, she gave multiple, conflicting stories about the night of the crime. Initially, she claimed that Oliver had always been cheating ...
The events and evidence surrounding the murder and attempted murder
The murder of Tyler Pratt and the attempted murder of Jordan Romano have had profound impacts on the victims themselves and their families, with lasting psychological trauma and a continual search for justice.
Tyler Pratt's family has been left devastated, not only by the loss of Tyler, described as a hardworking and talented entrepreneur, but also by the tragic death of his unborn child. Similarly, Jordan Romano suffered both severe physical and psychological damage from the attack.
The emotional shock and grief due to the loss of Tyler and the potential life of his unborn child continue to impact his family deeply, affecting their everyday lives and future aspirations, exacerbating the tragedy.
Annette Bright, the woman who found Jordan, recalled the extreme severity of Jordan's injuries, which left her life hanging in balance. Since the attack, Jordan has struggled with PTSD and anxiety so intense it has caused her to have a car accident because she felt pursued by Oliver and Lucy. Her coping mechanisms once included using alcohol to sleep, illustrating the consuming nature of her trauma.
Jordan expressed in her victim impact statement that she pitied Lucy and Oliver for squandering their lives over what she deemed a "lousy $470,000," and for failing to break her spirit despite the violence inflicted upon her.
The impacts on the victims and their families
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