TIMOTHY and TITUS SUN - 9 and 7 yo - (and their parents Maoye Sun and Mei Xie) - Cypress, TX

4 bodies found in Cypress-area home


By Mike Glenn | January 30, 2014 | Updated: January 31, 2014 10:17pm

Four people were found dead Thursday night at a home in northwest Harris County, sheriff's deputies said.

They were discovered about 7:30 p.m. after deputies contacted by a family friend made a welfare check at a home in the 14000 block of Fosters Creek, authorities said.

Sheriff's deputies used yellow tape to cordon off the scene in the Cypress-area neighborhood that features wide streets and well-manicured lawns.

At the scene, Capt. Rolf Nelson, of the sheriff's homicide division, would not provide any details about the people inside the home — including how they died or where the bodies were discovered.

"It is believed to be a family. We haven't identified anyone inside," Nelson said.

The deputies were dispatched to the house at the urging of a "concerned friend of the family," Nelson said. "One of the adults had not come to work in a couple of days."

Nelson wouldn't say if there was evidence of forced entry or if a weapon was discovered.

"We're still in the very early stages of this investigation," Nelson said.

A neighbor who would identify himself only as "Ryan" said a husband and wife lived in the house with two grade-school-age sons. Ryan said his children sometimes played tag with the two boys.

"They're a real nice family. This is a complete shock to us," Ryan said. "We just talked to them a couple of days ago."

Ryan said he has never heard of the family having problems. 

Chris Wiluth, who lives a few houses down from the home where the bodies were discovered, said he couldn't believe what was happening when he stepped outside and saw the patrol cars from the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

He said he didn't know what to think about a homicide investigation playing out so close to his own home.

"But as you well know, it could happen anywhere," Wiloth said.

He said he felt very sad for the people who lived at the home.

"I pray for the families involved in this and hope the neighborhood can get some closure," Wiloth said.

http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/cyfair/news/article/4-bodies-found-in-Cypress-area-home-5191469.php

Investigators release new details in Cypress murders







Location
14015 Fosters Creek Cypress TX

Posted: Thursday, February 6, 2014 9:45 am | Updated: 10:27 am, Thu Feb 6, 2014.


By CRYSTAL SIMMONS

Calling the murders baffling, investigators with the Harris County Sheriff’s office could provide few answers about the brutal murder of a Cypress family of four during a news conference Tuesday.

On Jan. 30, deputies found the bodies of two young children and two adults in their home at 14015 Fosters Creek Drive.

"It's bad enough that the two adults were found dead--but even worse, two small children both under the age of 10," said Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia. “It's baffling how anyone has it within them to take the lives of children."

They were not tied up, said Garcia. All four were found in separate bedrooms with bullet wounds in the head.

The victims were identified as Mei Xie and her husband Maoye Sun.

Identification of the boys is pending confirmation of their identities through dental records, according to the IFS.

Investigators believe they may have died four days before they were found. When deputies arrived, the back door was found open and a window was broken, said Garcia. Detectives have not yet been able to determine a motive or how many suspects may have been involved.

Garcia said he did not know if the family was killed in a robbery or at random, but he did say the family appeared ordinary.

Garcia described the couple as naturalized Chinese immigrants with two children: a 9 and 7-year-old who attended Sampson Elementary School. The husband worked at Cameron as a mechanical engineer and was last seen clocking out of work Jan. 24, said Garcia.

The HCSO began investigating the case when the man’s co-workers became concerned and requested a welfare check.

Investigators believe the public, especially the Chinese community, can provide answers to the murders.
 
"It's not an everyday occurrence and obviously this is a great concern for us,” said Garcia. "We want the public to rack their brains, and provide us any bit of information that they can."

Anyone with information are asked to call Houston Crime Stoppers at (713) 222-TIPS (8477) or the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Division at (713) 967-5810

http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/cypresscreek/news/investigators-release-new-details-in-cypress-murders/article_94ae1c76-8de4-11e3-9064-001a4bcf887a.html

Community calls for help to solve murder of Cypress family



Shaken Chinese-American community holds vigil for slain family


By Anita Hassan, Yang Wang, Brian Rogers | February 8, 2014 | Updated: February 8, 2014 10:48pm

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Mourners carry flowers to the home of the family shot to death in Cypress during a vigil organized by the Houston Chinese Alliance.

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Two dark-haired brothers are pictured on Santa's lap - Timothy Sun with a full toothy grin and his little brother, Titus Sun, with the unmistakable chubby cheeks of a toddler. Parents Maoye Sun and Mei Xie stand on either side, smiling proudly.

The snapshot, taken in December 2008, depicts a classic moment in the life of hardworking Chinese-American parents, one emulated by so many immigrants who come to the country to make a better life for themselves and their children.

On Saturday evening, the Christmas photo of the Suns was placed by a nervous family friend against a bouquet of daisies and yellow chrysanthemums at a memorial for the slain Cypress family. All four were murdered by bullets to their heads in their suburban home, authorities said.

Their violent deaths, which made headlines around the globe, have shaken the Chinese-American community. With investigators still trying to determine a motive and identify suspects in the killings, their fears are deepened.

"For us it's like, 'How could this happen, they are such good people," said the woman who places the family's photograph at the vigil, which was hosted by the Houston Chinese Alliance at a northwest Harris County community center near the family's home.
Fearful of the unknowns, the woman asked to be identified only as Mrs. Chu. She says she's among those considering buying a gun to protect herself.

"We don't really know much about what's going on and I think that's what most people are afraid of," Chu said.

The family was found shot and killed in their home in the 14000 block of Fosters Creek Drive around 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30.

Authorities said the couple was last seen on Jan. 24. The boys, who swam and participated in Boy Scouts, last attended school at Sampson Elementary the day before.

Investigators are searching for an explanation for the shootings, Harris County Sheriff assured the crowd at the vigil.
"My office is dedicating all resources available to help find those responsible," he said. "I'm asking for your support to communicate about the circumstances surrounding this crime."

Brilliant employee
Russ Stevens, who supervised Sun, who worked as an engineer at Cameron International Corp., called the analyst a brilliant employee, who was easygoing and patient.

"You could see the joy on his face when he was solving complex problems," he said.

The company and the Houston Chinese Alliance are raising funds to offer a reward for information, as well as for travel expenses to bring the Sun relatives in China to Houston.

State Rep. Gene Wu told hundreds at the vigil that he understood the murders hit everyone hard. The Sun family represents countless other immigrants who come to the United States to make a better life for themselves, he said.

Worried parents
"All they wanted to do was be left in peace and raise their children," he said, urging the Chinese community to break from traditional silence if they have any information that could help solve the case. "This is not the time for that."

Zhiqiang Liu, a Houston medical researcher who volunteered at the vigil, said his parents were worried after they learned about the killings.

"They asked me to move back to China as soon as possible," he said.

Wendy Zhao, a Houston businesswoman, said she was too afraid to attend the vigil. She said when her father in China saw the news on his local television station, he reminded her to always lock her doors and windows.

"Some of my Chinese friends said they were too scared to visit Houston," Zhao said.

The crime has shaken other homeowners in the neighborhood.

"My husband is a hunter and he's been teaching me how to shoot," said Cindy Mills, a 52-year-old mother of four. "When we went to the shooting range we couldn't get in, the line was so long."

Growth and crime
Mills moved to the subdivision when it was a small community - before construction on the Grand Parkway, before the outlet mall, before the Northwest Medical Center. The area's population grew 70 percent, or by 30,000 residents, over a decade.

"We're getting more traffic and we feel because of that we're getting crime too," said Mills. "We used to be hidden away, but we're not now, unfortunately.''

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Community-calls-for-help-to-solve-murder-of-5217624.php?cmpid=hpbn