Marie H. Heu, aged 34, was found dead in her Eagan, Minnesota home on August 22, 2000. Her body was discovered by family members who had been alerted by Tcheng Heu, her nephew, about a problem at the residence. Upon arrival, they found Marie lying on the floor of her bedroom. Her car was missing from its usual parking spot but was later found in Kansas City, Missouri. Marie's estranged husband, Fu Joseph Heu, was identified as the primary suspect in her death.
He had driven the car to Kansas City before returning to Minnesota and turning himself in to the police two days later.
Fu Joseph Heu, aged 36 at the time, was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree intentional murder. The charges included first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree domestic abuse murder, and second-degree intentional murder. The state presented evidence of a pattern of domestic abuse, citing two prior incidents involving Fu and Marie. The first incident occurred on April 18, 1998, at the Duckwood Apartments in Eagan, and the second on June 18, 2000, at their family residence on Alder Lane. Following the second incident, Marie obtained an order for protection against Fu, which excluded him from the house and prohibited any contact with her.
On the night of August 21, 2000, Fu met his nephew Tcheng at a Wal-Mart in Eagan, where he purchased a bicycle for one of his daughters. Despite the OFP, Fu had Tcheng drive him to the Alder Lane residence. Fu testified that he followed Tcheng up the stairs after leaving the bicycle in the basement. Tcheng then knocked on Marie's door, leading to the discovery of her body the next morning. Fu was subsequently convicted of second-degree intentional murder and sentenced accordingly.
