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Chapter Six
The Turzynskis
Through the years

  • 1980

    Madam Lee Kui Yin

    Singaporean Lee Kui Yin, 29, meets Polish Kazimierz Turzynski, 25, while in Poland on holiday. Kui Yin, a seamstress, and Kazimierz, a mime in an acting troupe that includes his parents, fall in love, beginning a whirlwind long-distance relationship for the deaf couple.

  • 1983

    Kazimierz leaves the then-communist country to meet Kui Yin’s family in Singapore. Her closest sibling Lee Say Moi, also known as Diana, acts as a guarantor for Kazimierz’s visit. His hopes of staying in Singapore are dashed because of visa issues.

  • 1985

    The Turzynskis

    Kui Yin moves to New Jersey to join Kazimierz. They get married.

  • Oct 13, 1988

    Baby photo of Colleen Turzynski

    Colleen is born in Paterson, New Jersey

  • March 18, 1990

    Photo of Colleen's parents and paternal grandfather

    Colleen’s 35-year-old father, a press operator at a rubber company, her 39-year-old mother and 61-year-old grandfather Mieczyslaw Turzynski, a carpenter, cobbler and locksmith, are stabbed to death in their Clifton, New Jersey, home.

  • March 25, 1990

    Crime scene of the Turzynski's

    Police discover the bodies after a report of foul smell coming from the apartment. Colleen, then a 17-month-old toddler, is found alive, among the bodies of her family. She is sent to St Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson and treated for dehydration and diaper rash.

  • March 26, 1990

    Colleen’s godparents, a Polish immigrant couple in Stamford, Connecticut, take care of her. They alert the Turzynskis in Poland.

  • March 27, 1990

    The suspect, Pakistani immigrant Abdul Qudoos, 26, is taken into custody. Police find a Camcorder and a 35mm camera belonging to the Turzynskis in his apartment. Offers to adopt Colleen pour in.

  • March 29, 1990

    Reports of Mdm Lee Jui Yin's death

    Singapore police confirm the death of Kui Yin.

  • April 1990

    Niche of Madam Lee Kui Yin

    Her ashes are flown back to Singapore. Both paternal and maternal relatives battle for custody of Colleen. Meanwhile, Qudoos maintains his innocence.

  • June 4, 1990

    A US court rejects a bid by a deaf couple from Clifton to adopt Colleen.

  • July 1990

    Qudoos is charged with the murder of the Turzynskis.

  • Dec 11, 1990

    A US court grants custody to her paternal uncle in Poland, while her grandmother remains an important influence in her life. She spends most of her childhood at a residential school for the deaf.

  • Dec 13, 1990

    Madam Lee Say Moi

    Say Moi, Colleen’s aunt, is informed that custody has been granted to the paternal relatives in Poland.

  • Jan 9, 1991

    A local deaf community protests against the ruling outside the Family Court building in Paterson, claiming that Colleen should stay in the US for her education.

  • March 1, 1991

    Colleen departs for Poland with her paternal grandmother, who is also deaf.

  • May 10, 1991

    Qudoos is cleared of the murder of the Turzynskis, after a court ruling that there is insufficient evidence to prove that he committed the crime.

  • 1992

    Qudoos is deported to Pakistan.

  • June 28, 1993

    A state appeals court upholds the decision to dismiss, without prejudice, the murder charges against Qudoos.

  • Nov 2013

    Colleen in New Jersey

    Colleen returns to the US to visit her father and grandfather’s graves in New Jersey.

  • April 7, 2014

    Colleen's interview with The Straits Times

    The Straits Times publishes a story of her search for her Singapore family, prompting an outpouring of support from readers on Facebook and via e-mail. Her mother’s family reaches out.

  • April 10, 2014

    Skype reunion of Colleen and her Singaporean relatives

    Colleen and her Singaporean relatives meet for the first time, in an emotional reunion, via a Skype video call.

  • Dec 16, 2014

    Colleen's interview with The Straits Times

    Colleen meets her Singaporean relatives in person for the first time, at Changi Airport.

  • Dec 16, 2014

    Later in the afternoon, she goes to her mother's final resting place at Mount Vernon Columbarium.

    Later in the afternoon, she goes to her mother's final resting place at Mount Vernon Columbarium.

  • Dec 17, 2014

    The Polish Embassy invites Colleen to its annual Christmas dinner for the local Polish community. This is Colleen's first Christmas party here.

  • Dec 22, 2014

    Colleen meets two of her late mother's friends in the local deaf community, at the Singapore Association for the Deaf.

    Colleen meets two of her late mother's friends in the local deaf community, at the Singapore Association for the Deaf.

  • Jan 2, 2015

    Colleen meets her late mother's best friend, Madam Chan Yoke Mei

    Colleen meets her late mother's best friend, Madam Chan Yoke Mei, now 62, who had gone on a holiday with the mother to Europe for about six months in 1981. They also visit Colleen's mother's final resting place at Mount Vernon - the second time for Colleen.

  • Jan 10, 2015

    Colleen and her relatives have one last family gathering before her return to the US, where she is studying.

    Colleen and her relatives have one last family gathering before her return to the US, where she is studying.

  • Jan 11, 2015

    Colleen departs for the US.

    Colleen departs for the US.

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