Knives Recovered, Stabbings Confirmed In Rancho Cordova Triple Homicide Investigation
RANCHO CORDOVA (CBS13/AP) — Investigators said Friday they had recovered several knives they believe may have been used in this week's killings of a mother and two of her young children inside their Rancho Cordova duplex.
The Sacramento County Coroner's Office confirmed on Friday that all three victims died from stab wounds.
"We recovered at least one knife from the scene, as well as several other things that could possibly be murder weapons, but they have to do the testing on them to make sure," Ramos said Friday.
He said the other recovered weapons also are knives.
Grigoriy Bukhantsov, 19, was arrested early Wednesday, hours after his older brother, Denis Bukhantsov, returned to his Rancho Cordova home to find his wife dead, along with their 3-year-old daughter, Emmanuela, and 2-year-old son, Avenir. A 6-month-old baby boy was found unharmed in a crib.
Sacramento County prosecutors filed formal murder charges against Grigoriy Bukhantsov during his court hearing Friday afternoon. Spokeswoman Shelly Orio said the office would not comment about whether it will seek the death penalty.
Grigoriy Bukhantsov's public defender said his client is confused and distraught but does seem to understand the charges against him. Bukhantsov is being held in a psychiatric unit at the county jail and is being checked regularly to make sure he doesn't harm himself, Ramos said.
Sheriff's homicide Sgt. Jim Barnes said Bukhantsov had refused to discuss the deaths and said investigators had not determined a motive.
Deputies say the suspect had a troubled relationship with his family, and court records show his parents and siblings sought restraining orders because they were afraid of him. He repeatedly threatened to stab, shoot and burn them to death, struck his relatives, punched holes in walls and showed signs of using drugs and alcohol, family members said in the court filings.
His father and older brother Daniel were in court Friday.
"I know he did some terrible things, but we still forgive him and we still love him," Daniel said.
Denis Bukhantsov, 29, said his brother was calm when he showed up at the family's home Monday night seeking shelter from a rain storm.
Barnes said the suspect showed no signs of intoxication when he was arrested at a Rocklin Denny's early Wednesday morning, but drug test results are pending.
Bukhantsov is due back in court Nov. 26.
An informal town hall meeting is scheduled for Monday at 6 p.m. at Rancho Cordova City Hall. Police will address the public's concerns about the killings.
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