Community Remembers Slain Mother And Children At Memorial

RANCHO CORDOVA (CBS13) - A community is in mourning as a young mother and her toddlers are laid to rest.

Hundreds showed up to the Rancho Cordova church to mourn beside family of the victims found brutally murdered in their home Monday.

Their deaths impacted many in the community; and Saturday, many who didn't even know Alina Bukhantsov and her two children came to say goodbye.

"It's an unspeakable tragedy," said Sheriff Scott Jones. "It's just very emotional, I think, for the entire community."

A community is standing by a family suddenly faced with tragedy.

Jones, who never met the Bukhantsovs, as well as the Rancho Cordova vice mayor, and others from around the country, came to grieve with the family of Alina and her toddlers, Emmanuela and Avenir. They were victims of a gruesome crime, allegedly at the hands of a relative.

"A lot of people looking to see why and trying to find out why, they're just never going to get that answer," said Jones.

Instead, they offered words of faith to Denis Bukhantsov, Alina's husband.

"Their faith will help them a lot," said Jones.

Denis broke down as the sheriff spoke to him. The emotion became so overwhelming for Denis' mother she nearly fainted in her chair as they looked at pictures of Alina, Emmanuela and Avenir.

A family in mourning is finding strength from the community to move forward.

"Coming here and sharing this pain with the family and with us as a community, I really appreciate that," said Pastor Florin Ciuriuc.

The sheriff says he went out to the crime scene that day because he knew the crime had emotionally affected his investigators.