Slain Rancho Cordova mom, two toddlers recalled as model family

Family members of a Rancho Cordova woman who was found dead earlier this week along with two of her young children held a press conference Thursday to pay tribute to their loved ones.

The family was found dead in their home by Denis Bukhantsov, who discovered his wife, Alina Bukhantsov, and their two kids, 3-year-old Emmanuela and 2-year-old Avenir. Six-month-old baby Mark was found in another room in his crib, crying but unharmed.

Authorities charged Denis Bukhantsov's brother, Grigoriy, with three counts of murder. They described him as a transient with no address on record. The Sacramento Bee reported that Grigoriy had a violent past.

Aleksey Bukhantsov, Grigoriy's father, asked for a restraining order against the teenager in August 2011 because he had violent confrontations with family members and had threatened to kill them, according to the Bee.

At the family's press conference on Thursday, Nikolay Olferchik, uncle to Alina Bukhantsov, described his niece and her family as a model family.

Denis Bukhantsov described his wife as his best friend. "I have someone to live for," Denis said of his son Mark. "I'll try to take care of him as best as I can."

The family said they're relying on their faith in God to give them strength through this tragedy.

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-- Fox 40 Sacramento