A mother who despatched her kids to the Connecticut daycare middle of a lady accused of killing her personal kids earlier than taking her personal life stated Thursday she was shocked by the triple murder-suicide.
The lady attended a vigil for the slain household exterior their Danbury dwelling on Thursday evening and refused to imagine Sonia Loja, 36, would strangle her three kids.
“I can not imagine Sonia did this. I do not imagine what occurred,” Nube Sucuzhanay, 33, informed The Put up.
“Sonia was a very good particular person. She beloved and cared for her kids and was sort to the kids she cared for.
Sucuzhanay stated Loja got here to the USA from Ecuador about 15 years in the past. Sucuzhanay entrusted Loja together with her two kids and enrolled them in her daycare for seven years.
“I used to be very snug leaving my kids with Sonia,” she stated. “[She was] so good with kids and so sort.
Loja ran unlawful daycare exterior her dwelling and informed dad and mom of about 10 kids she could not watch them on Wednesday – the identical day police imagine she killed her personal kids, Junior Panjon, 12 years outdated, Joselyn, 10 years outdated. Panjon and Jonael Panjon, 5 years outdated. Loja then dedicated suicide.
Loja allegedly strangled every baby one after the other earlier than hanging herself in a shed within the backyard of her dwelling, police stated. Her husband and father of the kids, Pedro Panjon, discovered the our bodies when he returned dwelling and handed out on the grisly discovery.
Sucuzhanay was considered one of about 50 mourners who gathered exterior the home on Thursday night for a vigil organized by the massive Ecuadorian neighborhood within the space. Mourners sang hymns, stated prayers and lit candles for over an hour.
They created a makeshift memorial for the slain kids by putting prayer candles, flowers, white balloons and a teddy bear on the steps of the home.
A younger participant who attended Saint Peter’s Faculty with Joselyn from kindergarten via third grade stated her late classmate was fiercely sensible and sort.
“Joselyn was a really sensible, inventive and useful particular person,” stated 11-year-old Katelyn Jimenez. “Joselyn was at all times there if you wanted her. She would consolation anybody going via a tough time.
Katelyn stated Joselyn excelled in math and helped her when she struggled with math equations.
“To me, it regarded like she was dwelling a fantastic life,” Katelyn stated. “She was very optimistic. She was glorious in artwork and music, however she was additionally very sensible in arithmetic.
“I really feel unhappy,” she added. “She was a very good classmate and a very good good friend.”
Tomas Vega, 31, was amongst many mourners who felt compelled to affix the vigil in assist of the household, regardless of not understanding Loja or her kids personally.
Vega, a father of two, did not perceive Loja’s newest violent act.
“What would make you kill your self and take the lives of your three kids?” Vega requested in disbelief. “Think about seeing your first baby lifeless, then the subsequent, then the third. One thing actually dangerous should have occurred.
In case you are combating suicidal ideas or experiencing a psychological well being disaster and dwell in New York Metropolis, you’ll be able to name 1-888-NYC-WELL without cost, confidential disaster counseling. Should you dwell exterior the 5 boroughs, you’ll be able to name the Nationwide Suicide Prevention Hotline 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
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