Last week, we heard about the terrible story of the father in Sacramento, California who came home to find his wife and two children stabbed to death. Fortunately, his 6-month-old son survived the slaughter and was alive in a back room. Photos of police holding the baby while waiting for social services to arrive were heartbreaking. Now we have some startling and tragic news -- the father's brother, Grigoriy Bukhantsov, 19, has been charged in their deaths. What on earth could make someone kill his own sister-in-law and his young niece and nephew?! The police have some hints.

Reports say that Bukhantsov is being held in the psychiatric ward and is "confused" and "very upset." His attorney is quoted as saying: "It appears we have maybe a psychological history and possibly a mental health issue." He also has a previous conviction for burglary, for which he reportedly spent seven months in jail.

Since then, the teen was reportedly "drifting between homes" of relatives. The local sheriff says that "something bad was brewing" in the days before the murder and that he "didn't have a good relationship" with the rest of the family. A woman who identified herself as the mother's sister said on a radio station that the mother, Alina, had received threats from her brother-in-law.

It can be incredibly difficult to tell if someone who has mental issues is going to turn violent, unless they make direct threats. It can also be difficult to do something about it -- unless someone makes a direct threat against you, getting police involved can be almost impossible. We don't know what kinds of threats the teen may have made or what the family may have tried to do about it. Just like in the case of nanny Yoselyn Oretega, we may never know what exactly, if anything, caused this person to become so vicious. Could he have been jealous of his brother's family and success? Did he resent his sister-in-law for not allowing him to couch surf with them? Did he spare the youngest child or just not see him? The man was so disturbed that after the murders, he allegedly drove to a local Denny's and fell asleep over his food.

I can only imagine what this poor father is going through -- in one horrific day, he lost his wife and his 3-year-old girl and 2-year-old boy. Reportedly at the hands of his own brother. It's a miracle that one of his children survived.

What do you think could cause someone to do this?!


Image via Sacramento County Sheriff's Office