Murdered siblings' mother to Ashanti's: 'I know how you feel'

Heartbroken over the murders of her two adult children at the family’s home in April, a Couva woman said she felt sorrow and sympathy for the mother of 18-year-old Ashanti Riley.

"That is so sad. I know how that girl’s mother is feeling right now. I know the feeling of a mother, a parent, losing an innocent child under tragic circumstances. It is a feeling that would not go away," Ann Chitbahal, 47, told Newsday.

"My heart goes out to the family and all families of murder victims. Today (Monday) marks seven months and 14 days since the incident here."

Chitbahal's children Vishal, 25, and Vishanie, 23, were gunned down on April 23 by men who broke down the front door of their house at Windsor Park, California.

Riley went missing last week after leaving her home at San Juan home. On Friday, police found her body in a river at Santa Cruz.

Chitbahal does not know the Riley family personally.

Speaking to Newsday on Monday, Chitbahal and her ailing husband Tony said they have been living in fear since the unthinkable tragedy at their home.

The porch of the modest wooden house is surrounded by posters and framers carrying children's images.

"All we have now are memories. Each day is hard, and with each holiday it's harder. Vishanie loved Christmas. Vishanie would have beautifully decorated this house if she was here," said Chitbahal as tears ran down her face.

"All our joy is gone. We had no Divali, we have no Christmas, we have nothing without them. When I go to Vishanie’s room now, I just lie on her bed and cry. Every day I cry for my children."

About two months before Christmas, Vishanie’s room would be filled with presents to give to people, Chitbahal said. Even as an adult, whenever Vishanie got sick, she would lie on top of her mother in a hammock to feel better.

"I never worried about if I would get sick too. She was my child. My children never go about knocking (liming). We always go out as a family. They were our life," Chitbahal said.

"Vishal had his toys from childhood and was hoping to pass it down to his own children one day.

"We had two good children. I do not know why this happened. Only God knows."

She recalled that Vishanie won two Divali queen competitions, one in the village at 16 and the other as a student at the Couva West Secondary School.

Vishanie and Vishal were the breadwinners in the house. The siblings did not have any children of their own.

The couple receives public assistance and recently applied for a food card. Sometimes when they see "strange cars" in the area, they become fearful, not knowing if the occupants are the killers.

Tony said he has diabetes and limited mobility. He had surgery for a pinched nerve in October last year.

"All we want is justice. Both children are gone. Once I dreamt that my son was in a maxi. He told me he was coming home. Our children were close to one another and never used to travel with maxi," Tony said.

Coping with the deaths has been beyond painful, he said.

"We do not know what is going on with the investigations. We are not getting any answers. It is hard for us. We are just living from day to day.

"People murdered them for nothing. They had no enemies."

Investigators have not determined a motive for the double homicide and no one has been arrested.

Homicide Bureau Region III and Couva police are investigating.