A Bakersfield family, once left with only memories of their murdered loved ones, now has boxes of their belongings to hold onto.
Police believe Jordan Criado killed his wife and their four children in Oregon before setting their rented home on fire. The owners of that home, the landlords, salvaged what they could and made a special delivery to Bakersfield.
Seconds after the U-Haul gate went up... "Oh my God, look at my babies."
Gwen Crowles gets a first glance at her daughter's and four grandchildren's belongings. Things they held dear - created a rush of emotion- of tears and joy.
"I'm overwhelmed. I mean I can't stop smiling," said Crowles.
All of the boxes came from the Oregon home, Bakersfield native, Tabasha Criado moved to with her four children. All five were found stabbed to death last July.
Police suspect Tabasha's husband, Jordan Criado, killed them, then set fire to the home.
Their landlord, Monte Frazier, gathered what he could save and drove 12 hours to Bakersfield, hoping to offer some closure.
"You really have angels as parents cause you don't find people that would do what they did," said Crowles. "And, they never met us, just through the phone, you know, that was Heaven sent because I had no way of getting this stuff here and this is all that I have of my babies."
"A simple picture of someone can bring back so many thoughts, memories, so then you start to remember good things instead of negative things," said Frazier.
"The Fraziers came down and brought this stuff. God Bless them," said Bill Crowles, Tabasha's father.
Some of the boxes are labeled. Others you can see a teddy bear and some books inside. They're all things once held dear to the couple's daughter and grandchildren.
Now, they are here for them to open and discover, possibly the comfort they've been wanting.
"You know, we still have a long ways to go, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. You know, good things are yet to come. I truly believe that," said Gwen Crowles.
Jordan Criado has been charged with murder, arson, and other crimes. A judge entered a 'not guilty' plea on his behalf, saying Criado was mentally unable to do so on his own.
A trial date or mental health hearing will be set in March.
