Toddler Alec’s Heartbreaking Last Three Words to Newborn Sister Before Mother Killed the Entire Family.
In a tragedy that has left the Armenian-American community and the greater Los Angeles area in mourning, two-year-old Alec Basmajian was eagerly awaiting the chance to meet his newborn sister Ella, who was only six days old. Family members revealed that the excited toddler kept asking about his little sister and was filled with joy at the prospect of becoming a big brother. Tragically, those innocent dreams were destroyed when their mother, Marine Basmajian, allegedly shot and killed her husband Khajag Basmajian, 31, Alec, and baby Ella before taking her own life in their North Hills home on May 27, 2026.
According to family statements, Alec had been counting down the days until he could finally see and hold his new sister. Born just days earlier, Ella represented a new chapter of happiness for the young family. Relatives shared that Alec was particularly affectionate and kept repeating how much he wanted to play with her and protect her as her big brother. In what would become his final moments, the toddler reportedly looked toward his baby sister and said three simple, pure words that now echo with unbearable sadness: “I love you.”
Witness accounts and family interviews paint a picture of a household that outwardly seemed filled with excitement over the new arrival. Khajag Basmajian, a software engineer, and his wife Marine had welcomed Ella into the world amid what appeared to be a time of celebration. Yet behind closed doors, unknown struggles culminated in unimaginable violence that claimed the lives of all four family members in a suspected murder-suicide.
The discovery of the bodies shocked neighbors in the quiet San Fernando Valley neighborhood. Police responded to reports of gunfire and found the devastating scene inside the home on Londelius Street. Alec and Ella were among the youngest victims, their lives cut short before they could fully experience the bond of siblinghood that Alec had so eagerly anticipated. The family’s extended relatives have spoken publicly about Alec’s excitement, noting how he prepared drawings and asked daily when he could see “his baby.”
This horrific incident has prompted discussions about postpartum mental health, hidden domestic struggles, and the warning signs that loved ones sometimes miss. While no official motive has been confirmed, the sheer brutality of a mother turning against her own children and husband has left the community searching for answers and calling for greater awareness around maternal mental health crises after childbirth.
Khajag Basmajian was remembered as a devoted father and husband who worked hard to provide for his growing family. Colleagues described him as kind, ambitious, and deeply in love with his wife and children. The couple’s extended family described Marine as a caring mother who had appeared joyful with the arrival of Ella, making the outcome even more incomprehensible to those who knew them.
Vigils and memorials have sprung up in North Hills, with flowers, stuffed animals, and notes honoring the young lives lost. The Armenian community has rallied around the surviving relatives, offering support and prayers. A GoFundMe established in memory of the family has received donations from people moved by the story, though some have expressed discomfort at tributes that include the alleged perpetrator.
Alec’s final three words — “I love you” — directed at his newborn sister have become a focal point of the family’s grief. Relatives say these innocent words represent the pure love and hope that existed in the home before tragedy struck. The contrast between a toddler’s excitement to welcome his sister and the violence that followed has left everyone who hears the story stunned and heartbroken.
The tragedy serves as a painful reminder of how quickly life can change and how critical it is to recognize and address mental health challenges, particularly in the vulnerable postpartum period. Experts urge families to seek help when new parents show signs of severe distress, anxiety, or detachment. Organizations supporting maternal mental health have seen increased inquiries following this case.
For the surviving grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, the loss is profound. They remember Alec as an energetic, loving toddler who lit up rooms with his smile and Ella as a precious new addition full of promise. The family has requested privacy while they mourn, but they hope sharing Alec’s excitement and final words can raise awareness and perhaps prevent similar tragedies.
As investigations continue, authorities have not released additional details beyond confirming the murder-suicide classification. The community continues to grapple with how a family that seemed to embody joy and new beginnings could end in such darkness.
The story of Alec’s anticipation for his baby sister and his last three words of love has touched hearts worldwide. In the midst of unbearable pain, those words stand as a testament to the innocence and unconditional love of a child — a love that was tragically cut short. The Basmajian family’s loss reminds us all to cherish every moment with loved ones and to reach out for help when it is needed most.
Though Alec never got to truly hold his sister, his final message of love to her will forever echo as a symbol of what should have been a beautiful sibling bond. May their memories bring some comfort to those left behind, and may this tragedy spark meaningful conversations about mental health support for families.