Family member reacts to deaths of 3 young children in Reseda

Investigators continue to piece together what happened after the bodies of three small children were found in a small apartment in Reseda. 

The children's mother, 30-year-old Liliana Carrillo, was placed in custody Saturday. Police the children's grandmother found the little ones -- ages 3, 2 and 6 months -- dead inside the Reseda apartment. Carrillo allegedly took off from the home and then drove north before carjacking a pickup truck.

Carrillo was eventually caught and detained near Tulare, located in Central California, the Los Angeles Police Department said. 

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 3 children, aged 3, 2 and 6 months, stabbed to death in Reseda, their mother in custody

Their father, Erick Denton is "devastated," says his cousin Teri Miller. She explains that they have been battling for custody of the two girls and boy for some time. According to Miller, Denton had repeatedly reached out to DCFS and police for help as Carrillo "needed help."

DCFS was one of the agencies present during the on-scene investigations but did not give comments on the deadly incident Saturday.

Denton’s family claims the children's father had obtained an emergency order, giving him custody of the children, in early March but could not get help.

Neighbors say the children were seen mostly with their grandmother, who seemed to be the main caretaker. It was she who found their bodies this morning, according to police, in a scene so gruesome that some of the initial responders are now getting counseling.

A GoFundMe page has been launched to help the grieving family pay for burial expenses for the three children. Those interested in helping can click here.

A growing memorial of candles and toys sits across the front door of the Reseda home as neighbors walk by, shaking their heads and wondering if they could have done something.

Get your top stories delivered daily! Sign up for FOX 11’s Fast 5 newsletter. And, get breaking news alerts in the FOX 11 News app. Download for iOS or Android.

ResedaNewsCrime and Public SafetyInstastories