Father Kills His 3 Sons, Sets Home on Fire Then Slays Self, Police Say

FRESNO — A trail of blood led to a man who police believe killed himself after murdering his three young sons and setting their apartment on fire, officials said Sunday.

Bloodstains on a nearby chain-link fence and sidewalk marked the path to the body of Vasily Petrovich Losev, 45. He was found in a grassy lot Saturday, police said.

Nearly six hours earlier, the bodies of his three sons--Alexi, 9, Alexander, 6, and Peter, 2--were found in their apartment after the fire that consumed it was extinguished about 6:15 p.m. Friday.

The boys’ mother, Galena Loseva, who is separated from her husband, was coming to pick up the children when the fire began. Family members said Losev knew his wife was coming for the children, so he killed the boys and then set the fire shortly before she was to arrive.

Police did not say how Losev’s wounds were inflicted.