One day after his two daughters (5-year-old Nika and 1-year-old Michela) were found dead in his Benbrook home, Vadym Kholodenko, winner of the 2013 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, released a short written statement about the tragedy.
“Being in a great grief I would like to address this message to everyone who thinks about my family,” he said. “The loss of my children will be with me forever. But I would like to say that I feel the support of the Fort Worth community and all people who are sending me messages all over the world. My special gratefulness is for the Castro family who supported my family and who gave special care to my daughters. I would like to ask everyone who is going to the concerts this weekend at Bass Hall to think of the music. Wherever I go after this tragedy my heart will stay with the people here of Fort Worth and my daughters will rest in this soil.”
Kholodenko arrived at his home yesterday morning and found his daughters murdered in their beds, while his estranged wife Sofya Tsygankova had suffered multiple non-life-threatening stab wounds. Benbrook police have already stated that the 29-year-old Ukrainian pianist is not a suspect in the deaths of his daughters.
Vadym’s estranged wife is being held pending a mental health evaluation at John Peter Smith Hospital while she continues to recover from stab wounds, police said Friday.
Gosh thats terrible, my heart felt condolences go out to you, sad indeed…words aren’t enough in this situation….what a tragic story…..may these girls play now in Jesus’ arms…..