The following statement from West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor was issued late Monday night on behalf of the Murphy-Curtin family following Monday’s fatal stabbing.

Please accept this statement on behalf of the Murphy-Curtin family.

Our family, friends, and community are all suffering tonight. We are all enduring a very painful and unimaginable loss. Our family will never be the same. Our daughter was a beautiful child and we will remember forever her smile … laughter … and remember her for the way she loved and lived.

We thank you all for your condolences and prayers. Please understand that this loss is not contained to our family. Our children attended West Hartford schools and have so many friends that are hurting tonight as well. West Hartford is a strong community. We are comforted to know that we aren’t alone in our grief. We ask that as we are suffering, please respect our privacy as well as that of our neighbors.

Again, we collectively are issuing this statement tonight in the hopes that the media will respect our privacy in grieving and that you continue to pray for our family.