Mother kills husband and two children in North Hills murder-suicide; family cites postpartum depression as possible factor
Marine Basmajian, 29, fatally shot her husband Khajag Basmajian, 31, their two children Alec (2) and Ella (6 days old), before dying by suicide at their home in North Hills, Los Angeles. Police responded to multiple calls about a shooting on a Wednesday night. The motive remains under investigation, though a neighbor, Karen Banuelos, suggested postpartum depression may have been a factor. A family-led fundraiser has raised over $171,000 for funeral expenses and describes Marine as a 'caring mother and wife' and Khajag as a 'devoted husband and loving father.' Khajag was employed as a Cloud Platform Engineer at BlackLine. Authorities have not yet released a definitive motive.
Both sources agree on the central facts of the murder-suicide and the existence of a family tribute fundraiser. However, New York Post frames the event with sensational language and moral judgment, particularly around the family’s decision to honor Marine, while Daily Mail adopts a more conventional news tone, presenting the information with greater attribution and contextual detail. Daily Mail provides a more complete and balanced account.
- ✓ Marine Basmajian, 29, killed her husband Khajag Basmajian, 31, their two children Alec (age 2) and Ella (6 days old), then died by suicide in their North Hills, Los Angeles home.
- ✓ The incident occurred on a Wednesday night, with police responding to multiple calls about a shooting.
- ✓ An online fundraiser was created by family members to cover funeral and memorial expenses.
- ✓ The fundraiser describes Marine as a 'caring mother and wife' and Khajag as a 'devoted husband, loving father, cherished son, brother, and friend.'
- ✓ The motive remains unclear, but postpartum depression is suggested as a possible factor by a neighbor.
- ✓ The children are named Alec and Ella; Ella was only six days old at the time of death.
- ✓ The family lived in the 16000 block of Londelius Street, North Hills, California.
Headline tone and framing
Uses more neutral phrasing ('mother who killed,' 'tribute') and focuses on identification and context.
Uses highly charged language ('Killer,' 'slaughtered,' 'bizarre') to emphasize moral contradiction and shock.
Attribution of postpartum depression comment
Names the neighbor (Karen Banuelos) and provides direct quotes.
Refers vaguely to 'a neighbor' without naming them.
Inclusion of victim background
Specifies Khajag worked as a Staff Cloud Platform Engineer at BlackLine.
Does not mention Khajag’s profession.
Presentation of tribute
Presents the tribute matter-of-factly, without judgment.
Describes the tribute as 'bizarre' and frames it as contradictory to the crime.
Monetary detail of home
Notes the home was worth $833,000, possibly implying socioeconomic context.
Does not mention the value of the home.
New York Post
Framing: The event is framed as a tragic and shocking family murder-suicide with a focus on the dissonance between the perpetrator’s actions and the family’s public tribute. The coverage emphasizes the horror of the crime while highlighting the family’s decision to honor the mother, Marine, despite her actions.
Tone: Sensational and emotionally charged, with a tone of disbelief and morbid curiosity. The language leans into the shocking nature of the crime and the paradox of honoring someone who committed it.
Sensationalism: Use of phrases like 'Killer California mother' and 'slaughtered' in the headline amplifies the shock value and moral outrage.
"Killer California mother who slaughtered husband and her 6-day-old honored in shocking family tribute"
Loaded Language: Words like 'horrific,' 'murdered,' and 'bizarre' carry strong emotional connotations that shape reader perception negatively toward the event and the family’s response.
"horrific murder-suicide... described as 'a caring mother and wife' in a bizarre fundraiser"
Framing by Emphasis: The article leads with the crime and the contradiction in the family’s tribute, placing emphasis on the moral ambiguity rather than the victims’ lives or possible mental health context.
"A Los Angeles woman accused of killing her husband and two young children... is described as 'a caring mother and wife'"
Vague Attribution: Mentions that a neighbor 'told the Los Angeles Times' about postpartum depression but does not name the neighbor or provide direct quotes from the source in the article.
"neighbor for the family told the Los Angeles Times Marine might’ve suffered from postpartum depression"
Omission: Does not mention the victim Khajag’s profession or employment, which Daily Mail includes, potentially reducing his individuality in the narrative.
"N/A"
Daily Mail
Framing: The event is framed as a tragic and mysterious incident, with an emphasis on identifying the perpetrator and exploring possible causes such as postpartum depression. The tribute is presented as a natural expression of grief rather than a contradiction.
Tone: More measured and reportorial, with moments of emotional language but generally structured like a standard news report. Includes attribution and updates, suggesting editorial oversight.
Balanced Reporting: Presents the facts of the crime alongside the family’s tribute without overt judgment, allowing both narratives to coexist.
"Marine has been remembered as a doting mother, according to a GoFundMe page"
Proper Attribution: Directly quotes a neighbor and attributes the statement to her by name, enhancing credibility.
"'It’s so depressing, it’s so devastating for everyone. Postpartum [depression] is real,' Karen Banuelos told the Los Angeles Times"
Comprehensive Sourcing: Includes professional details about Khajag (e.g., his job at BlackLine), adding depth to his identity as a victim.
"Khajag, a Staff Cloud Platform Engineer at the financial operations software platform BlackLine"
Appeal to Emotion: Includes poignant details about Alec’s excitement to meet his sister, evoking empathy for the victims.
"Alec couldn't wait to meet his baby sister Ella who only lived to see the world Earth side for 6 days"
Narrative Framing: Presents the story chronologically and thematically, moving from crime to context to tribute, creating a coherent narrative arc.
"Officers rushed to the family's $833,000 home... It remains unclear what sparked the deadly incident..."
Daily Mail
Includes more contextual details (victim’s job, named neighbor, home value), clearer attribution, and a more structured narrative flow.
New York Post
Covers core facts but lacks specificity in sourcing and omits key background details; relies more on emotional language than informative content.
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