Sarasota families and friends remember victims in cross-state killing spree
Families shattered by deadly shooting spree
As the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office continues to identify a motive for the deadly shooting spree that stretched from Fort Lauderdale to Sarasota, friends and family are remembering their loved ones. FOX 13's Kimberly Kuizon reports.
SARASOTA, Fla. - The lives of multiple families have been forever changed by the heartless actions of one man.
As the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office continues to identify a motive for the deadly shooting spree that stretched from Fort Lauderdale to Sarasota, friends and family are remembering their loved ones.
PREVIOUS STORY: Man accused of Sarasota quadruple murder killed 2 in Fort Lauderdale before taking his own life: SCSO
They were children, parents and individuals who made an impact on the community. All are left wondering why.
What they're saying:
Anatoly Loffe was known as Tony. Those who knew him, knew his heart.
"He was a family man. Family came first," Era Rublaksy said.
Loffe moved to Sarasota with his wife Florita Stolyar, who was known as Rita. It was their second marriage.
Both cared for Loffe's mother and his mother-in-law from his previous marriage.
Professionally, Loffe wanted to streamline medical care under one roof.
Loffe opened Osprey Poly Clinic with his partners David Mayer and Rubalsky.
"All of that motivated him to see if he could do things better. He was always thinking that way," Mayer said.
The backstory:
On Tuesday morning, Loffe brought his wife in for an appointment. It would be the last time Mayer and Rubalsky would see them both.
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"It's just completely devastating that this happened. We are all very heartbroken here. It’s a tragic, tragic loss for the family, friends, relatives and community. It’s a huge loss," Rubalsky said.
SCSO said shortly before 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, a neighbor called 911 and reported that a man had been shot at a home in the Amberlea neighborhood near Proctor and McIntosh Roads.
"I don’t know. I heard a loud boom earlier, and I thought somebody dropped something, and then I just walked outside and my neighbor, Tony, is lying on the ground, his house is open and there’s blood all over his stomach," the unidentified neighbor said in a 911 call.
When deputies arrived, they found the neighbor performing CPR on a man in the front yard, identified as the homeowner, 61-year-old Anatoly Loffe.
Deputies moved Loffe to a different location and crews with the Sarasota County Fire Department took over. Loffe was pronounced dead a short while later.
The neighbors told deputies that Loffe’s wife may be inside the home.
The deputies went inside the home because they said they feared for Loffe’s wife, and that’s where they found the bodies of two men and two women.
While trying to identify the victims and a potential suspect, detectives said they got information from the Fort Lauderdale Police Department about a double homicide that they believed might be connected to the Sarasota quadruple murder.
Police gave SCSO the suspect, 51-year-old Russel Kot's vehicle information and said that it had been caught on camera traveling northbound through Punta Gorda before the Sarasota homicide.
Dig deeper:
Working with Amberlea HOA representatives and neighbors, detectives got video of the suspect’s vehicle entering the neighborhood at 11:01 a.m.
Moments later, investigators said that the sound of gunfire was captured on a neighbor’s Ring camera.
Less than 40 minutes later, Loffe, who was found on the front lawn, was seen entering the neighborhood in his vehicle, according to SCSO.
Deputies said Loffe went up to the door and was shot.
"There is blood everywhere. I don’t see any weapons," the neighbor in the 911 call said.
Afterward, no people were seen entering or leaving the home.
According to investigators, all victims have been identified and the suspect, Kot, was among those who were found dead inside the home.
Deputies said Kot's vehicle was found inside the neighborhood.
Victims identified
Detectives identified the Sarasota shooting victims as:
- 49-year-old Olga Greinert
- 66-year-old Florita Stolyar
- 39-year-old Yaroslav Blyudoy
- 61-year-old Anatoly Loffe
Victims (Top left to right) Anatoly Loffe, Olga Greinert, Yaroslav Blyudoy (Bottom left to right) Ben Azivov, Florita Stolyar, Larisa Blyudaya
Friends say Blyudoy was known as Stan and was the son of Stolyar and stepson of Loffe. They said Greinert was from Ukraine and moved to Sarasota, escaping war with her teenage son. She was a family friend and hired to help clean.
"She was at the house to assist with some household cleaning and chores. Rita had an issue with her back. She was at the wrong place at the wrong time," Rublaksy said.
FLPD said their victims were 46-year-old Larisa Blyudaya and 18-year-old Ben Azivov.
Friends said Blyudaya was the son of Stolyar and step-son of Loffe. And Azivov was Laris Blyudaya's son.
SCSO said Kot had been in a previous romantic relationship with Blyudaya.
While a motive has yet to be determined, friends said Loffe and Blyudaya only wanted the best for their daughter.
"He was always looking for the kids. For whatever reason, whatever their feelings were, it wasn’t the best situation for her," Rublaksy said.
Many families have been broken by Kot, but those who knew them said they will carry on their legacies.
"We are open, and we are committed to honoring Tony's legacy. We are here for the community, that is not going to change," Rublaksy said.
What's next:
Friends said Loffe cared for his mother and mother-in-law who lived around the block.
Family members have started an online fundraiser to try to help with funeral expenses and for the care of surviving family members who have all been impacted by the violence.
The Source: Information was gathered by FOX 13's Kimberly Kuizon through interviews with those who knew the victims in the Sarasota quadruple murder.